What you need to take to your driving test

- You must bring your theory test pass certificate (or confirmation) if you are not exempt.

- You must also bring both parts of your driving licence - the photocard and the paper counterpart.

- If you have an old-style paper licence, you must take your signed driving licence and you must also bring a valid passport.

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No other form of photographic identification will be accepted.

 

Before you start the driving ability part of your test

Before you start the driving ability part of your test, you'll have an eyesight check and be asked two vehicle safety questions.

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The eyesight check​​

The examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a parked vehicle to test your eyesight. If you fail the check, your driving test won't continue. You can find out how the eyesight check works by clicking on the link below.

Driving eyesight requirements​​

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The driving ability part of your driving test

The driving part of your test will last about 40 minutes. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving.

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Your general driving ability

During your test the examiner will give you directions which you should follow. You'll drive in various road and traffic conditions. You should drive in the way your instructor has trained you.

You might also be asked to carry out an emergency stop.

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Your ability to reverse your vehicle safely

You'll be asked to complete an exercise to show how well you can reverse your vehicle. The examiner will choose one exercise from:

- reversing around a corner
- turning in the road
- reverse parking - either into a parking bay, or parallel parking at the side of the road

Independent driving section of the driving test

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

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If you make a mistake during your test

If you make a mistake, don't worry about it as it might be a less serious driving fault and might not affect your result. However, if at any time your examiner considers your driving to be a danger to other road users they will stop your test.

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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.

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The examiner will:

- tell you whether you passed or not
- explain how you did during the test

The different types of faults that can be marked

There are three types of faults that can be marked:

- a dangerous fault - involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property
- a serious fault - could potentially be dangerous
- a driving fault - not potentially dangerous, but if you make the same fault throughout your test it could become a serious fault

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The pass mark for the driving test

You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test. If you make 16 or more driving faults, you won't pass your test.

If you make one serious or dangerous fault, you won't pass your test.

 

If you pass your test

If you pass your test the examiner will give you a pass certificate. They will also ask you if you want your full licence to be sent to you automatically.

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Once you have passed you test you can start driving straight away - you don't need to wait for your full licence to arrive.

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Taking another test if you don't pass

If you don't pass your test, you can take another after ten working days. Working days include Saturdays.

 

All the above information is from the Drivning standards Agency through their Direct.gov website​

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