Theory Test: Documents

To learn all about the Documents category, watch the video or read the article below.

The theory test featuring questions from this category is at the bottom of the page.

Topics Include

  • Licenses – knowing what type of driving licenses you need.
  • Insurance – car insurance cover types and what you need to drive legally.
  • MOT Certificate – know the legal requirements for vehicle testing and what the test covers.
  • Vehicle Excise Duty (tax disc)
  • Vehicle Registration Document/Certificate

Car Insurance

  • You must have a valid insurance cover that covers you for at least third party liability.
  • Third Party Car Insurance covers – injury to another person, damage to someone’s property, damage to other vehicles. This is the minimum level of insurance you need to drive on public roads.
  • Third Party Fire and Theft Car Insurance covers the above plus damage to your vehicle through fire and theft.
  • A cover note is a document issued before you receive your insurance certificate.
  • You cannot obtain a tax disc without having valid car insurance.
  • The maximum specified fine for driving without insurance is £5000.

MoT Certificate

  • A MOT certificate is valid for one year after the date it was issued.
  • All cars over three years old need a MOT certificate. The only time you can drive a three year old car without an MOT certificate is when driving to an MOT test centre for an appointment.
  • An MOT test checks your car is roadworthy, that all parts work properly and the car is safe to drive, and that it keeps to the legal limits for exhaust emissions.
  • If you drive a car without an MOT certificate you will invalidate your insurance.

Vehicle Excise Duty (tax disc)

Before obtaining a tax disc your car must have:

  • Valid insurance
  • An MOT certificate

A Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) is valid for 12 months. It is a notification to tell the DVLA that a vehicle is not being used on the road and so doesn’t need a tax disc for the 12 month period.

Vehicle Registration Certificate

Vehicle Registration Certificate

  • This lists all the important details about the vehicle and the registered keeper of the vehicle.
  • The registered vehicle keeper is legally responsible for ensuring that a Vehicle Registration Certificate (V5C) is kept up to date.
  • You must update your Vehicle Registration Certificate when you move house.

Contact the licensing authority when:

  • You change your vehicle
  • You change your name
  • Your permanent address changes
  • Your health affects your driving
  • Your eyesight does not meet a set standard

Other Facts to Know

  • To supervise a learner driver you must be 21 years of age and have held a full licence for more than 3 years.
  • If you get six penalty points on your licence within two years of passing your practical driving test your driving licence will be revoked. You will have to take and pass the theory and practical tests again.
  • You must tell the DVLA if your health is likely to affect your driving or if your eyesight doesn’t meet the required standard.
  • If a police officer ask to see your documents but you don’t have them with you, you must take them to a police station within 7 days.
  • If your vehicle is unused or off the road it must have either a SORN declaration or valid insurance.
  • The Pass Plus scheme is to help new drivers improve their basic driving skills. Taking it can reduce the cost of car insurance.
29 votes, 4.8 avg

Theory Test: Documents

Using a vehicle on the road illegally carries a heavy fine and can lead to penalty points on your licence. Things you MUST have include a valid driving licence, a current valid tax disc, and proper insurance cover.

1 / 17

Which THREE of these do you need before you can drive legally?

(mark THREE answers)

The cost of insurance varies with your age and how long you have been driving. Usually, the younger you are the more expensive it is, especially if you are under 25 years of age. The Pass Plus scheme provides additional training to newly qualified drivers. Pass Plus is recognised by many insurance companies and taking this extra training could give you reduced insurance premiums, as well as improving your skills and experience.

2 / 17

The cost of your insurance may reduce if you

(mark ONE answer)

Every vehicle used on the road has a registration certificate. The document shows vehicle details including date of first registration, registration number, previous keeper, make of vehicle, engine size and chassis number, year of manufacture and colour.

3 / 17

Which THREE pieces of information are found on a vehicle registration document?

(mark THREE answer)

It is your responsibility to make sure you are properly insured for the vehicle you are driving.

4 / 17

A newly qualified driver must

(mark ONE answer)

Driving a vehicle without insurance cover is illegal. If you cause injury to anyone or damage to property, it could be very expensive and you could also be subject to a criminal prosecution. You can arrange insurance cover with, an insurance company, a broker and some motor manufacturers or dealers.

5 / 17

Before driving anyone else's motor vehicle you should make sure that

(mark ONE answer)

You don’t have to carry the documents for your vehicle around with you. If a police officer asks to see them and you don’t have them with you, you may be asked to produce them at a police station within seven days.

6 / 17

A police officer asks to see your documents. You do not have them with you. You may be asked to take them to a police station within

(mark ONE answer)

It is a serious offence to drive without insurance. As well as a heavy fine you may be disqualified or incur penalty points.

7 / 17

What is the maximum specified fine for driving without insurance?

(mark ONE answer)

If you accumulate six or more penalty points within two years of gaining your first full licence it will be revoked. The six or more points include any gained due to offences you committed before passing your test. If this happens you may only drive as a learner until you pass both the theory and practical tests again.

8 / 17

You have just passed your practical test. You do not hold a full licence in another category. Within two years you get six penalty points on your licence. What will you have to do?

(mark TWO answers)

Sometimes an insurance company will issue a temporary insurance certificate called a cover note. It gives you the same insurance cover as your certificate, but lasts for a limited period, usually one month.

9 / 17

A cover note is a document issued before you receive your

(mark ONE answer)

Having an excess on your policy will help to keep down the premium, but if you make a claim you will have to pay the excess yourself.

10 / 17

You claim on your insurance to have your car repaired. You're policy has an excess of £150. What does this mean?

(mark ONE answer)

Any car over three years old MUST have a valid MOT certificate before it can be used on the road. Exceptionally, you may drive to a pre-arranged test appointment or to a garage for repairs required for the test. However you should check this with your insurance company. Driving an unroadworthy vehicle may invalidate your insurance.

11 / 17

When is it legal to drive a car over three years old without an MOT certificate?

(mark ONE answer)

Learner drivers benefit by combining professional driving lessons with private practice. However, you need to be at least 21 years old and have held your driving licence for at least 3 years before you can supervise a learner driver.

12 / 17

To supervise a learner driver you must

(mark TWO answers)

The licensing authority need to keep their records up to date. They send out a reminder when a vehicle's excise licence (road tax) is due for renewal. To do this they need to know the name and address of the registered keeper. Every vehicle in the country is registered, so it’s possible to trace its history.

13 / 17

You have a duty to contact the licencing authority when

(mark THREE answers)

When a car is three years old (four years old in Northern Ireland), it must pass an MOT test and have a valid MOT certificate before it can be used on the road. Exceptionally, you may
• drive to a pre-arranged test appointment or to a garage for repairs required for the test
• drive vehicles that are more than 40 years old without an MOT test, but they must be in a roadworthy condition before being used on the road. See GOV.UK for more details.

14 / 17

Your car needs an MOT certificate. If you drive without one this could invalidate your

(mark ONE answer)

It is your legal responsibility to keep the details of your Vehicle Registration Certificate (V5C) up to date. You should tell the licensing authority of any changes. These include your name, address, or vehicle details. If you don’t do this you may have problems when you sell your vehicle.

15 / 17

Who is legally responsible for ensuring that a Vehicle Registration Certificate (V5C) is updated?

(mark ONE answer)

A SORN declaration allows you to keep a vehicle off road and untaxed. SORN will end when the vehicle is taxed, sold or scrapped.

16 / 17

How long will a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) last for?

(mark ONE answer)

If you want to keep a vehicle off the public road you must declare SORN. It is an offence not to do so. You then won’t have to pay road tax. If you don’t renew the SORN declaration or re-license the vehicle, you will incur a penalty.

17 / 17

What is a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) declaration?

(mark ONE answer)

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