Richard Boyle DSA ADI (Car)
Professional, patient & friendly, Fully Qualified Driving Instructor.

The Practical driving test

The driving test is straightforward and has been designed to see if you:

      • Can drive safely
      • Know The Highway Code and can demonstrate this through your driving

What will the test include?
The test will include an eyesight test (if you fail this, your test will not continue). 

After the eyesight test you will be examined on your general driving and on one reversing exercise. The reversing 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.

A standard driving test takes about 40 minutes.

 What happens during the test?
For the majority of the driving test the examiner will give you directions which you should follow. Test routes are designed to be as uniform as possible and will include a range of typical road and traffic conditions. During the test, the examiner will ask you to carry out set exercises.

Your practical driving test will also include approximately 10 minutes of independent driving.

During the independent driving section 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.

Throughout the test you should drive in the way your instructor has taught you. If you make a mistake, don't worry about it, it might be a less serious driving fault and may not affect your result. The examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving.

You can make up to 15 driving faults during the test 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. 

You are allowed to take someone with you on the test, this person must be over 16 years old and cannot take any part in the test.

Driving test standards
All examiners are trained to carry out the test to the same standard, they do not have pass or fail quotas. So as long as you demonstrate the standard required you will pass your driving test. 

Weather conditions/ mechanical problems etc.
The DSA do not conduct tests in bad light or in adverse weather conditions for the safety of the candidate and the examiner. They will arrange another appointment at no further cost, but compensation is not payable. Candidates should call the telephone number quoted on the appointment letter to check whether their test will go ahead.

If the driving test is not completed for reasons attributable to you or your vehicle, you will have to take another test at your own cost.