1. Booking your test

You can book your driving test when you’ve passed your theory test.

You do not need to pass another theory test if you’re upgrading an automatic car licence to a manual licence.

To pass the driving test you must be able to:

• drive safely in different road and traffic conditions

• show that you know The Highway Code by the way you drive

The national standard for driving cars tells you everything you must be able to do to pass the test. Only take your test when you can do everything without instruction.

There’s no minimum number of lessons you must have done before you book and take your test.

Change or check your test details

You can change the date of your test after you’ve booked. This includes if you cannot or do not want to attend because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

You can check the details if you’ve lost the email confirmation you were sent when you booked your test.

Rebook your test

Rebook your driving test if you failed your test and want to resit it. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.

2. What to take to your test

You must take:

• your UK driving licence

• your theory test pass certificate, if you have it

• a car - most people use their driving instructor’s, but you can use your own car if it meets the rules

Your test will be cancelled and you will not get your money back if you do not take the right things with you.

You can choose whether or not to wear a face covering at your test.

Your driving licence

You need to apply for a replacement driving licence if you lose yours before your test. This could take up to 15 days to arrive.

Rearrange your test if you do not get the new licence in enough time.

If you do not have a photocard licence

Bring a valid passport and your paper licence.

If you have a licence from Northern Ireland

Bring the Northern Ireland photocard and paper counterpart.

If you’ve lost your theory test certificate

You do not need to get a replacement theory test certificate. Your driving examiner will check that you’ve passed your theory test before your driving test starts.

3. Using your own car for your test

You can take your driving test in your own car rather than your driving instructor’s if it meets certain rules.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll have to pay again if your car does not meet the rules.

Rules about the car

Your car must:

• have no warning lights showing, for example, the airbag warning light

• have no tyre damage and meet the legal tread depth on each tyre - you must not have a space-saver spare tyre

• be roadworthy

• be fitted with an extra interior rear-view mirror for the examiner

• be fitted with a passenger seatbelt and a passenger head restraint for the examiner (slip-on types are not allowed)

• be able to reach at least 62mph and have an mph speedometer

• be fitted with L-plates (‘L’ or ‘D’ plates in Wales) on the front and rear

• have 4 wheels and meet the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of no more than 3,500 kg

The MAM is the limit on how much the car can weigh when it’s loaded. It’ll be in the car’s handbook.

Tax and insurance

Your car must:

• be taxed

• have a current MOT (if it’s over 3 years old)

• be insured for a driving test (check with your insurance company)

Cleaning your car

You should tidy your car before your test. This includes removing any rubbish or unnecessary items from the dashboard, footwells, door pockets, cup holders and seats.

Your car must be smoke-free - this means you cannot smoke in it just before or during the test.

Dashcams and other cameras

You can use a camera fitted for insurance purposes, as long as it:

• faces outside of the car and does not film the inside

• does not record audio from inside the car

Vehicle features

You can use a car with:

• an electronic parking brake

• hill-start assist

Manual and automatic cars

You can take the test in a:

• manual car - these have 3 pedals

• automatic or semi-automatic car - these have 2 pedals

If you take your test in a semi-automatic car you’ll only be able to drive automatic and semi-automatic cars once you’ve passed your test.

Hire cars

You can take your test in a hire car if it’s fitted with dual controls and meets all the other rules.

Cars you cannot use

Some cars cannot be used in the test because they do not give the examiner all-round vision.

You cannot use any of the following:

• BMW Mini convertible

• Ford KA convertible

• Smart Fortwo (2-door)

• Toyota iQ

• VW Beetle convertible

There might be other cars that you cannot use. This is because not every model has been used in a test before, and some may not give the examiner all-round vision.

Check if your car can be used before booking a test

You can check if your car can be used by contacting the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Always check if you want to use a:

• convertible car

• panel van

• coupe (a car with a fixed roof, two doors and a sloping rear)

DVSA driving test enquiries
customerservices@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 200 1122
Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
Find out about call charges

Cars with known safety faults

You cannot use one of the cars shown below unless you have proof that it’s safe. This is because these cars have been recalled for a safety reason.

You must bring the proof that it’s safe with you when you take your test.

Citroen C1

Steering failure

Vehicles built between 9 Sep 2014 and 15 Oct 2014, with vehicle identification numbers (VINs) between wF7xxxxxxER516105 and VF7xxxxxxER523367

28 Jun 2016

Peugeot 108

Steering failure

Vehicles built between 9 Jun 2014 and 15 Oct 2014, with VINs between VF3xxxxxxER256527 and F3xxxxxxER017078

28 Jun 2016

Toyota Aygo

Steering failure

Vehicles built between 9 Jun 2014 and 15 Oct 2014, with VINs between JTDJGNEC#0N022080 and 0N026438, JTDJPNEC#0N002099 and 0N002100, JTDKGNEC#0N022186 and 0N031372, and JTDKPNEC#0N002083 and 0N002102

28 Jun 2016

Toyota Yaris

Potentially defective seat rail track and/or steering column mounting

Some models built between Jun 2005 and May 2010 (‘05’ to ‘10’ registration plates)

9 Apr 2014

Vauxhall ADAM

Potential steering problem

VINs with last 8 digits between E6077301 to E6113446, and F6000001 to F6006544

29 Sep 2014

Vauxhall Corsa D

Potential steering problem

VINs with last 8 digits between E6071016 and E6118738, and E4181031 and E4308122

29 Sep 2014

Proof you need to bring to your test

You must bring proof that says one of the following:

• the car was recalled and the recall work has been done

• the car was recalled but did not need any work to be done

• the car was not part of the recall

The proof must be either:

• the recall letter or safety notice, stamped by the manufacturer or dealer

• on official or headed notepaper from the manufacturer or a dealer

Your test will be cancelled and you could lose your fee if you do not bring the right proof.

4. What happens during the test

There are 5 parts to the driving test:

• an eyesight check

• ‘show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions

• general driving ability

• reversing your vehicle

• independent driving

The test is the same for both manual and automatic cars.

How long the test lasts

You’ll drive for around 40 minutes.

You’ll drive for around 70 minutes if you’re taking an extended driving test because you’ve been banned from driving.

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, such as AB51 ABC.

You’ll fail your driving test if you fail the eyesight check. The test will end.

‘Show me, tell me’ questions

You’ll be asked 2 vehicle safety questions known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions.

You’ll be asked the:

• ‘tell me’ question at the start of your test, before you start driving

• ‘show me’ question while you’re driving

Your general driving ability

You’ll drive in various road 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’ll be asked to pull over and pull away 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

• park in a parking bay - either by driving in and reversing out, or 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 rejoin the traffic

Independent driving

You’ll have to drive for about 20 minutes by following either:

• directions from a sat nav

• traffic signs

The examiner will tell you which you have to follow.

They’ll set the sat nav up for you. You cannot use your own sat nav.

If you cannot see traffic signs

If you cannot see a traffic sign (for example, because it’s covered by trees), the examiner will give you directions until you can see the next one.

Going off the route

The examiner will not give you a fault for taking a wrong turning.

They’ll help you get back on the route if you do.

If you make mistakes during your test

You can carry on if you make a mistake. It might not affect your test result if it’s not serious.

Your driving examiner will only stop your test if they think your driving is a danger to other road users.

Other people at your test

Your driving examiner’s supervisor might sit in on your test to watch your examiner’s performance. If you refuse, your test can be cancelled and you’ll have to book another test and pay again.

Your driving examiner will ask if you want someone to:

• sit in the back of the car during the test

• be with you for the result and feedback

This will usually be your driving instructor, but you can take a relative or friend. They cannot take any part in the test.

They must:

• be over 16

• follow the rules about observing tests

5. Driving test faults and your result

There are 3 types of faults you can make:

• a dangerous fault - this involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property

• a serious fault - something potentially dangerous

• a driving fault - this is not potentially dangerous, but if you keep making the same fault, it could become a serious fault

Pass mark

You’ll pass your driving test if you make:

• no more than 15 driving faults (sometimes called ‘minors’)

• no serious or dangerous faults (sometimes called ‘majors’)

If you pass your test

The examiner will:

• tell you what faults you made, if any

• give you a pass certificate

• ask you if you want your full licence to be sent to you automatically - give the examiner your provisional licence if you want to do this

Apply for your full driving licence within 2 years of passing your test if you do not want to get your licence automatically.

When you can start driving

You can start driving straight away when you’ve passed your test. You do not need to wait for your full licence to arrive.

Contact DVLA if your full licence has not arrived 3 weeks after you applied for it.

If you do not pass

The examiner will tell you what faults you made.

You have to book another test and pay again. You have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.

Appeal your driving test

You can appeal your driving test if you can prove that your driving examiner did not follow the law.

Read the guidance on appealing your driving test to check if your examiner followed the law.

If you have proof they did not follow the law you can complain to the Driver and Vehicle and Standards Agency (DVSA)

If DVSA agrees with your complaint, your test result cannot be changed but you might get a refund or a free retest.

If DVSA does not agree with your complaint you may be able to appeal to a court instead.

Appeal your driving test to a court

You can appeal if you can prove that your examiner did not follow the law when they carried out your test.

Your test result cannot be changed, but you might get a refund or a free retest if your appeal is successful.

You might have to pay significant legal costs if your appeal is unsuccessful.

You’ll need to appeal within:

• 6 months of your driving test in England and Wales

• 21 days of your driving test in Scotland

Check if you can appeal.

6. If your test is cancelled or there's bad weather

Your driving test can be cancelled or stopped because of bad weather, problems with your car, or for other reasons.

Bad weather

Driving tests are not carried out in dangerous weather conditions, such as when the roads are icy or if there’s flooding, thick fog or high winds.

Call your test centre if there are any of these conditions on the day of your test.

The phone number for the test centre is on your booking confirmation email.

If your test cannot go ahead

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will:

• automatically book the next available date for your test

• send you the details within 3 working days - it can take up to 7 days if there’s a long period of bad weather

You can change the date you’re given if it’s not suitable.

You cannot claim for any out-of-pocket expenses if your test is cancelled because of bad weather.

Problems with you or your car

You’ll have to book another test and pay again if your test cannot be completed because of a problem with:

• you, for example, if you feel unwell while taking your test

• your car, for example, if it breaks down during the test or does not meet the rules to be used

If your test is cancelled for another reason

Sometimes DVSA has to cancel tests for other reasons, for example, if the examiner is unwell.

You’ll be sent a new date for your test if this happens. You can change the date if it’s not suitable.

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

7. If you have a disability, health condition or learning difficulty

When you book your driving test you should say if you have a:

• disability

• health condition

• learning difficulty

You’ll still have to drive to the same standard to pass, but the examiner can make adjustments for your situation.

You have a disability

You’ll have time with the examiner once you start the test to talk about:

• your disability

• any adaptations fitted to your car

They might also agree for you to have more time for instructions and directions during your test.

You’re deaf or have a hearing impairment

The examiner will use written notes at the start of the test to explain what will happen. If you lip read, they’ll also look at you so you can lip read what they’re saying.

The examiner will usually give directions to you as hand signals. These will be explained to you before your test starts.

Using a sign language interpreter

You can take a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter with you. They must be at least 16 years old.

Your driving instructor can be your interpreter.

You need to arrange your own interpreter and pay any fees that they charge. You can claim the cost back after your test.

You’re pregnant

You can take a driving test at any stage of your pregnancy. However, you must be able and willing to do an emergency stop.

You have reading difficulties

When you do the eyesight check at the start of the driving test, you can write down the number plate instead of reading it out loud.

You have learning difficulties

The examiner will make adjustments for the independent driving part of the test if you have learning difficulties.

They might ask if you’d prefer to follow traffic signs instead of directions from a sat nav.