Your practical driving test
What happens during the test
There are 5 parts to the driving test:
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an eyesight check
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‘show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions
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general driving ability
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reversing your vehicle
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independent driving
The test is the same for both manual and automatic cars.
How long the test lasts
You’ll drive for around 40 minutes.
You’ll drive for around 70 minutes if you’re taking an extended driving test because you’ve been banned from driving.
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Eyesight check
You’ll have to read a number plate from a distance of:
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20 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate
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20.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate
New-style number plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers, such as AB51 ABC.
You’ll fail your driving test if you fail the eyesight check. The test will end.
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‘Show me, tell me’ questions
You’ll be asked 2 vehicle safety questions known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions
You’ll be asked the:
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‘tell me’ question at the start of your test, before you start driving
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‘show me’ question while you’re driving
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Your general driving ability
You’ll drive in various road and traffic conditions, but not on motorways.
The examiner will give you directions that you should follow. Driving test routes aren’t published, so you can’t check them before your test.
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Pulling over at the side of the road
You’ll be asked to pull over and pull away during your test, including:
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normal stops at the side of the road
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pulling out from behind a parked vehicle
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a hill start
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You might also be asked to carry out an emergency stop.
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Reversing your vehicle
The examiner will ask you to do one of the following exercises:
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parallel park at the side of the road
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park in a parking bay – either by driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out (the examiner will tell you which you have to do)
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pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic
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Independent driving
You’ll have to drive for about 20 minutes by following either:
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directions from a sat nav
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traffic signs
The examiner will tell you which you have to follow.
They’ll set the sat nav up for you. You can’t use your own sat nav.
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If you can’t see traffic signs
If you can’t see a traffic sign (for example, because it’s covered by trees), the examiner will give you directions until you can see the next one.
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Going off the route
The examiner won’t give you a fault for taking a wrong turning.
They’ll help you get back on the route if you do.
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If you make mistakes during your test
You can carry on if you make a mistake. It might not affect your test result if it’s not serious.
The examiner will only stop your test if they think your driving is a danger to other road users.
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Driving test faults and your result
There are 3 types of faults you can make:
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a dangerous fault – this involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property
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a serious fault – something potentially dangerous
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a driving fault – this isn’t potentially dangerous, but if you keep making the same fault, it could become a serious fault
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Pass mark
You’ll pass your driving test if you make:
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no more than 15 driving faults (sometimes called ‘minors’)
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no serious or dangerous faults (sometimes called ‘majors’)
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If you pass your test
The examiner will:
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tell you what faults you made, if any
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give you a pass certificate
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ask you if you want your full licence to be sent to you automatically – give the examiner your provisional licence if you want to do this
Apply for your full driving licence within 2 years of passing your test if you don’t want to get your licence automatically.
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When you can start driving
You can start driving straight away when you’ve passed your test. You don’t need to wait for your full licence to arrive.
Contact DVLA if your full licence hasn’t arrived 3 weeks after you applied for it.
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If you don’t pass
The examiner will tell you what faults you made.
You have to book another test and pay again. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.
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Appeal your driving test
You can appeal if you think your examiner didn’t follow the regulations when they carried out your test.
Your test result can’t be changed, but you might get a free retest if your appeal is successful.
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How to appeal
You have to appeal to a magistrate’s court or sheriff’s court.
You must appeal to a:
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magistrate’s court within 6 months if you took your test in England or Wales
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sheriff’s court within 21 days if you took your test in Scotland
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If your test is cancelled or there’s bad weather
Your driving test can be cancelled or stopped because of bad weather, problems with your car, or for other reasons.
Bad weather
Driving tests aren’t carried out in dangerous weather conditions, such as when the roads are icy or if there’s
flooding, thick fog or high winds.
Call your test centre if there are any of these conditions on the day of your test.
The phone number for the test centre is on your booking confirmation email.
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If your test can’t go ahead
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will:
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automatically book the next available date for your test
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send you the details within 3 working days – it can take up to 7 days if there’s a long period of bad
weather
You can change the date you’re given if it’s not suitable.You can’t claim for any out-of-pocket expenses if your test is cancelled because of bad weather.
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Problems with you or your car
You’ll have to book another test and pay again if your test can’t be completed because of a problem with:
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you, for example, if you feel unwell while taking your test
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your car, for example, if it breaks down during the test or doesn’t meet the rules to be used
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If your test is cancelled for another reason
Sometimes DVSA has to cancel tests for other reasons, for example, if the examiner is unwell.
You’ll be sent a new date for your test if this happens.
You can change the date if it’s not suitable.
You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.