The driving part of your test will last about 40 minutes during which you will be examined on your general driving and ability to reverse your vehicle safely. Currently two exercises will be chosen from:
• Reversing around a corner
• Turning in the road
• Reverse parking
From 4th October 2010 you will only be asked to complete one reverse exercise.
You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop exercise.
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.
From 4th October 2010, your practical driving test will include approximately ten minutes of independent driving. This is designed to assess your ability to drive safely while making decisions independently. For more information on independent driving click here.
Taking someone with you on your driving test
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) encourages you to take someone with you on your driving test. This will usually be the person who has taught you to drive, but it could be a relative or a friend. They must be over 16 years old and cannot take any part in the test.
The person who goes with you will be able to see how you perform during the test. To get the most benefit from this, it would be sensible to ask your instructor to go with you. They can then give you advice on how to improve your driving, whether you pass or fail.
When the driving test has ended, you can call your instructor over if they didn't go with you on your test. This is so they can listen to the result and feedback with you. The examiner will tell you whether you passed or failed and will explain how you did during the test.
You can take another practical test ten working days after your failed 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. Test routes are designed to be as uniform as possible and will include a range of typical road and traffic conditions.
Weather Conditions / Mechanical Problems etc
The DSA do not conduct tests in bad light or in adverse weather conditions for the safety of the candidate and the examiner. They 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.
Click here to book a Practical Test.
The Practical Driving Test
The driving test is straightforward and has been designed
to see if you:
• Can drive safely in different road and traffic conditions
• Know The Highway Code and can demonstrate this through your driving
What Will The Test Include?
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. After the eyesight test you will be asked two vehicle
safety check questions.
You can find source material in the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) publication 'The
official guide to Driving -