The driving part of your test will last approximately 40 minutes. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving, including when you are carrying out the set exercises e.g  an emergency stop, turn in the road, left reverse, bay park or parallel park (you will be asked to complete two off the reversing manoeuvres and possibly an emergency stop). 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.

At the end of the test your examiner will inform you if you have passed or failed and will go over any faults that may have occurred during your test.  You may take your instructor with you on your test or ask for them to be present for the de brief.

The most common things people fail their tests for are:-

Going too fast
Going too slow inc hesitation
Observations at junctions or during their manoeuvres.

Click here to the DSA website and find out more about the driving test.

Click here to book your driving test online

Click here to change or cancel your driving test online

or phone  0300 200 1122 then dial 25

The Extended Driving Test

If you have previously lost your licence and are required to take an extended driving test it will differ slightly from the learner driver test. Like the learner driver test you will have your eye sight checked and will be asked two vehicle safety questions (Driver Safety Check Questions) before you set off. Your practical part of the test test will be at least one hour long, you will be required to complete two reversing manoeuvres and the emergency stop. 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. It is advisable to have professional lessons from a qualified ADI before your test as things may have changed since your last driving test