Key points
- Official fees in Great Britain: provisional licence £34 online (£43 by post), car theory test £23, car driving test £62 on weekdays or £75 for evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
- Your first full licence after you pass is free. It costs £17 only if you want a different photo from the one on your provisional.
- To change or cancel a car driving test without losing the fee, give 10 full working days' notice. For a theory test it is 3 full working days.
- If you fail, you pay the full test fee again when you rebook.
- Book through GOV.UK. Unofficial websites usually charge more than the official fee.
The official fees to get a car licence in Great Britain are £34 for a provisional licence applied for online, £23 for the car theory test, and £62 for a weekday car driving test (£75 for evenings, weekends and bank holidays).[2][1] Your first full licence after you pass is free.[2] The figures below were checked on GOV.UK on 14 October 2026. Fees can change, so always confirm on GOV.UK before you pay. Northern Ireland has different fees.[1]
The official fees
Fees as shown on GOV.UK when we checked on 14 October 2026. Each GOV.UK page's own update date is listed under Sources.
| What | Who charges it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| First provisional licence (car, motorcycle, moped), online | DVLA | £34 |
| First provisional licence, by post (form D1) | DVLA | £43 |
| Car theory test | DVSA | £23 |
| Car driving test, weekday | DVSA | £62 |
| Car driving test, evening, weekend or bank holiday | DVSA | £75 |
| Extended driving test for disqualified drivers, weekday / evening, weekend or bank holiday | DVSA | £124 / £150 |
| First full licence after passing your test | DVLA | Free (£17 to use a different photo from your provisional) |
| Replacement for a lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed licence | DVLA | £20 |
Sources for the table: DVLA's provisional licence page and fee list, and DVSA's test cost page.[3][2][1]
Provisional licence
You apply to DVLA. An online application costs £34 and you pay by debit or credit card.[3] By post, you fill in form D1, available from most Post Offices, and send a cheque or postal order for £43.[3] You can apply from 15 years and 9 months old. You must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away.[3] If you apply online, DVLA says your licence should arrive within one week, though it can take longer if it needs to make extra checks.[3]
Theory test
The car theory test costs £23, whatever the day or time.[1] To change or cancel it without losing the fee, you must give at least 3 full working days' notice. If you cancel later than that, you lose the fee.[7][6]
Practical driving test
A car test costs £62 on weekdays and £75 for evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Tests that start at 4:30pm or later count as evening tests.[1] Not every centre offers evening and weekend tests all the time. The slots that are available show up when you book.[1]
These are the prices when you book through GOV.UK. DVSA notes that unofficial websites usually charge more.[1] DVSA has also said that learners should only ever pay the official fee.[11]
Changing, cancelling and refunds
To change or cancel a car driving test without losing the fee, you need to give 10 full working days' notice. Other types of test need 3 full working days. Monday to Saturday count as working days. Sundays and public holidays do not.[4] The 10-day rule for car tests started on 8 April 2025. Before that it was 3 full working days.[8]
- Cancel in time: you are refunded automatically.[5]
- Change to a dearer slot (evening, weekend or bank holiday): you pay the difference. Change to a cheaper weekday slot: you get the difference back.[4]
- Short notice for an unavoidable reason: you can apply for a refund if you had an illness or injury, a bereavement, an exam at school or college, or your licence was stolen. You email DVSA with proof.[5]
- Cancelling late anyway: even without a refund, you can cancel up to the time your test starts, which helps other learners.[5]
You only get 2 changes to a car test booking. After that you have to cancel and rebook. See how to book or change your driving test.
If DVSA cancels your test at short notice
If DVSA cancels your car test with less than 3 full working days' notice, you can apply for some out-of-pocket expenses. Examples are up to 2 hours of your instructor's standard lesson rate, up to £76 for a hire car, or 25p a mile in your own vehicle.[9] You must apply within 6 months. You cannot claim if the test was cancelled because of bad weather, poor light, or a problem with your vehicle or with you.[9] For car tests cancelled from 12 May 2026 onwards, only the learner can apply.[9]
If you fail: paying again
If you do not pass and want another go, you pay the full test fee again when you rebook.[1] See if you fail your driving test for what happens next.
After you pass: your full licence
Your first full licence after passing is free. It costs £17 only if you want a different photo from the one on your provisional.[2] Usually the examiner takes your provisional photocard and DVLA sends your full licence automatically. You can drive as soon as you pass, using your pass certificate as proof while you wait.[10] You only need to apply yourself in some cases, for example if you kept your provisional licence or your name or address has changed. If you apply by post, you must do it within 2 years of passing or you will have to take the test again.[10]
Sources
- Driving test costs
- Driving licence fees
- Apply for your first provisional driving licence
- Change your driving test appointment
- Cancel your driving test
- Cancel your theory test
- Change your theory test appointment
- New rule for driving test changes and cancellations to reduce waiting times
- Claim expenses if DVSA cancelled your driving test
- Getting your full driving licence
- End of the road for unofficial driving test booking services
Last checked against the cited sources on 14 October 2026. PassNav is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA, DVLA or TomTom. Our guides are prepared with AI assistance and checked against the official sources cited on each page. Rules and fees change — for current legal requirements and booking rules, always check GOV.UK. This is general guidance and does not replace professional driving instruction. Spotted something out of date? Email passnav@smartaisolution.co.uk — see our editorial policy.