The practical test
You've had the lessons, passed the theory test and now comes the moment of truth. Get ready for a nerve-wracking 40 minutes.
The basics
- The test begins with a vision test and if you fail this, the test ends there.
- After this you will be asked a couple of technical questions about the car like: "How do you check your brake lights are working?" These are called 'show me, tell me' questions because you either have to show or tell the examiner the answer.
- On the test itself the examiner will mark your general driving and also ask you to perform manoeuvres, if you can't perform these to test standard you will fail.
- The test lasts between 35 and 40 minutes.
- You are allowed up to 15 minor faults, any serious or dangerous faults will result in failure.
- The test costs £56.50.
What happens if I pass?
If you pass, the examiner will tell you straight after the test. They will ask you for your driving licence and give you a pass certificate. You then use this to apply for a full driving license by sending the certificate to the DVLA. The examiner will also give you a copy of your test report, showing any faults you made.
Once you have your licence you are free to drive and if you want further road training, the pass plus course is available to you. The pass plus is a further course for newly-quailfied drivers. It is carried out by Advanced Driving Instructors (ADI) and is split into six different modules that include motorway and night driving. At least six hours must be completed to finish the course. Completing the pass plus course usually means a very significant discount on insurance, so its definitely worth it. Pass plus costs around £150 but this can vary.
What happens if I fail?
You will receive a sheet that shows your serious and minor faults so you can then fix them and improve for your next attempt.
You can retake your test by rebooking with the DSA but cannot resit the test within two weeks of the previous attempt. The waiting list for a test can be up to two months in many parts of the country so it is best to book as soon as possible, although you could take a cancellation if there is a suitable one. Whatever you do keep practising and don't give up, it is said that many good drivers do not pass the first time.
