- Practical Test -

The Practical Driving Test

This will include an eyesight test (if you fail this, your test will not continue). You'll also be asked two vehicle safety questions. These are also known as the 'show me, tell me' questions. You’ll be asked the ‘tell me’ question at the start of your test, before you start driving and the ‘show me’ question while you’re driving answer one or both questions answered incorrectly will result in one driving fault being recorded. You’ll drive in various road and traffic conditions, but not on motorways. The examiner will give you directions that you should follow.

You’ll be asked to pull over 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

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

• parallel park at the side of the road
• park in a parking bay - either by driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out (the examiner will tell you which you have to do)
• pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic

You’ll have to drive independently for about 20 minutes by following either:

• directions from a sat nav
• traffic signs

You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop exercise. A standard driving test takes about 40 minutes.

You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure). However, if you commit one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test. If at any time your examiner considers you to be a danger to other road users your test will be stopped.

Book your practical test on line