The Practical Test

The driving test is designed for you to show you know understand 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 designed to see if you:

• can drive safely in different road and traffic conditions
• know The Highway Code and can show this through your driving

The examiner will then ask you the following:

• 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

You'll be asked one 'show me' and one 'tell me' question. One or both questions answered incorrectly will result in one driving fault being recorded.

Click here to download ‘Show Me Tell Me’ questions

The driving part of your test will last about 40 minutes. You'll be examined on your general driving and ability to reverse your vehicle safely. One exercise will be chosen from:

• reversing around a corner
• turning in the road
• reverse parking

You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop exercise.

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.

However, if at any time your examiner considers your driving to be a danger to other road users your test will be stopped.

Your practical driving test will also include approximately ten minutes of independent driving. This is designed to assess your ability to drive safely while making decisions independently.

Independent Driving - During your test you'll have to drive independently by either following:

• traffic signs
• a series of directions
• a combination of both

To help you understand where you are going when following verbal directions, the examiner will show you a diagram.

It doesn't matter if you don't remember every direction, or if you go the wrong way - that can happen to the most experienced drivers.
Independent driving is not a test of your orientation and navigation skills. Driving independently means making your own decisions - this includes deciding when it's safe and appropriate to ask for confirmation about where you're going.

If you ask for a reminder of the directions, the examiner will confirm them to you.

If you go off the independent driving route it won't affect the result of your test unless you commit a driving fault.

If you go off the route or take a wrong turning, the examiner will help you to get back on the route. You can then continue with the independent driving.

Click here to download an example of independent driving route

When the driving test has ended, you can call your instructor over if they didn't go with you on your test. This is so they can listen to the result and feedback with you. The examiner will tell you whether you passed or failed and will explain how you did during the test. They will also give you helpful feedback about how eco-efficient your driving is.
If you don't pass your test, you can take another after ten working days.

The price of the practical car test is £62.00 weekdays, £75.00 if test taken weekday in the evening, weekend or bank holiday.
If taking an extended test due to disqualification then the price is £124.00 weekdays and £150.00 on a Saturday.

Click here to book your practical car test on line

Click here to read your highway code on line