Free HGV theory test practice
The lorry theory test, officially the LGV theory test and Driver CPC part 1, is a bigger paper than the car one: 100 questions in 115 minutes, pass mark 85, and it leans hard on material car drivers never meet: drivers' hours, tachographs, air brakes, load security and lorry speed limits. Practise here with original questions that cite the rule behind every answer, and sit full-length timed mocks marked to the real pass mark. No sign-up.
What is in the HGV theory test
Two parts, booked separately as Driver CPC part 1a and 1b. The multiple choice is 100 questions in 115 minutes with a pass mark of 85. Hazard perception is 19 clips scored out of 100 with a pass mark of 67, using the same spot-it-early scoring as every other licence category; practise the skill on our hazard perception page. Professional drivers then sit part 2, the case studies, and the practical stages.
Around a third of the paper is general road rules. The rest is where lorry candidates actually lose marks, because none of it appears in car revision:
- Drivers' hours: 4.5 hours driving then a 45-minute break, 9-hour daily limit (10 twice a week), 56-hour weeks, 90-hour fortnights.
- Tachographs: driver cards, manual entries, and producing the current day plus 28 days on request.
- The vehicle: daily walkaround checks, air-brake systems, endurance brakes on descents, 1mm tread law, speed limiters set to 56 mph.
- The load: securing it, axle weights, part-unloading, curtainsiders in crosswinds.
- Sharing the road: the nearside blind spot, cyclists at left turns, bridge strikes, spray in rain.
Lorry speed limits, the always-asked table
| Road (England and Wales) | Goods vehicle over 7.5t | Car, for comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Built-up area | 30 mph | 30 mph |
| Single carriageway | 50 mph | 60 mph |
| Dual carriageway | 60 mph | 70 mph |
| Motorway | 60 mph (limiter holds about 56) | 70 mph |
Scotland differs on single carriageways, generally 40 mph for the class. The mandatory speed limiter, set to 90 km/h which is about 56 mph, usually bites before the motorway limit does, which is why the middle lane of any motorway is full of lorries doing identical speeds.
The route to a lorry licence, in order
| Step | What it is |
|---|---|
| D2 + D4 | Apply for provisional category C entitlement; the D4 is a medical assessment completed by a doctor. |
| Theory (part 1) | This test: 100 questions plus hazard perception, certificate valid two years. |
| Case studies (part 2) | Scenario-based questions on professional driving situations. |
| Practical (part 3) | Off-road exercises and the on-road driving test in the lorry. |
| Periodic training | 35 hours every five years keeps the Driver CPC valid for professional driving. |
The minimum age is 18 when the full Driver CPC route is followed. Most candidates train with a school that supplies the vehicle for the practical stages.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in the HGV theory test?
The LGV multiple-choice paper (Driver CPC part 1a) has 100 questions in 115 minutes, with a pass mark of 85. The hazard perception part (1b) has 19 clips scored out of 100 with a pass mark of 67. The two parts are booked separately and can be taken on different days.
Is the HGV theory test the same as the LGV theory test?
Yes. LGV, large goods vehicle, is the official DVSA term for what most people call an HGV. The theory test for category C and C+E licences is the same test under either name.
What is Driver CPC part 1?
The theory stage of the professional lorry driver qualification: part 1a is the multiple-choice paper and part 1b is hazard perception. Part 2 is the case-study test, part 3 the practical stages. You can start part 1 as soon as you hold the provisional category C entitlement.
What do I need before booking the HGV theory test?
Provisional category C entitlement on your licence, which needs the D2 application form and a D4 medical assessment completed by a doctor. The minimum age is 18 when taken with the full Driver CPC qualification.
What topics come up in the HGV theory test?
The general road rules every driver needs, plus the lorry-specific material: drivers' hours and tachographs, daily walkaround checks, air brakes, load security, vehicle weights and dimensions, lorry speed limits, blind spots and motorway rules for goods vehicles.
How long is the HGV theory certificate valid?
Two years from passing both parts. The practical stages of the licence must be passed inside that window or the theory is retaken.
Related on PassRates.uk
Original practice questions covering the same topics as the official DVSA LGV theory test. Not the real exam questions, and not affiliated with or endorsed by the DVSA. Based on The Highway Code, gov.uk lorry driver guidance and Know Your Traffic Signs under the Open Government Licence v3.0.