UK Road Signs Test

Test yourself on UK road signs with our free quiz: every question shows an original sign drawing and explains the answer using The Highway Code and Know your traffic signs. Start with the basics – circles give orders, triangles warn and rectangles inform.

100 UK signs & markings
30 random per test
No sign-up

Practise by sign type

Warning signsTriangular signs with a red border that warn you about hazards ahead, from bends and junctions to animals and level crossings.26 signs Regulatory signsCircular signs that give orders: red rings tell you what you must not do, and blue circles tell you what you must do.25 signs Direction and information signsRectangular signs that guide you: green for primary routes, blue for motorways, white for local roads and brown for tourist attractions.24 signs Road markingsLines, words and studs on the road surface that guide, warn and control traffic, from yellow lines to box junctions.25 signs

Road sign shapes and colours

Once you know the system, most signs make sense even if you've never seen them before. The shape tells you what kind of sign it is, and the colour adds detail.

Shape and colour	What it means	Examples
Circle with a red border	Mostly tells you what you must not do	No entry, no right turn, maximum speed
Blue circle, no red border	Mostly tells you what you must do	Turn left ahead, ahead only, mini-roundabout
Triangle with a red border	Warns of a hazard ahead	Bend, crossroads, slippery road, cattle
Rectangle	Gives directions or information	Motorway signs, hospital ahead, no through road
Octagon (eight sides)	Stop and give way	The STOP sign
Upside-down triangle	Give way to traffic on the major road	The GIVE WAY sign

Plates below a sign add to or limit its message – for example, a distance, a time or a type of vehicle.

Practise road signs by category

Warning signs – triangles for bends, junctions, crossings, animals and road surface hazards.
Regulatory signs – the signs that give orders, including speed limits, no entry and give way.
Direction and information signs – blue motorway, green primary route and white local signs, plus brown tourist signs.
Road markings – white lines, yellow lines, box junctions, zig-zags and road studs.

Road signs in the theory test

Road and traffic signs is one of the 14 topics in the car and motorcycle theory test, so you'll almost certainly be shown signs and markings to identify. Signs also appear in questions on other topics, such as motorway rules and rules of the road. The questions in the real test are based on three books, and two of them are free on GOV.UK: The Highway Code and Know your traffic signs.

When you're ready, practise the full topic on our road and traffic signs questions page, or test everything at once with a mock theory test.

How to learn road signs faster

Learn the shape rules first. They let you work out signs you've never seen.
Group similar signs. Compare signs that look alike, such as "no vehicles" and "no motor vehicles", or the different junction warning signs.
Look for them on real roads. Name every sign you pass as a passenger.
Use short, regular sessions. Ten minutes a day with this quiz beats one long session the night before.
Read the explanations. Every answer tells you why, so you remember the meaning, not just the picture.

Our Highway Code test and stopping distances guide cover the other facts learners most often get wrong.

Our sign drawings and questions are original and based on The Highway Code and Know your traffic signs. Traffic sign designs are Crown copyright and the source material is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Not the real test questions. MockTheory is not affiliated with or endorsed by the DVSA.

Frequently asked questions

What do the shapes of UK road signs mean?

Circles give orders, triangles warn of hazards and rectangles give directions or information. The two exceptions are the octagonal STOP sign and the upside-down triangle for GIVE WAY.

What does a red circle mean on a road sign?

A sign with a red circle is mostly prohibitive: it tells you something you must not do, such as no entry, no U-turns or a maximum speed limit.

What does a blue circle mean on a road sign?

A blue circle with no red border mostly gives a positive instruction: something you must do, such as turn left, keep left or go ahead only.

Are road signs on the theory test?

Yes. Road and traffic signs is one of the 14 theory test topics for cars and motorcycles, and signs also appear in questions on other topics.

Where can I see all UK road signs?

The Department for Transport's Know your traffic signs is the full guide and is free to read on GOV.UK. The Highway Code also shows the signs you are most likely to see.

Is this road signs quiz free?

Yes. All our road sign quizzes are free and you don't need to sign up. Your scores are saved only on your own device.

Original practice questions based on The Highway Code (Open Government Licence v3.0). Not the real test questions. MockTheory is not affiliated with or endorsed by the DVSA.