The Practical Test.
You are able to take the practical test at one of the DVSA driving test centres. These are located in Hemel Hempstead, St.Albans. Other test centres can be found on the reverse side of the application form which is available from your instructor or at a Driving Vehicle Standards Agency driving test centre.
The addresses for the test centres can be found here. You can also book your driving test online or by calling 0300 200 1122. For the cost of a driving test click here.
Documents you must bring with you to your practical test
Your theory test pass certificate (or confirmation) if you’re not exempt from taking the theory test
Your driving licence – the photo card.
You must bring your signed driving licence and a valid passport if you have an old-style paper licence.
Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you don’t bring the correct documents.
What happens during the test
Before you start the driving ability part of your test, you’ll have an eyesight check and be asked two vehicle safety questions.
Eyesight check
You’ll have to read a number plate from a distance of:
- 20 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate
- 20.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate
New-style number plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers and then 3 letters ( AB 51 ABC).
You’ll fail your driving test and the test won’t continue if you can’t pass the eyesight test.
You will be asked to complete one manoeuvre:
Parallel Parking on the road
Pulling up safely on the right-hand side of the road and reverse back two car lengths
Bay Parking by driving in forwards and reversing out.
Bay Parking by reversing into the bay and driving out forwards
The Independent driving section of the test
Your practical test will include around 20 minutes of independent driving by following a satellite navigation system. One in five driving tests you will be asked to drive independently by either following:
- traffic signs
- a series of directions
- a combination of both
To help you understand where you’re going when following verbal directions, the examiner can show you a diagram.
It’s not a test of your orientation and navigation skills.
Forgetting the directions
It doesn’t matter if you can’t remember every direction, or if you go the wrong way.
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.
The examiner will confirm the directions to you if you ask for a reminder of them.
Going off the independent driving route
Your test result won’t be affected if you go off the independent driving route unless you make a driving fault.
The examiner will help you get back on the route if you go off it or take a wrong turning. You can then continue with the independent driving.
Poor traffic signs
The examiner will give you directions until you can see the next traffic sign if there are poor or obscured traffic signs. You won’t need to have a detailed knowledge of the area.
Your driving test result
You’ll pass your test if you make 15 or fewer driving faults with no serious or dangerous faults.
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 help you with any feedback afterwards. The examiner will tell you if you passed or not and explain how you performed throughout the practical test.
The different types of faults
There are 3 types of faults that can be marked:
dangerous fault – involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property
serious fault – could potentially be dangerous
driving fault – not potentially dangerous, but if you make the same fault throughout your test it could become a serious fault.
If you pass your test
The examiner will give you a pass certificate if you pass the test. They will also ask you if you want your full licence to be sent to you automatically.
Once you have passed your test you can start driving straight away – you don’t need to wait for your full licence to arrive.
If you don’t pass
You can book another test straight away but you will have to wait 10 working days before you can take another test. Working days don’t include Sundays and public holidays.
Feedback on how Eco-efficient your driving is
The examiner will also give you feedback about how Eco-efficient your driving is.
