About the Driving Test

On the day of your practical driving test you must bring the following:

• Your Theory Test pass certificate (or confirmation).
• Your photocard provisional licence. If you have an old-style paper licence, you must take your signed driving licence and you must also bring a valid passport. Please note that no other form of photographic identification will be accepted.
• You must also bring an appropriately insured and licensed vehicle suitable for the test.

Your driving test will last approximately 40 minutes or 70 minutes if you are taking an extended test. You will be required to pass an eyesight test to ensure you can read a number plate from a distance of 20 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate and 20.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate. If you fail the eyesight test then your driving test will not go ahead and you will instantly fail.

2 vehicle safety questions will then be asked before you start the driving part of the test- these are known as “Show me, tell me” questions. You will need to carry out the check in full to show the examiner you understand the required check. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/car-show-me-tell-me-vehicle-safety-questions/car-show-me-tell-me-vehicle-safety-questions

Once you begin, you’ll need to be able to demonstrate that you can drive safely and skilfully on various road and traffic conditions. The examiner will be giving you clear directions and in good time.

You’ll be asked to pull over and move away during your test as well as normal stops at the side of the road and pulling out from behind a parked vehicle and a hill start. You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop.

You will be asked to carry out one of the following:

• Parallel park at the side of the road.
• Park in a parking bay, by either driving in and reversing out or reversing in and driving out – your examiner will inform you of which one to carry out.
• Pull up on the right side of the road and reverse for around 2 car lengths and re-join the traffic.

The independent driving requires you to drive for around 20 minutes by following either a sat nav or traffic signs, the examiner will tell you which one to follow. The sat nav will have been supplied and pre-planned by the examiner.

Providing that you have not accrued 16 or more minor faults, or a single serious of dangerous fault, you will pass your test!