The DVSA has updated the car and motorcycle theory test question bank for 2026 to include improved cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) content and, for the first time, questions about automated external defibrillators (AEDs). It is a small change on paper and a significant one in intent: drivers are frequently the first people at the scene of a collision, and what they do in the first few minutes can decide whether someone survives.
Here is what has actually changed, what it means for your revision, and what it does not change.
What Has Changed
First aid has always been part of the theory test. The car theory test covers a range of topics including accidents and incidents, and questions about what to do at the scene of a collision are long-standing. What is new for 2026 is that the existing first aid content has been brought up to date with current best practice, and defibrillator questions have been added to the bank.
The official DVSA learning materials have been updated to match, including The Official DVSA Guide to Driving — the essential skills, The Official DVSA Guide to the Theory Test for Car Drivers, and the Official DVSA Theory Test Kit in its online and app versions.
What has not changed: The test still costs the same, still lasts the same length of time, and still contains the same number of questions. This is a content update to existing first aid material, not an extra section bolted on to the end.
Why the DVSA Made the Change
The reasoning is straightforward. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates in the UK are low, and the single biggest factor in improving them is bystander action in the first few minutes. Where CPR is started and a defibrillator is used within three to five minutes of collapse, survival rates rise dramatically — figures as high as 70% have been cited.
Drivers are a useful population to target. There are tens of millions of licence holders, they are distributed everywhere, and a large proportion of them will at some point be the first person at a roadside incident. Adding a few questions to a test that around a million and a half people sit each year is a low-cost way of putting basic knowledge into a lot of heads.
What You Actually Need to Know
You are not being asked to qualify as a first responder. The theory test tests awareness and basic sequence, not clinical skill. In broad terms, the areas covered include:
- Making the scene safe first. Warning other traffic, switching on hazard lights, and not putting yourself in danger.
- Checking for a response and for breathing. The basic assessment sequence before you act.
- Calling 999 and giving a clear location. The call handler will guide you.
- Chest compressions. Hands in the centre of the chest, compressing firmly and regularly at roughly 100–120 compressions per minute.
- Using an AED. That defibrillators are designed for untrained members of the public, that they give spoken instructions, and that they will not deliver a shock unless one is needed.
- Casualty care basics. Not moving an injured person unnecessarily, not giving them anything to eat or drink, and keeping them warm and reassured.
The Highway Code’s own annex on first aid on the road remains a useful reference and is worth reading properly rather than skimming.
Practise Real Test Routes on Your Phone
The Exam Routes App gives you access to real driving test routes with turn-by-turn navigation. Practise at your own pace and build confidence before test day.
How This Affects Your Revision Plan
If you are revising with an up-to-date official question bank, you do not need to do anything special — the new questions are already in there. The risk is revising with out-of-date material. Second-hand books, old app downloads and free question sets scraped from the internet years ago will not contain the defibrillator questions and may present outdated CPR guidance.
Three practical steps:
- Check your revision source is current for 2026. If it does not mention AEDs at all, it is out of date.
- Do not skip the accidents and first aid category. Many learners concentrate on road signs and hazard perception and treat first aid as filler. It is not — and the questions are easy marks once you have read the material once.
- Read the Highway Code annex on first aid. Fifteen minutes, and it covers most of what you will be asked.
The Theory Test in 2026: A Quick Reminder
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Multiple choice questions | 50 questions, 43 needed to pass |
| Time allowed | 57 minutes for the multiple choice section |
| Hazard perception | 14 clips, 15 scoreable hazards, 44 out of 75 needed to pass |
| Both sections | You must pass both in the same sitting |
| Certificate validity | Two years from the date you pass |
That two-year validity matters more than usual right now. With practical test waiting times still long in many areas, a meaningful number of candidates have had theory certificates expire before they could sit the practical. If you pass your theory, start working towards a practical booking straight away.
Prepare for Both Halves of the Test
Passing the theory is only the first gate. The Exam Routes App gives you real UK driving test routes with turn-by-turn navigation, so once your theory certificate is in hand you can start practising the actual roads around your chosen test centre — and make the most of the two years you have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there really defibrillator questions in the 2026 theory test?
Yes. The DVSA has added questions about automated external defibrillators to the car and motorcycle theory test question bank for the first time, alongside updated CPR content.
Does the theory test cost more or take longer now?
No. The DVSA has confirmed the changes involve no additional cost, no extra test time and no increase in the number of questions.
Do I need first aid training to pass?
No. The questions test basic awareness — making the scene safe, calling for help, the principle of chest compressions and how an AED works. No practical training is required.
Where can I revise the new content?
Use the current official DVSA theory test materials, which have been updated, and read the Highway Code’s annex on first aid on the road.
Will these questions appear on every theory test?
Not necessarily. Questions are drawn from a large bank, so you may or may not get a first aid question. Revise the category regardless.
Passed Your Theory? Start Practising the Routes
Download the Exam Routes App and practise the roads your examiner actually uses — turn-by-turn, at your own pace, as many times as you like.
