How far in the future should my 18 year old son book his driving theory test?

[BuoyBoyBy]

Just wondering approx how many weeks away should he book it for?
He's on a gap year, so has free time, and is quite good at studying.

If he has lots of spare time then he could book within 2 weeks? If there are any available. It all depends how much he will study for it- if he can study a few hours every day for two weeks that should be enough.

I booked mine 2.5 weeks in advance so I knew I would have no choice but to prepare! I would advise the official DVLA app. Think it was £5 but all the questions are very very similar to the actual test. I passed first time just using this.

Only need a couple of weeks to study for the theory test especially if he isn't trying to fit it around school/work.

Do you mean to use the DVLA app to study or is there a book you need to buy?

@BuoyBoyBy I bought my boys the 3 official books recommended on the DVSA website, but they didn't even open them - they just used the DVSA App and both passed the theory test first time. There are free apps, but they're not as good. The official app teaches you how to ace the hazard awareness videos, which many people fail on.

Mine passed theirs on the morning of their 17th birthday and their practical 6 months later. All done and dusted before A level exams (Late August born).

Use the Apps they are much better. Practice the hazard perception with a mouse not just touchscreen.

We also booked our DS2's theory test for asap after his 17th birthday - he is early October born, so he did it in the Autumn half term. You can't book the practical test until they've passed the theory test and I knew from experience with DS1 that we wouldn't be able to get a practical test any less than 6 months ahead. So he passed the theory test, had 6 months of lessons and practice, then passed his test in the Easter holidays.

The DVLA app. I did buy a book, but the app was much better in my opinion, and mimics the exact test. I just re did the practise test on the app over and over again until I was passing with high scores.

I'm not sure what the lead time in at the moment but a few months ago people were having to book test dates months in advance, even if they were ready to pass. There is a shortage of testers.

Might be worth seeing what the wait time is now.

There was a 2 month wait for theory tests in Hampshire last year when I booked my sons. Use the app, makes it much easier.

Practical tests are released at 6am on the dot of Monday so you have to be fast.

Get him to download the official DVLA app, and play it like a game, when he's consistently getting a pass (the same questions will come up again in time). My DD signed up for the exam as soon as she got her provisional, did this, and passed with 0 mistakes. The hazard perception you have to be careful not to be too fast or press the button too often, so it's again a bit of practice but 2 weeks of doing that in spare time rather than anything else on social media will crack it.

Do you have to apply for your most local test centre or can you look further afield if more availability?

Book at any.

For the practical test you can look up old official test routes online by test centre name for practice in your own car (the DVSA no longer publish current official routes but they will be similar).

Note that it is DVSA, not DVLA.

Which is the correct app to use?
Is it the plain blue one that says 'Official DVSA Car theory', with a crown on top?

Or is it the 4 in 1 app which has 4 different colours?

The blue DVLA one 🙂 it also has hazard perception prep on there too which is part of the test (clicking when you see hazards etc)

Yes, "Official DVSA Theory Test Kit". Blue with a crown.