IMPORTANT!!!  You will need to take both the plastic and paper parts of your licence along with your booking letter.  If you do not have these with you, you will not be able to take your test and will lose your fee.

The driving test will start with an eyesight check and some ‘show me, tell me’ questions.  If you fail the eyesight check, your test will not continue. You will then start your practical driving test which will include some specific manoeuvres.

The driving part of your test will last about 40 minutes.  You can make up to 15 driving faults 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.

What happens during the test?

During 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.

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.

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.

After the test

When the driving test is over, the examiner will tell you whether you passed or failed.

If you pass and have a photocard driving licence issued after 1 March 2004 the examiner will ask you if you want your full driving licence issued to you automatically.  If you want to use this service, the examiner will take your old licence off you, scan the details and send them electronically to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will then be given a pass certificate to prove you passed your test. DVLA will then send you your new full licence by post within four weeks of you passing your practical test.  If you pass your test but do not want to use this automatic service, or have a licence issued before 1 March 2004, you will be given a pass certificate by the examiner. On the back of the pass certificate it tells you what you need to do next. This involves sending your licence and appropriate fee to DVLA who will then check your application and issue you with a new full licence.

If you fail the test you should ask the examiner for some feedback to help prepare yourself for your next test. Your driving report form will also show you where you made any mistakes. You can take another practical test 10 working days after your car or motorcycle 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.

Pass Plus

The DSA recommends that new car drivers who have just passed their practical test consider taking Pass Plus. Pass Plus is a course of six extra modules taken with a driving instructor after passing your test.

Book you practical test online by following the link below:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Motoringtransactions/DG_066356