In Northern Ireland the car theory test is run by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), not the DVSA, and new rules for learners started on 1 October 2026.
The test
- Two parts at the same sitting: multiple choice (43 of 50 to pass) and hazard perception (44 of 75).
- Book online on nidirect for £23; there is no extra booking fee.
- You need a valid UK driving licence with a Northern Ireland address, a payment card and an email address.
- From 1 October 2026, a GB provisional licence cannot be used to book or take a car test in Northern Ireland: you need an NI provisional licence.
- A pass lasts 2 years: pass your practical test within that time.
How to study and the hazard perception tips are the same as for the DVSA test: see how to pass the theory test and the hazard perception guide.
Graduated driver licensing (from 1 October 2026)
- Hold your provisional licence at least 6 months and complete the GDL logbook before the practical test.
- Drive with a supervisor aged 21 or over who has held a full licence for 3 years.
- After passing, display R plates for 2 years: a blue R on white for 6 months, then a white R on blue for 18 months.
- For the first 6 months, drivers under 24 may carry only one passenger aged 14 to 20 between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., unless they are family or a qualified driver sits in the front.
- Learners who started before 1 October 2026 and pass before 1 April 2027 keep the old rule: R plates and a 45 mph limit for 12 months.
Take a free Northern Ireland theory mock test to see where you stand.
Checked against official sources on 17 October 2026.