The practical driving test: what happens, step by step

The practical driving test is the final step to your full licence. It lasts about 40 minutes and checks that you can drive safely on real roads, in different conditions, without help.

#Before you book

You must have passed your theory test within the last two years. At the time of writing the test costs £62 on weekdays and £75 in the evening, at weekends and on bank holidays. Book on GOV.UK.

Book your practical driving test on GOV.UK

You can change or cancel your test for free if you give at least 3 full working days' notice. Otherwise you lose the fee.

#What happens on the test

#1. The eyesight check

Before you get in the car, the examiner asks you to read a number plate from 20 metres (20.5 metres for an older-style plate). Wear your glasses or contact lenses if you need them. If you can't read it, you fail and the test doesn't go ahead.

#2. "Tell me" question

At the start, the examiner asks you one "tell me" question about how you'd carry out a safety check on the car. See the full list in our show me, tell me guide.

#3. General driving

You drive on different roads and in different traffic, including some busy roads, junctions and roundabouts, and dual carriageways where possible. The examiner gives you directions.

You may be asked to pull over at the side of the road, pull out from behind a parked vehicle, and do a hill start.

#4. "Show me" question

While you're driving, you'll be asked one "show me" question: for example, how to wash the windscreen or switch on the rear demister.

#5. A reversing manoeuvre

You'll be asked to do one of these:

• parallel park at the side of the road
• park in a parking bay, either driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out
• pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for about 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic

#6. Emergency stop

In some tests, the examiner asks you to do an emergency stop.

#7. Independent driving

For about 20 minutes, you drive without turn-by-turn directions from the examiner. In most tests you follow directions from a sat nav the examiner sets up. In the others you follow traffic signs. You won't fail just for taking a wrong turn, as long as you do it safely.

#How the test is marked

There are three kinds of fault:

• a driving fault (a minor): not dangerous, but if you keep making it, it could become serious
• a serious fault: something potentially dangerous
• a dangerous fault: something that put you, the examiner, the public or property in actual danger

You pass if you make no more than 15 driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults.

#Results

At the end the examiner tells you whether you passed and goes through any faults. If you pass, the examiner can usually send your details to DVLA so your full licence arrives by post. You can drive straight away.

If you don't pass this time, you'll get a report of your faults. Share it with your instructor: it shows exactly what to practise. Read about the most common reasons people fail.