TheoryFree Car Theory UK Practice Test
Take a free Car Theory UK practice test for 2026 with questions, answers, explanations, PDF download and timed mock exam links.
Car Theory UK Questions
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Q1You are driving on a dual carriageway and notice a large lorry ahead whose load appears to be shifting. The lorry driver shows no signs of awareness. What is the most appropriate immediate action?
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✓ Correct answer: Increase your following distance and be prepared to brake or change lane
The Highway Code advises drivers to anticipate hazards and increase following distance when a potential danger is identified ahead; overtaking or using the horn aggressively creates additional risk.
Q2You are driving in slow-moving motorway traffic and a driver behind you is tailgating aggressively. Which response best reduces the risk without escalating the situation?
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✓ Correct answer: Gradually increase your gap to the vehicle ahead and allow a larger buffer
The Highway Code states you should never brake sharply in retaliation; creating a larger cushion ahead reduces the chance of a rear-end collision and gives the tailgater space to overtake safely.
Q3When driving at 60 mph on a dry single carriageway, the Highway Code recommends maintaining at least a 2-second gap to the vehicle in front. In wet conditions, what should that gap become?
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✓ Correct answer: At least 4 seconds
The Highway Code states that the minimum following distance should be doubled in wet conditions, extending the 2-second rule to at least 4 seconds to account for reduced braking efficiency.
Q4You approach a junction where a pedestrian with a white cane is waiting to cross. The pedestrian appears uncertain about the traffic. What should you do?
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✓ Correct answer: Slow down, be prepared to stop, and do not use the horn or flash lights
The Highway Code advises that the horn and headlight flashes must not be used to direct or pressure vulnerable road users; you should slow down and give them time and space to cross safely.
Q5While driving through roadworks at night, your view ahead is frequently broken by intermittent floodlights. What is the primary concentration hazard this creates?
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✓ Correct answer: Temporary blind spots as your eyes adjust between bright and dark zones
Alternating between intense floodlit areas and unlit stretches causes momentary loss of night vision (dark adaptation), creating temporary blind spots — a recognised observation hazard highlighted in DVSA guidance on roadwork driving.
Q6A vehicle in front of you on a rural road brakes heavily for no apparent reason. Which explanation should you consider first before deciding how to respond?
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✓ Correct answer: There may be a hazard ahead that you cannot yet see
The Highway Code emphasises anticipation: a driver ahead braking unexpectedly is the strongest signal of an unseen hazard, so you should ease off and scan ahead rather than assume a mechanical fault or deliberate action.
Q7You are waiting to emerge from a side road onto a busy 60 mph road. A gap appears but you estimate you would need to accelerate hard to complete the manoeuvre safely. What does the Highway Code advise?
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✓ Correct answer: Wait for a gap large enough to complete the manoeuvre without making other drivers adjust their speed
The Highway Code states that you should only emerge when you can do so without forcing other road users to change speed or direction, because at 60 mph the stopping distance is significant and a marginal gap creates serious risk.
Q8You have been driving on a motorway for three hours and feel your concentration beginning to lapse. Rest areas are 12 miles ahead. What should you do?
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✓ Correct answer: Leave at the next exit to find a safe place to stop, even if it is sooner than 12 miles
The Highway Code states you should stop in a safe place as soon as you feel drowsy; the hard shoulder is not a rest stop, and stimulants or distractions are not substitutes for genuine rest.
Q9At a busy roundabout you notice a large goods vehicle signalling left but positioned in the right-hand lane. How should you interpret this?
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✓ Correct answer: The vehicle may need extra width to complete a left exit and you should give it space
The Highway Code and DVSA guidance note that large vehicles often need extra road space to negotiate roundabouts and may approach in an unexpected lane; drivers should give way and not assume the signal is an error.
Q10You are driving behind a motorcyclist on a wet road and they suddenly move to the outer edge of their lane. What is the most likely reason, and what should you do?
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✓ Correct answer: They are positioning to avoid a central diesel spill or surface hazard; increase your following distance
Motorcyclists frequently adjust their lane position to avoid surface hazards such as diesel, standing water, or drain covers; the Highway Code asks drivers to be aware of these movements and maintain a safe distance.
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