Practical Test
The practical driving test (car)
Before you Book Your Driving Test, Make Sure You are Ready. It is best to obtain this guidance from your Approved Driving Instructor (ADI). Dave can provide you with an assessment prior to booking your test.
ALSO, make sure that your Driving Instructor and the vehicle you intend to use for your test are both available.
What will the test include?
The test will include:-
An eyesight check.
Two vehicle safety Questions
A general drive.
A ten minute Independant Drive.
Eyesight check
The test will include an eyesight check (if you fail this, your test will not continue). The eyesight test requires you to read a number plate that is a certain distance away. For more information about the eyesight check please use the ‘Driving eyesight requirements’ link below.
Vehicle safety questions
These are basic safety checks that a driver should carry out to ensure the vehicle is safe for use. Although some checks may involve the candidate in opening the bonnet to identify where fluid levels would be checked, pupils will not be asked to touch a hot engine or physically check fluid levels.
Candidates will be asked two questions, one ‘show me’ and one ‘tell me’. One or both questions answered incorrectly will result in one driving fault being recorded.
As vehicle technology advances, more and more vehicles are being equipped with electronic diagnostic systems, which inform the driver of the state of the engine fluid levels and tyre pressures. It will be acceptable for a candidate to refer to the vehicle information system (if fitted) when answering questions on fluid levels or tyre pressures.
You can find source material in the DSA publication ‘The official guide to Driving – the essential skills’ and ‘The official DSA guide to learning to drive’. Advice and information on how to carry out vehicle safety checks can also be found in the manufacturer’s handbook.
General Drive
During the driving test the examiner will give you directions which you should follow. Test routes are designed to be as uniform as possible and will include a range of typical road and traffic conditions. During the test, the examiner will ask you to carry out set exercises.
Throughout the test you should drive in the way your instructor has taught you. If you make a mistake, don’t worry about it, it might be a less serious driving fault and may not affect your result. The examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving.
You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure). However, if you commit one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test. If at any time your examiner considers you to be a danger to other road users your test will be stopped.
You are allowed to take someone with you on the test, this person must be over 16 years old and cannot take any part in the test.
The driving test is straightforward and has been designed to see if you:
- can drive safely
- know The Highway Code and can demonstrate this through your driving
- The Highway Code
The general drive will also include the set excercises of moving off and stopping, moving off from behind a parked vehicle and one manouvre, which will be chosen from:
- reversing around a corner (left or right)
- turning in the road (three point turn)
- reverse parking (either bay or parallel to the left or right)
You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop exercise.
Independant Driving
During the general driving of the test, you will be asked to undertake approximately ten minutes of INDEPENDENT DRIVING.
The candidate will be asked to do ONE of the following:
- Drive to a destination following traffic signs.
- Drive following a series of verbal directions – Diagrams will be shown to candidates given verbal directions.
- Drive using a combination of both of the above methods.
The diagrams may show a simple route path such as, Follow to a road end and turn right – at the next road end turn left- at the roundabout turn right.
During the Independent drive the candidate must still drive as they would be expected to do throughout the current test. However, they will be expected to drive completely independently, unaided and unprompted.
Watch ‘Take your instructor on your driving test’ on YouTube.
Dave has used many of the test centres in Leicestershire, and these details can be found on the DSA website.
DSA’s range of ‘find your nearest’ services has moved to Directgov. This includes your nearest theory and practical test centres, and test routes. The best address to use is direct.gov.uk/motoringnearest.
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is now able to offer tests outside the normal test times at a number of test centres. This provides customers a wider range of appointments over an extended working day.
Practical tests are generally available at all permanent test centres. Saturday and weekday evening tests, subject to resources being available, are offered at a premium rate. Non premium rate tests are available at various times between 7.30 am and 3.27 pm Monday to Friday.
Vehicles you can’t use at the practical test
If you plan to use your own vehicle at the practical driving test, there are some vehicles that can’t be used for safety reasons.
You’ll need to check that a recall or safety notice does not affect the vehicle.
After the practical test
When the driving test is over, the examiner will tell you whether you passed or failed. You can request feedback on your test from the examiner, who will then go through your performance during the test.
If you pass…
If you pass and have a photocard driving licence issued after 1 March 2004 the examiner will ask you if you want your full driving licence issued to you automatically.
If you want to use this service, the examiner will take your old licence off you, scan the details and send them electronically to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will then be given a pass certificate to prove you passed your test. DVLA will then send you your new full licence by post within four weeks of you passing your practical test.
If you pass your test but do not want to use this automatic service, or have a licence issued before 1 March 2004, you will be given a pass certificate by the examiner. On the back of the pass certificate it tells you what you need to do next. This involves sending your licence and appropriate fee to DVLA who will then check your application and issue you with a new full licence.
If you fail…
If you fail the test you should ask the examiner for some feedback to help prepare yourself for your next test. Your driving report form will also show you where you made any mistakes. You can take another practical test 10 working days after your car or motorcycle test.
Driving test standards
All examiners are trained to carry out the test to the same standard, they do not have pass or fail quotas. So as long as you demonstrate the standard required you will pass your driving test.
Weather conditions/ mechanical problems etc
DSA do not conduct tests in bad light or in adverse weather conditions for the safety of the candidate and the examiner. We will arrange another appointment at no further cost, but compensation is not payable. Candidates should call the telephone number quoted on the appointment letter to check whether their test will go ahead.
If the driving test is not completed for reasons attributable to you or your vehicle, you will have to take another test at your own cost.
Pass Plus
The DSA recommends that new car drivers who have just passed their practical test consider taking Pass Plus. Pass Plus is a course of six extra modules taken with a driving instructor after passing your test.
For more information about Pass Plus please click on the link below.
More useful links
- Driving test fees
- direct.gov.uk/bookpracticaltest
- Find my nearest driving test centre for cars Opens new window
Provided by the Driving Standards Agency
In this section…
- How to book a practical driving test
- Minimum test vehicle requirements for a car and car and trailer test
- Preparing for your driving test – The Driver’s Record
- Reporting for your practical test
| Practical test type | Weekday price | Weekday evening and weekend price | ||
| Car | £62.00 | £75.00 | ||
| Extended test for disqualified drivers | Weekday price | Saturday price | ||
| Car | £124.00 | £150.00 | ||
Book your practical tests online
The quickest and easiest way to book your car or motorcycle driving test is to use the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) online booking service. You can:
- choose your test centre
- choose the time and date of your test
- check your test appointment details
- change or cancel your test if your circumstances change
As a new user, you may find it helpful to read the information pages before using this online service.
