Practical Driving Test

During the test

The driving test has 5 sections:

1. eyesight check
2. 'show me, tell me' vehicle safety questions
3. general driving ability
4. reversing the vehicle
5. independent driving

You will take the same test whether you are driving a manual or automatic car.

How long does the test last

The driving sections should last approximately 40 minutes in total.

In the extended driving test, taken by drivers that have been banned, the driving section should last approximately 70 minutes.

Eyesight check

The test candidate has to read a number plate from a distance of:

• 20 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate
• 20.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate

The new-style number plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers - if you fail the eyesight check, the driving test will end.

'Show me, tell me' questions

Consists of 2 vehicle safety questions known as the 'show me, tell me'.

You will be asked the:

• 'tell me' question before the driving sections begin
• 'show me' question during the driving section

General driving ability

Apart from during the independent driving section, throughout the test the candidate will be directed by the examiner. This will take the candidate through various road and traffic conditions (not on motorways).

Driving test routes are not published, so they can't be checked or practiced before a test.

During the test the examiner will direct the candidate to pull over at the side of the road in order to:

• carry out normal stops/pull aways from the side of the road
• pull out from behind a parked vehicle
• carry out a hill start
• carry out an emergency stop (done on approx 1 in 3 tests)

Reversing

The examiner will ask the test candidate to do one of the following exercises:

• parallel park at the side of the road
• drive in and reverse out, or reverse in and drive out of a parking bay (the examiner decides which way)
• pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for approximately 2 car lengths, then rejoin the traffic

Independent driving

For about 20 minutes the test candidate will have to follow a route by using either:

• directions from a sat nav
• traffic signs

The examiner will decide which one

Sat Nav - supplied and set up by the examiner (in-car systems or sat navs supplied by the candidate are NOT allowed).

Traffic signs - if signs are obscured for any reason, the examiner will give directions until the next one can be seen.

Going off the route - the examiner won't give faults for taking a wrong turning, and will help the candidate get back to the correct route. This is because they are looking for safe, competent and sensible driving from a candidate e.g. if a wrong turn is taken safely, it is not a fault.

Faults

If mistakes occur during a test, the candidate should continue because there are different mistake levels. A collection of minor mistakes might not affect the overall test result.

The examiner will only stop a test if they think the driving is a danger to other road users.