Why did my Theory Test cost £45?

The theory test is designed to assess whether a candidate has the required knowledge to safely drive a car on a public road. It enables you to demonstrate that you fully understand the information contained in the highway code, appreciate the role and function of road traffic signage, and have a suitable awareness of licensing regulations. As a consequence, candidates are unable to take a practical driving test until they’ve successfully navigated this assessment.

The easiest way to book your theory test is via the DVSA’s online booking platform. However, you can also contact the DVSA by phone to arrange your test appointment. Whichever method you choose, the DVSA will charge you £23 to confirm your booking. This is a standard fee that all candidates must pay.

Unlike the payment structure that applies when booking your practical assessment, you’ll be charged the same fee regardless of the time and date of your theory test slot. Due to increased demand, it costs more to take your practical assessment at certain times of the week. Candidates must pay more to sit their practical test on an evening or weekend (or bank holiday). Conversely, you’ll be able to sit your theory test at a time that suits you without having to burden any additional costs.  

Unless the DVSA announces a change to their payment terms, you shouldn’t ever be charged more (or less!) than £23.00 to book your theory test.

If that’s the standard fee, why did it cost me £45 to book my theory test?

If you haven’t arranged your test via an official DVSA booking services, you may potentially be charged a higher fee. This is because third-party providers are not bound to the DVSA’s payment terms. Therefore, they have the freedom to set whatever price they feel necessary. Some third-party providers ask candidates to pay slightly more than the DVSA rate, whilst others charge extortionate fees. If you’ve paid £25, £35, or £45 (or more!) to sit your theory test, you’ve incurred an unnecessary additional expense.

Therefore, we would strongly encourage you to book your theory test directly through the DVSA. As well as potentially costing you more money, using a third-party provider may be a complete waste of time. Given the volume of people trying to acquire a driving licence in the UK each year, criminals understand that there is plenty of money to be made if they can successfully convince candidates to part with their cash. As a result, there have been multiple reports of fake theory test booking websites. These have been set up by scammers hoping to steal money from as many candidates as possible. Therefore, using a third-party provider is really not worth the risk!

How do I know whether or not a third-party booking service is legitimate?

Although we would clearly recommend against it, we appreciate that some candidates may feel comfortable using a third-party provider when booking their theory test. 

There are numerous ways to check whether the company booking your test is a legitimate enterprise. You might be able to find out by checking the list of test centres they advertise. All official theory tests are conducted in Pearson VUE or Reed in Partnership test centres. No other venues have the required authorisation to stage this assessment. Therefore, if you’re able to arrange to sit your test at a venue that isn’t managed by either of these companies, there’s a good chance you’re not using a genuine booking service.

If you’re able to book your test for a date that is more than six months away, you should consider this a red flag. The booking system used by Pearson VUE and Reed test centres only advertises test slot availability for the next six months. Therefore, you shouldn’t be able to select a date beyond this timeframe.

Requesting candidates to pay multiple booking fees is usually another indication of fraudulent activity. As you’re perhaps already aware, the theory test consists of two component parts; the multiple choice and hazard perception modules. If the website you’re using asks you to pay for each part of the assessment, this should ring alarm bells. As the theory test is classed as one assessment, you should never be charged separately for each module.

Have you been asked to provide your contact details?

Lastly, it should be a cause for concern if you don’t receive a booking or payment confirmation e-mail. However, by this stage, it will clearly be too late to pull out. If you haven’t been required to enter any personal contact information throughout the initial part of the booking process, it’s unlikely the third-party provider has any intention of organising your test slot.

Are there any genuine reasons why I might be charged more than £23?

There are several possible reasons why you may legitimately pay more than £ 23 when organising your theory test. If you unfortunately fail this assessment, you’ll be charged the same fee to take a re-sit. You’ll be required to pay £23 each time you take the theory test, so costs can quickly stack up if you’re struggling to acquire a pass certificate.

If for whatever reason you need to change or cancel your test appointment, the DVSA requires you to do this more than three working days ahead of your assessment. If you fail to do this, you’ll be charged the full test fee the full test fee. Clearly, you’ll also be required to pay £ 23 when making your next booking. Therefore, it’s important to select a date that you’re confident you can accommodate. Furthermore, you should try to re-arrange your theory test as soon as possible if you can no longer make the original appointment.

In exceptional circumstances, the DVSA may not charge you for making a late change or cancellation. If you believe that you have a valid reason for missing the deadline, you should contact the DVSA directly to discuss this issue.

Booking through your driving instructor

The DVSA permits driving instructors to book theory tests on behalf of their students. If you ask your driving instructor to arrange your assessment, you may incur a service charge. This will clearly result you in paying more than the original £23 fee. Unless you’re extremely anxious about the booking process or your driving instructor provides a free service, we would advise you to organise your theory test independently. It’s extremely easy to book your theory test. Assuming you take the most popular option and book via the DVSA’s online platform, it shouldn’t take you longer than ten minutes to complete this process.

DVSA contact details

If you require support with any part of the booking process or wish to flag a reason for changing or cancelling your test appointment at short notice, you should contact the DVSA by either:

• Calling 0300 200 1122 to speak to the DVSA’s contact centre booking team. Lines are open from 8.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday. 
• Send an e-mail to [email protected] providing a brief explanation of your query/issue.

Please note you’ll be expected to provide the following information when contacting the DVSA:

• Full name (as it appears on your photocard provisional licence)
• Address and postcode
• Date of Birth
• Driving licence number (the combination of numbers and letters referenced against line 5 of your photocard provisional licence).
• If you’ve already booked your theory test, you may also be expected to provide your theory test booking reference number. This number will be approximately eleven digits long and is noted in your booking confirmation e-mail.

When contacting the DVSA by phone, the advisor will request this information from you. If you’re reaching out to the DVSA via e-mail, please ensure you include these details in your note.