Practical Test

The driving test for a car is designed for you to show you understand and can demonstrate your knowledge of the Highway Code and the theory of driving safely. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving, including when you are carrying out the set exercises. The driving test is straightforward and has been designed to see if you can:

• Drive safely in different road and traffic conditions
• Know the highway code and can demonstrate this through you driving

After meeting your examiner, the next two stages are:

• An eyesight check – if you fail this your test will not continue
• Your examiner will ask you two questions about carrying out vehicle safety checks (show me, tell me)

The driving part of the test will last about 40 minutes during which you will be examined on your general driving and reversing exercises. The exercise will be chosen from:

• Reversing around a corner
• Turning in a road
• Reverse parking

You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop. Throughout the test you should drive in the way your instructor has taught you. If you make a mistake don’t worry about it as it might be a less serious driving fault and may not affect your result. It actually takes 15 minor driving faults or one serious or dangerous fault to fail the test. As soon as your practical test is over, the examiner will tell you whether you have passed or failed.

Independent Driving During Your Practical Test

From 4th October 2010, the practical driving and riding test for all vehicle categories will include approximately 10 minutes of independent driving. There is no change to the way that examiner assess your driving throughout the test. The aim of independent driving is to test your ability to drive unsupervised and make safe decisions without guidance in unfamiliar driving situations. Therefore, you cannot use satellite navigation aids (sat nav). Your examiner will give one of the following:

• A series of directions to follow, this will include a diagram to help you understand where you are going
• Instructions to follow traffic signs
• A combination of both

However, you should remember that driving independently means making your own decisions and remember this includes deciding when it’s safe and appropriate to ask for confirmation on where you’re going.

Applying for your Practical Test - www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_10015771
This is the link to book your practical test – www.direct.gov.uk/bookpracticaltest