A practical car driving test costs £62 on weekdays, or £75 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays when booked through GOV.UK. The car theory test is a separate £23 fee. These are test fees; driving lessons and use of your instructor’s car are additional costs.
Below you can compare the official fees, see what a retake costs, and build a budget using your own instructor’s prices.
Driving test price: official DVSA car-test fees
| Test | Weekday | Evening, weekend or bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Practical car test | £62 | £75 |
| Car theory test | £23 | £23 |
| Extended car test for disqualified drivers | £124 | £150 |
Fees checked on 12 October 2026 against GOV.UK driving test costs. These car-test fees apply in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland uses a separate booking service.
Is the driving test fee the same at every centre?
The published DVSA fee does not vary by test centre in England, Scotland or Wales. Choosing a different centre does not make the official test fee cheaper. An instructor may charge differently for travel time and use of their car.
Compare test centre guides by location and preparation options. Historical pass rates describe previous test results, not your personal chance of passing.
What else do you pay for on test day?
The £62 or £75 booking fee does not include a vehicle. Ask your instructor for the price of the test-day lesson, use of their car, and any waiting or travel time. If you use your own car, check the current vehicle and insurance requirements before booking.
There is no single fixed national lesson price or compulsory number of lessons. Your budget depends on your instructor, how much practice you need, and your access to supervised private practice.
A worked example of the total cost of learning to drive
This is an illustration, not a national average: if an instructor quotes £40 per hour and you buy 40 hours, lessons cost £1,600. Add a £34 online provisional licence, £23 theory test and £62 weekday practical test, and that example totals £1,719, before insurance, test-day car use or further lessons.
Use this formula for your own budget: lesson hours × hourly price + licence fee + theory fee + practical fee + test-day car charge + insurance. Discuss the hours you need with your instructor rather than planning around a guaranteed pass date.
How much does a practical driving-test retake cost?
A new standard practical car test costs another £62 or £75 at the published rates. Any extra lessons and test-day car use are separate. For example, a £62 retest plus five lessons quoted at £40 each would be £262, before the test-day car charge.
Identify the faults that need work before paying for another attempt. The test-readiness guide helps you structure practice; it cannot guarantee your result.
Book at the official price and plan your next step
Use GOV.UK to book your practical test. Third-party websites may add their own charges. Check the price and terms before paying anyone.
For the separate theory fee, read our £23 theory-test cost guide. Once you have a practical appointment, choose your centre guide and practise varied local roads with your instructor or a suitable supervisor.
Key Takeaways
- Practical car test: £62 on weekdays or £75 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
- Car theory test: £23, charged separately.
- Instructor lessons and use of a car on test day are additional costs.
- A retake requires another booking fee; additional practice costs depend on your needs.
- Book through GOV.UK and use your own instructor’s quote to build a realistic budget.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a driving test in the UK in 2026?+
A standard practical car test booked through GOV.UK costs £62 on weekdays or £75 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays in England, Scotland and Wales. Instructor car use and lessons are separate.
How much is a practical driving test in an automatic car?+
The standard car-test fee is £62 on weekdays or £75 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays. The published fee does not add a separate automatic-car surcharge.
Does the practical driving-test price include the theory test?+
No. The car theory test costs £23 separately. The two booking fees total £85 with a weekday practical test, or £98 with a £75 practical test.
How much does a driving-test retake cost?+
A new standard practical booking costs another £62 or £75. Your instructor’s lessons and test-day car use are additional and vary.
Is there an official average cost of passing in this guide?+
No. The lesson budget is a worked example using 40 hours at £40 per hour. It is not presented as a national average or the number of lessons everyone needs.
