A UK car theory test costs £23, booked through the official DVSA service. The fee is the same wherever you book it, there is no concession, and every retake costs the full £23 again — a failed test is not a partial credit against the next one.
The fee
£23 for the car theory test, paid when you book through the official DVSA service. The motorcycle test costs the same.
There is no student rate, no concession, and no discount for booking several.
Watch what you are actually paying for
The DVSA fee is fixed, so any site charging more than £23 for a car theory test booking is adding a booking fee of its own. Some of those sites look official. Booking through GOV.UK avoids the question entirely.
Retakes cost the same again
Failing does not earn you a reduced retake. Each attempt is another £23, which is the strongest practical argument for using the three-day wait to work on the topics your result sheet flagged, rather than rebooking for the first available slot.
Changing your mind costs nothing — if you are early enough
You can move or cancel without paying again as long as you give enough notice. Leave it too late and the £23 is gone. See changing or cancelling your test for the notice period, which is not the one most people assume.
Sources and last verified
Rules and fees change. These are the official pages this answer is based on, with the date we last checked each one — if you are reading this long after, check the source before relying on it.
- Book your theory test — DVSA, checked 4 August 2026
- Theory test: cars — Rebook or cancel — DVSA, checked 4 August 2026
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