UK Practical Test of driving ability (Cars)

The practical test of driving ability is a test of ability to drive a vehicle without assistance from an instructor or accompanying driver.

The test of driving ability covers a variety of situations and road conditions and involves demonstrating the ability to manoeuvre the vehicle safely in both forward and reverse gears.

Driving tests are performed from test centres by driving examiners employed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), an agency of the Department for Transport. Driving tests are conducted on public roads, with the driving examiner directing the candidate around one of many test routes selected to the particular test centre.

On passing the practical test of driving ability, candidates are granted a full UK driving licence for the types of vehicle covered by the test that has-been taken.

Did You Know?

In 2008/09, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) conducted over 1.7 million car tests

Before you decide to Take Your Test of driving ability

Considerations to do before you begin planning your test of driving ability- passing your Theory Test and learning to drive

Before you take a Practical Test of driving ability, you have to pass the Theory Test and thoroughly prepare for what you will be expected to demonstrate on the driving test.

All UK learner drivers must pass a theory test before being allowed to take their practical driving test. There are two parts to the theory test - the multiple-choice test and also the hazard perception test.

Exactly what does The Practical Test of driving ability Actually Involve?

The practical test of driving ability is made up of 3 parts.

1) Eyesight Test.

2) Vehicle Safety Questions (Show Me-Tell Me)

3) The Drive.

During the entire test, the examiner will also be assessing your Eco-Safe Driving techniques, although failing to show eco-safe driving won't mean you fail your driving test.

You are entitled to commit as many as15 driving (minor) faults on the test, but no serious or dangerous faults. Repeated instances of a similar driving fault could well be classed as a habitual problem and be declared a serious fault.

Should you commit even ONE serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test of driving ability.

 "Those who pass their test of driving ability have had, typically, about 45 hours of professional training along with22 hours of private practice... Learners who prepare in this way, with a mixture of plenty of professional training and lots of practice, do better in the test"

"Recent surveys indicate that nine in ten learners who passed both theory and practical tests first time were taught by an instructor."

"It is important to learn safe driving practice from the beginning of your driving career because undesirable habits are difficult to break...It is unlikely that anyone except an approved driving instructor (ADI) would have the experience, knowledge and training to teach you properly. Learning safe driving habits from the start will increase your safety along with other road users."

Professional driving tuition is the most effective way to make certain that you are fully prepared to take your Practical Test of driving ability

A significant part of the structured learning process is practising what you have learned during your driving lessons.

If you’re having private practice using a family member or friend, discuss with your instructor and also the person who are assisting you to practise in order to find the most effective ways of helping you to learn to drive and avoid the passing on of undesirable or conflicting ideas.

Practical test fees.

£62.00 (daytime Monday to Friday)

£75.00 (weekday evenings and weekends)

Extended driving tests (following disqualification);

£124.00 (daytime Monday to Friday)

£150.00 (weekday evenings and weekends)

Where Can I Take My Practical Driving Test?

Driving tests are conducted by the Driving Standards Agency at over 370 test centres throughout the country.

You are able to choose to take your test at whichever test centre you like!

Waiting Times for Driving Test Appointments

How long will it take to get a driving test appointment?

The Driving Standards Agency publishes an approximate waiting time for driving test appointments in specific vehicle categories at each individual test centre in the country. This information is re-calculated for each test centre every week.

Normally the waiting times for our local test centres Taunton, Weston-super-mare and Yeovil are approximately 5-7 weeks.

 If you're booking online or by phone you will also need a valid debit or credit card for payment (Visa, MasterCard, Delta, Visa Electron, Switch/Maestro and Solo cards are accepted).If you’re booking by post, payment can be made by cheque or postal order, but cash payments are not accepted.

 Online Booking - Book your practical test of driving ability online at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/index.htm.

Phone Booking - You are able to book a practical test over the telephone using the numbers below, from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).

Test booking line - 0300 200 1122

Welsh language booking line - 0300 200 1133

Mincom booking line - 0300 200 1144

Fax booking line - 0300 200 1155

Booking By Post - To book a practical test by post you will need an application form. Application forms are available on request from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) booking line or can be downloaded online - Apply for a practical driving test application form
 

Cancelling or rescheduling a test

You are able to reschedule or cancel a test over the telephone via the booking line or online at Check, change or cancel your practical test of driving ability online
 
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Providing you give the DSA three clear working days notice you can:

* move or change your appointment

* cancel your appointment

* have a full refund of your test fee

Should you book your driving test online, this can be done easily via the DirectGov website - you have to pay ONLY for the test &there's no extra booking fee.

There are several “Driving test booking services" on the web who will book a test for you However they will charge you a hefty booking fee on top of the test fee.

 You don't need to PAY EXTRA - book your own driving test .Some driving schools will book the test on your behalf for free.

What happens on the day of your test of driving ability at the test centre and throughout the actual driving test itself...?

Ensure you arrive at the test centre in good time for the test - however, since many test centres are extremely busy and parking is very limited and restricted to test candidates only, don’t park in the test centre car park until 10 minutes prior to the scheduled time of your test so as not to disrupt other test candidates.

Before you go to the test centre, you need to ensure that you have the following;

1) A suitable vehicle in which to take the test. It is the responsibility of the test candidate to supply suitable vehicle. The driving examiner is not going to provide a vehicle so that you can take the test. The vehicle used must be appropriately insured and licensed and must be displaying L- Plates. If you have been having driving lessons with a professional driving instructor, you will almost certainly be taking the test in the car in which you have learnt to drive. For those who have not had professional driving lessons, you then must ensure that the vehicle you would like to use for your test complies with the requirements set out by the DSA - Minimum Test Vehicle Requirements
 
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If you don't provide a vehicle or if the vehicle you provide does not meet the minimum requirements, your test will be cancelled and you will lose the test fee

2) Your Theory Test pass certificate (if you have one), or the Theory Test pass confirmation print out you had been given at the Theory Test centre when you passed

3) BOTH elements of your driving licence (photo card AND paper counterpart). If you don’t take both elements of your licence, your test is not going to take place and you’ll lose your fee

For those who have mislaid the Theory Test pass certificate this should not alone stop the test going ahead, but unless you take both parts of your licence or should you fail to supply an appropriate vehicle, your test won’t take place and you’ll lose your fee.

You are entitled to take someone along with you on the test should you wish. Anyone over 16 years of age is allowed to accompany you, However they cannot take any part in the test -they aren’t allowed to communicate (unless they are acting as an interpreter) or distract either you or the examiner in must sit silently and still in the back of the car The examiner will ask you if you would like someone to accompany you before the test commences.

Many people are understandably nervous before their driving test, but attempting to keep as calm as you possibly can and retaining a sense of perspective can help with the "ordeal". Driving examiners understand that test candidates in many cases are very nervous and will do their utmost to put you at your ease.

When it is nearly time for the test, enter the test centre waiting room and wait for the driving examiner who’ll be conducting your test to call your name. The examiner will ask to see your driving licence and Theory Test certificate and ask you to read and sign a declaration.

The examiner will ask you to lead the way to your vehicle and on the way there, they will perform the eyesight test. Should you fail the eyesight test; the remainder of the test will be abandoned.

You will then be asked two vehicle maintenance questions ("Show-Me-Tell-Me") .Either questions answered incorrectly will result in one driving (minor) fault being recorded.

You will then be asked to get into your vehicle and the driving part of the test will commence.

Throughout the test, the examiner will explain what they would like you to do and give you directions. Should you feel that you might have made an error, don't panic! It isn’t the end of the world and that doesn't mean you’ve failed. Keep calm and focus on driving correctly and don't dwell on what you've already done - focus on what you're doing.

If you’re not sure what the examiner wants you to do, you shouldn't be afraid to say so. The examiner will understand that you’re nervous and will be pleased to repeat or clarify any instructions given.

You'll be asked to stop on the left several times - don't be concerned, this does not mean you have done anything wrong - the examiner is simply testing your capability to stop in a convenient place and move away again safely under many different conditions.

Additionally, you will be asked to carry out two out of a possible four reversing manoeuvres (Reversing Into A Parking Bay , Parallel Parking , Reversing Around A Corner, or Turn In The Road  and perhaps an emergency stop

 As the test progresses, the examiner will fill out relevant details on a report sheet (DL25).

The drive lasts for around 40 minutes and will end back at the test centre car park.

The examiner will then total up any faults recorded on the DL25 and reveal the result of your test.

You are allowed to commit up to 15 driving (minor) faults but no serious or dangerous faults. Repeated cases of the same driving fault will be classed as an habitual problem and be declared a serious fault.

If you commit even one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test.

The Test of driving ability- Eyesight Test

The first part of the test of driving ability is a test of your eyesight to make certain that it meets the minimum requirements for driving

In the beginning of your test of driving ability, you'll be asked to read the number plate of a stationary vehicle from 67ft (20.5m) or 66ft (20m) in the event of it being a new-style plate.

What happens if I can't read, or if I can't speak English?

If you cannot speak English or have difficulty reading, you are entitled to copy down what you see on the number plate.

What happens if I don't read the number plate properly and provide the incorrect answer?

If you can't read the number plate correctly, you will be asked to read an alternative number plate. If you cannot read that number plate correctly, you will be allowed to walk forward until you're just within the appropriate distance away from it.

If you still can't read the number plate correctly, the examiner will ask you to repeat the process with a third number plate and this time the examiner will actually measure the precise distance from this number plate (67 feet/20.5 metres if you’re asked to read an old-style number plate, and 66 feet/20 metres if you’re asked to read a new-style number plate).

If you cannot read the third number plate correctly, and the examiner is satisfied that you simply don’t meet the mandatory eyesight standard, you’ll fail the driving test, and the remainder of the test will be abandoned. The examiner will mark the test failure on the driving test report form (DL25)

Wearing glasses or contact lenses to pass the eyesight test

If you were only able to read a number plate using glasses or contact lenses, the law necessitates that you wear them throughout your driving test and whenever you are driving.

If you have broken, forgotten or brought the incorrect glasses with you for your driving test, you should tell your examiner in the beginning of the test.

The second part of the test of driving ability comprises two vehicle safety check questions

|Following the eyesight check and prior to the driving section of the test begins, test candidates are asked two vehicle safety questions, based on basic safety checks that the driver should perform to make sure the vehicle is safe for use.

Candidates will be asked two questions, one 'show me' and one 'tell me'.

 One or both questions answered incorrectly will result in one driving fault being recorded.

The vehicle safety questions are sometimes called “Show-Me-Tell-Me", as some of the questions require the candidate to actually demonstrate a procedure or indicate where a specific component is, while other questions simply need a verbal explanation. Although some checks may involve the candidate in opening the bonnet to identify where fluid levels would be checked, candidates won't be asked to touch a hot engine or physically check fluid levels.

If you ‘retaking your test of driving ability in your instructor's car, then your instructor will go through all the questions with you and ensure you know where everything is both inside the car and under the bonnet.

If you are taking the practical test in your own car, you need to familiarise yourself with the layout and operation of your vehicle with reference to the manufacturer's handbook if necessary.

The Driving Test - The Drive

The next and longest section of the test of driving ability where you need to demonstrate your capability to control and drive the vehicle safely and also to perform two reversing manoeuvres

You'll be driving the vehicle for approximately 35-40 minutes. The routes used for driving tests are all designed to be as uniform as possible - they all take in a variety of typical road and traffic conditions.

The examiner will assess your driving and test you on the majority of the topics you should have covered along with your instructor.

You'll be asked to carry out two of the following manoeuvres;

* Reverse parking behind a parked car (Parallel Park)

* Reversing into a parking bay (Bay Park)

* Reversing round a corner

* Turn in the road

You MAY also be asked to demonstrate a controlled (emergency) stop

Throughout the test, the examiner will also be assessing your Eco-Safe Driving  techniques, although failing to demonstrate eco-safe driving is not going to result in you to failing your driving test.

Eco-Safe Driving

Eco-Safe Driving is now included in the UK driving test

From September 2008, driving examiners started giving feedback to test of driving ability candidates on their eco-safe driving manner.

During your test of driving ability you are going to be assessed on your ability to drive in a way that shows eco-safe (environmentally friendly) driving techniques.

You won’t fail your test of driving ability however, if you do not demonstrate eco-safe driving techniques, but at the conclusion of the test, the examiner will give you guidance on how efficiently you're driving.

Tips for Eco-Safe Driving

Anticipate road conditions well ahead and avoid excessive acceleration and heavy braking. This can reduce harmful emissions and significantly decrease your fuel consumption.

Drive at a suitable speed, don't exceed speed limits, accelerate gently and make use of the vehicle controls as smoothly as possible.