Your Practical Driving Test
There will be 5 parts to the driving test: Last updated 4th December 2017
- An eyesight check
- Show me tell me vehicle safety questions
- General driving ability
- Reversing your vehicle
- Independent driving
How Long Will The Test Last
The driving test will be the same for both manual and automatic cars
You will drive for around 40 minutes
You will drive for approximately 70 minutes if you are taking an extended driving test because you have been banned from driving.
Eyesight Check
You will have to read a number plate from a distance of:
- 20 meters for vehicles with a new-style number plate
- 20.5 meters for vehicles with an old-style number plate.
New-style number plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers, such as AB51 ABC.
You will fail your driving test if you fail the eyesight test. The test will end.
Show Me Tell Me Questions
You will be asked 2 vehicle safety questions known as the ‘Show and Tell Questions’
These tests show that you know how to carry out basic safety tasks.
You will be asked the:
- Tell me question at the start of your driving test, before you start driving
- ‘Show me questions while you are driving – for example, showing how to wash and wipe the window screen using the car controls and wipers
Your General Driving Ability
You will drive on various roads and traffic conditions, but not on motorways
The examiner will give you directions that you should follow.
Driving test routes are not published, so you cannot check them before your test.
Pulling Over At The Side Of The Road
You will be asked to pull over park and pull away again during your test.
Including:
- Normal stops at the side of the road
- Pulling out from behind a parked vehicle
- A hill start
You might also be asked to carry out an emergency stop
Reversing Your Vehicle
The examiner will ask you to do one of the following exercises.
- Parallel park at the side of the road. (pull up parallel to a parked car on the left, and reverse your car into a parking space the size of approximately 2 car lengths)
- Park in a parking bay – either by driving in and reversing out or by reversing in and driving out (the examiner will tell you which you have to do)
- Pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and re-join the traffic.
Independent Driving
You will have to drive for about 20 minutes by following either:
- Directions from a sat-nav
- follow traffic signs
The examiner will tell you what you have to do.
Following directions from a sat-nav
The examiner will provide the sat-nav and set it up for you. You cannot follow directions from your own sat-nav.
Going off Route
Your test results will not be affected if you take a wrong turn unless you make a driving fault while doing it.
If You Cannot See Traffic Signs
If you cannot see a traffic sign (for example, because it is covered by trees), the examiner will give you directions until you can see the next one.
If You Make a Mistake During Your Test
You can carry on if you make a mistake. It might not affect your test result if it’s not serious.
What you will need to book your Practical Driving Test online
To book your driving test online you need:
- Your valid Great Britain or Northern Ireland provisional driving license number
- Your credit or debit card details
- A theory test pass date and certificate number (if appropriate)
- Your driving instructor’s reference number so you can check they’re available – but you can book without doing this.
To pass you must complete the driving test with no serious or dangerous faults, and 15 or fewer minor faults.
At Smartway Driving School we will always advise you when you are ready for your test helping you to understand the reasons why people fail.
You’ll need to study ‘The Highway Code’ and the ‘Theory Test’ book and CD-ROM. Both are available to order online at the DirectGov website or by phone at 0870 010 1372.
Test Fees
The combined theory and hazard perception test currently costs £23
A weekday practical test costs £62
Evening or weekend tests cost £75
