Taking the Practical Driving Test
The test will last about 38 to 40 minutes and will include 20 minutes of independent driving. You will need to demonstrate that you know The Highway Code and can drive safely in different road and traffic conditions. You will be asked to complete one reversing manoeuvre and you may have to carry out the Emergency Stop.
The examiner will ask you if you would like your instructor to sit in on test.
There are 5 parts to the driving test:
- An eyesight check
- ‘Show Me, Tell Me’ Vehicle safety questions (see 'Show Me, Tell Me' here >)
- General driving ability
- Reversing your vehicle
- Independent driving
If you are taking an extended test because you’ve been banned for driving, the test will last about 70 minutes.
Eyesight Check
At the start of the Practical Driving Test, your examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a parked vehicle. You must satisfy the examiner that in good daylight you can read a vehicle number plate at a minimum distance of 20 metres (or 20.5m for old style plates). New-style number plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers, such as AB51 ABC. If you need glasses or contact lenses to read the number plate, that’s fine, however you must wear them whenever you drive.
If you fail the eyesight check, your test will not continue and you will fail your Practical Driving Test.
‘Show Me, Tell Me’ questions
Vehicle Safety Checks are very important, to make sure that your car is in good working order before you start the engine. You need to be aware of what you need to check, how to check it and how often to do it. Advice and information can be found in the car manufacturer’s handbook.
You’ll be asked 2 Vehicle Safety questions, known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions. Further information is available online at GOV.UK:
Car 'Show Me, Tell Me' vehicle safety questions >
You will be asked:
- Tell me question (where you explain how you’d carry out a safety task) at the start of the test, before you start driving.
- Show me question (where you show how you’d carry out a safety task) while you’re driving.
- Advice and information on how to carry out Vehicle Safety Checks will be given in your lessons, so that you will be confident and able to answer all the questions.
General Driving Ability
You’ll drive in various road and traffic conditions, but not on Motorways. During the Test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving. The examiner will give you directions that you should follow. You will be asked to pull over to the side of the road and pull away during your test, including:
- Normal stops at the side of the road.
- Pulling out from behind a parked vehicle.
- A hill start.
- You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop.
Reversing your Vehicle
The examiner will ask you to do one of the following exercises:
- Parallel Park at the side of the road
- Parking in a parking Bay – either by driving in and reversing out or reversing in and driving out (the examiner will tell you which one you have to do)
- Pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse back for about 2 car lengths, keeping reasonably close to the kerb and then re-join traffic.
Independent Driving
You will have to drive for about 20 minutes by following either:
- Directions from a sat nav
- Traffic signs
The examiner will tell you which you have to follow. They will set the sat-nav up for you. You can’t use your own sat nav.
The Independent driving is designed to assess your ability to drive safely while making decisions independently.
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. You’ll be able to ask the examiner for confirmation of where you are going if you’re not sure. It won’t matter if you go the wrong way, unless you make a fault while doing it.
If you make mistakes during your test, you can carry on; 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.
Practical Driving Test Results
There are three types of faults that can be marked:
- A dangerous fault – involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property
- A serious fault – could potentially be dangerous
- A driving fault – not potentially dangerous, but if you make the same fault throughout your test it could become a serious fault
You’ll Pass your driving test if you make no more than 15 Driving faults and no Serious or Dangerous faults.
If you Pass your test the examiner will tell you what faults you made, if any and give you a Pass Certificate. You will be asked if you want your full licence to be sent to you automatically.
If you don’t pass, the examiner will ask if you would like your instructor to hear the debrief and tell you what faults you made. You can book another test straight away, but it has to be at least 10 working days away.
More detailed information on the Practical Driving test is available at GOV.UK:
The car practical driving test >
Preparing for you Practical Driving Test
Those who pass their driving test have had, on average, about 45 hours of professional training combined with 22 hours of private practice.
You will need to gain experience on different types of roads and driving conditions. The more you practice and increase your experience, the more confident you will become.
Applying for your Practical Driving Test
You cannot apply for the practical driving test until you have passed the theory test.
