Overview

• The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will introduce theory-only questions on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillators to car and motorcycle theory tests from early 2026.
• Official DVSA learning materials have been overhauled with example questions on chest compression depth and public access defibrillator use.
• The initiative, developed with Resuscitation Council UK and regional Save a Life programmes, aims to boost bystander intervention in over 40,000 annual out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
• Approximately 2.4 million theory tests are taken each year, giving the new content broad reach to instil essential life-support knowledge across the UK.
• While some earlier reports cited an autumn 2025 start, partners now emphasise an early 2026 launch with other vehicle categories to follow.