PCV Theory Test Practice (Bus and Coach) 2026: Practice test 4

1. Question 1 of 25

   Rule H1 of the Highway Code says who has the greatest responsibility to reduce danger?

   • ADrivers of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm
   • BHorse riders, because horses can be unpredictable
   • CCyclists, because they share lanes with lorries
   • DPedestrians, because they are the slowest road users
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Drivers of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm

   Rule H1: those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce danger.

2. Question 2 of 25

   When should you apply to renew your driver card?

   • AAt least 15 working days before it expires
   • BWithin 7 days after it expires
   • COn the day it expires, at a DVLA office
   • DAt least one year before it expires
   Show answer

   Answer: A. At least 15 working days before it expires

   Apply at least 15 working days before expiry, or you may not be able to record your activities.

3. Question 3 of 25

   How short may a reduced weekly rest be under the assimilated rules?

   • A36 hours
   • B24 hours
   • C11 hours
   • D9 hours
   Show answer

   Answer: B. 24 hours

   A reduced weekly rest can be 24 hours, once every other week.

4. Question 4 of 25

   You are waiting at traffic lights in a lorry. A cyclist is close to your nearside front corner. What should you do?

   • AMove off quickly so you get ahead of the cyclist
   • BCheck your mirrors and let the cyclist move clear before you go
   • CTurn left as normal; the cyclist must give way
   • DSound the horn so the cyclist moves out of the way
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Check your mirrors and let the cyclist move clear before you go

   Cyclists can be hidden beside the cab. Use every mirror and give them time and space.

5. Question 5 of 25

   You are towing a trailer with a lorry and the trailer starts to snake. What should you do?

   • ASpeed up to pull the trailer straight
   • BBrake hard to stop it as quickly as possible
   • CSteer sharply from side to side to correct it
   • DEase off the accelerator gently until it is under control
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Ease off the accelerator gently until it is under control

   Rule 98: if the trailer snakes, ease off the accelerator and reduce speed gently.

6. Question 6 of 25

   In Scotland, what is the national speed limit on a single carriageway for a goods vehicle over 7.5 tonnes?

   • A60 mph
   • B50 mph
   • C40 mph
   • D30 mph
   Show answer

   Answer: C. 40 mph

   In Scotland, goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes are limited to 40 mph on single carriageways.

7. Question 7 of 25

   Under the assimilated rules, after how much driving must you take a break?

   • A2 hours
   • B4 hours 30 minutes
   • C3 hours
   • D5 hours 30 minutes
   Show answer

   Answer: B. 4 hours 30 minutes

   After no more than 4 hours 30 minutes of driving, take a break or breaks totalling at least 45 minutes.

8. Question 8 of 25

   You arrive at an incident involving a lorry with an orange hazard information panel. What should you do?

   • AClimb onto the vehicle to read the label and check the load
   • BMove the lorry yourself so traffic can pass
   • CKeep well away, do not smoke, and give the panel details to the emergency services
   • DHose down any spill to stop it spreading
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Keep well away, do not smoke, and give the panel details to the emergency services

   Rule 284: keep well away from dangerous goods incidents and give the emergency services as much information as possible from the labels.

9. Question 9 of 25

   Why may a long lorry need to straddle lanes at a roundabout?

   • AIts length means it may need more room to get round
   • BBecause lorries must use two lanes by law
   • CTo save fuel by taking a straighter line
   • DTo stop other vehicles from overtaking it
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Its length means it may need more room to get round

   Rule 187: long vehicles may need to take a different course or straddle lanes at roundabouts.

10. Question 10 of 25

    What is the national speed limit on a motorway for a goods vehicle over 7.5 tonnes?

    • A56 mph
    • B60 mph
    • C70 mph
    • D50 mph
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 60 mph

    Goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes are limited to 60 mph on motorways.

11. Question 11 of 25

    How must driving under the assimilated rules be recorded?

    • AOn a phone app of your choice
    • BIt does not need recording
    • COn a tachograph
    • DIn a paper diary only
    Show answer

    Answer: C. On a tachograph

    All driving under the assimilated rules must be recorded on a tachograph.

12. Question 12 of 25

    Something falls from your lorry on an ordinary road. What should you do?

    • AAsk a pedestrian to fetch it
    • BStop and retrieve it only if it is safe to do so
    • CDrive on; it is not your problem
    • DStop in the road and leave hazard lights on all day
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Stop and retrieve it only if it is safe to do so

    Rule 280: if anything falls from your vehicle, stop and retrieve it only if it is safe.

13. Question 13 of 25

    What does the Highway Code say about leaving a lorry's engine running while it is parked on a public road?

    • AYou must leave it running in winter
    • BYou must not leave it running unnecessarily
    • CYou must leave it running for 10 minutes before driving
    • DYou may leave it running for as long as you like
    Show answer

    Answer: B. You must not leave it running unnecessarily

    Rule 123: you must not leave an engine running unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationary on a public road.

14. Question 14 of 25

    What can happen if you use the footbrake continuously on a long downhill stretch?

    • AThe fuel will start to freeze
    • BThe tyres will over-inflate
    • CThe brakes can overheat and fade
    • DThe engine will stall
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The brakes can overheat and fade

    Continuous braking makes brakes overheat and lose effectiveness. Use a lower gear and the retarder.

15. Question 15 of 25

    At a mini-roundabout, when may a large vehicle drive over the central marking?

    • AOnly at night when traffic is light
    • BNever, even if it cannot get round
    • CAlways, because it is a large vehicle
    • DOnly when it is too large to go round it
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Only when it is too large to go round it

    Rule 188: all vehicles must pass round the central markings except large vehicles that cannot physically do so.

16. Question 16 of 25

    When you park a lorry on a road at night where the speed limit is over 30 mph, what must it display?

    • AFull beam headlights
    • BNo lights at all
    • CHazard warning lights all night
    • DParking lights
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Parking lights

    Rule 249: all vehicles must show parking lights when parked on a road with a speed limit over 30 mph.

17. Question 17 of 25

    You join a motorway from a slip road. Who has priority?

    • AWhoever is faster
    • BYou, because you are larger
    • CTraffic on the slip road
    • DTraffic already on the motorway
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Traffic already on the motorway

    Rule 259: give priority to traffic already on the motorway.

18. Question 18 of 25

    How long do you have for the multiple-choice part of the lorry and bus theory test?

    • A2 hours 30 minutes
    • B57 minutes
    • C1 hour 30 minutes
    • D1 hour 55 minutes
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 1 hour 55 minutes

    You have 1 hour 55 minutes to answer the 100 questions.

19. Question 19 of 25

    Which book is recommended for revising the lorry theory test, along with The Highway Code and Know your traffic signs?

    • AThe DVSA Guide to Riding
    • BThe DVSA Guide to Driving Goods Vehicles
    • CA vehicle owner's manual
    • DThe Official Car Theory Test book
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The DVSA Guide to Driving Goods Vehicles

    Revise with The Highway Code, Know your traffic signs, and the DVSA guide to driving goods vehicles (or buses and coaches).

20. Question 20 of 25

    For how long is your lorry or bus theory test certificate valid?

    • A6 months from the date you passed the second part
    • BFor life, as long as you keep a provisional licence
    • C2 years from when you passed the first part
    • D5 years from the date you booked the first part
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 2 years from when you passed the first part

    The certificate lasts 2 years from the first pass. You must pass the practical tests in that time.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Which document can you use as ID at the lorry theory test?

    • AA bank card with your name on it
    • BA recent utility bill with your address
    • CA Great Britain photocard driving licence
    • DA gym or library membership card
    Show answer

    Answer: C. A Great Britain photocard driving licence

    Bring a GB photocard licence, or a Northern Ireland or EU photocard licence. Without a photocard, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

22. Question 22 of 25

    Your lorry breaks down on a motorway with a hard shoulder. How should you leave the cab?

    • ABy the nearside door, then wait behind the barrier
    • BThrough the roof hatch, if one is fitted
    • CYou should stay in the cab with the doors locked
    • DBy the offside door, into the traffic lane
    Show answer

    Answer: A. By the nearside door, then wait behind the barrier

    Rule 275: get out using the left-hand door and wait well away from the vehicle, behind the barrier where there is one.

23. Question 23 of 25

    Why is a long vehicle at more risk on a level crossing?

    • ATrains always stop for lorries on crossings
    • BLong vehicles are not allowed on any level crossing
    • CThe barriers do not detect lorries
    • DA train could arrive before it has cleared the crossing
    Show answer

    Answer: D. A train could arrive before it has cleared the crossing

    Rule 299: a long or slow vehicle could still be on the crossing when a train arrives, so follow the telephone instructions.

24. Question 24 of 25

    Your driver card is lost. For how long may you drive without it?

    • AUp to 3 months, if you write your times on paper
    • BUp to 15 calendar days, keeping records with printouts
    • CNot at all, until a new card arrives
    • DUp to 24 hours, then you must stop driving
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Up to 15 calendar days, keeping records with printouts

    You can drive for up to 15 calendar days (or longer to get the vehicle back to base) using printouts from the vehicle unit.

25. Question 25 of 25

    At a roadside check, records for how many days must a driver normally be able to produce?

    • AThe current day and the previous 28 days
    • BThe current day only, with no older records
    • CThe current day and the previous 12 months
    • DThe current day and the previous 7 days
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The current day and the previous 28 days

    Drivers must be able to produce records for the current day and the previous 28 days.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: 85 of 100 in the multiple-choice part, and 67 of 100 in hazard perception