Your Ultimate Guide to Driving Test Success in the UK
The practical test is the culmination of any learner driver’s journey in the UK. With approximately half of all initial test candidates failing, it’s only natural that you’d feel a bit nervous. But with proper preparation and knowledge of how things work, you can greatly improve your chances. This guide, based on knowledge shared by FDT UK, hopes to demystify the whole thing and prepare you for test day.
How To Know You Are Ready?
Before even considering booking a test, it’s essential to evaluate your readiness honestly. No set number of lessons or amount of practice time ensures success, as everyone is different and progresses at their own rate. Yet, a good sign that you’re getting to test readiness is that you can:
- Drive challenging road situations such as roundabouts, lane changes, and different kinds of junctions with confidence and safety.
- Perform all necessary manoeuvres efficiently, including parallel parking, bay parking, and turning safely on the road.
- Show a clear grasp of the Highway Code, road signs, and markings, and respond to them accordingly without delay.
Essentially, you need to have a valid theory test certificate. They last for two years from your date of passing. If yours has run out, you’ll need to take it again before being able to book your practical test.
Finally, the choice of when you’re prepared will depend on two people: yourself and your driving instructor. Be honest with your instructor about your level of confidence and their professional judgment of your ability.
The Worth of Mock Driving Tests
Your instructor is probably going to recommend that you take mock driving tests, and it’s well worth it that you take advantage of this chance. Mock tests are highly beneficial for a number of reasons:
Realistic Simulation: Your Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) will set up the real test conditions and act as the examiner to test you against the same standards. This gives a true experience.
Nerve Management: Undergoing a mock test can take a lot of the stress out of test day. Familiarity with the process desensitizes you to the pressure, so you’ll do better on the day.
Identifying Weaknesses: Practice tests highlight areas in which you still require practice so you can hone your skills prior to the actual test.
Booking Your Driving Test
Booking your practical test is very easy. The safest and cheapest method is direct from the official Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) website. Be cautious of third-party reselling websites, as these charge higher-than-normal fees.
As the waiting times for driving tests in the UK may be lengthy, it’s best to monitor cancellations in your preferred test centre location if you need an earlier test.
What You'll Need to Book:
In order to reserve your test through the DVSA website, make sure you have:
- Your UK provisional driving licence card is valid.
- Your theory test pass certificate (two-year validity).
- A debit or credit card is needed to pay the test fee (£62 for weekdays; £75 for evenings, weekends, and bank holidays).
You should also consider talking with your driving instructor about which test centres you should use, as you will probably be taking their vehicle for the test.
What Happens on Test Day
Your practical test day can seem intimidating, but knowing what will happen and in what order can make you feel more at ease. Try to get to the test centre at least 15 minutes early so that you have time for a relaxed administrative procedure.
- Your UK or Northern Ireland valid provisional driving licence.
- Your theory test pass certificate.
- A vehicle you are covered to use (most likely your instructor’s vehicle).
Your examiner will check your papers when you arrive and ask if you want to have your driving instructor with you.Although your instructor cannot provide instructions on the test, having them there can make some feel more confident.
Eyesight Test
You’ll have to pass a rapid eyesight test before you even get into the car. You’ll be asked to read a number plate from 20 metres away. If you need glasses or contact lenses for driving, ensure that you wear them. Failure to pass this test will lead to an immediate test cancellation, and your fee will not be returned.
Show Me, Tell Me" Questions
This part tests your awareness of routine vehicle safety checks. The inspector will make two requests: one “show me” (where you’ll show them a check) and one “tell me” (where you’ll tell them a check).
"Show Me" Examples:
- “Show me how you’d turn on the dipped headlights.”
- “Show me how you’d clean and wash the rear windscreen.”
"Tell Me" Examples:
- “Tell me how you’d test that the brake lights are functioning.”
- “Tell me how you’d check if the engine has sufficient oil.”
A wrong answer won’t fail you per se; it will be one small fault for each wrong answer.
The Driving Section
After the “show me, tell me” questions are finished (occasionally given during driving), the bulk of driving on your test is over, taking around 40 minutes (70 minutes for longer tests due to previous bans). During this time, you will obey the instructions of the examiner and carry out one reversing manoeuvre from the four below:
Parallel parking
Reversing between two cars or between a car and a kerb into a parallel bay.
Bay parking
Either reversing into a bay and driving out or driving in and reversing out.
Turn in the road
A three-point turn, with control and lookout.
Reversing around a corner
A controlled reverse around a junction with attention to surroundings.
Minor faults are permitted for small errors (e.g., kerb-clipping), but serious faults (e.g., running fully onto the kerb, loss of control, or neglect of blind spots) will result in a test failure.
Driving independently
Drive alone for approximately 20 minutes, either by following sat-nav instructions or road signs. This tests your capacity to make decisions independently and react to road conditions.
You could be required to do an emergency stop.
Throughout the independent driving part, the tester is seeking your independence in interpreting road signs and markings, junction handling and lane changing with confidence, and most importantly, your independent observation of traffic lights and crossings. Aiming at proper speed limits everywhere is also important.
Your Test Results: How to Ensure a Pass Result
After 40 minutes, your examiner will instruct you to return to the test centre, where they’ll let you know if you’ve passed or failed straight away. To pass, you need:
Not to have any serious or hazardous faults (major faults).
To accrue no more than 15 driving faults (minor faults).
No matter what happens, you will be given feedback on any errors you made, telling you where you went wrong and some helpful tips for next time.
In the event that you pass, you’ll be sent your results by email, and your full UK driving licence will be offered to be posted to you from the DVLA directly, usually within three weeks. Alternatively, you can apply for it yourself online through the DVSA website.
Instant Fails (Major Faults):
A mere one major fault will cause a failure automatically. A major fault is a severe or critical error that either represents a potential risk (e.g., not stopping at a stop sign without immediate danger) or occasionally an actual hazard to yourself, the examiner, or other road users (e.g., driving out in front of an oncoming vehicle). Your test will normally go to its end unless the examiner feels that it is unsafe to continue. If you don’t pass, you will have to reschedule your test.
Being Prepared
The practical driving test need not be the cause of stress, but proper preparation is your best protection. This includes not only regular lessons with a properly qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) in order to develop practical expertise and confidence but also ongoing theoretical study right up until passing your theory test.
FDT UK is dedicated to getting you up to a confident and safe driving standard. We believe that you should have lots of practice before you book your test so you’ve had as many lessons from an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) as you require. Take every chance you get to practice and learn, and you’ll be well on your way to being a confident and safe driver.
