Information about your Practical Driving Test from the people at Dynamic Motoring
About your Examiner
The Examiner will sit next to you in the car and give directions, however he/she will not help you with your driving.
Driving Examiners work for the Driving Standards Agency and are very highly trained. They are also closely monitored to ensure they test people properly and to a uniform standard.
This is why you may find you get a second Examiner sitting in the back on your test. This would be a more senior Examiner watching your Examiner to make sure he is doing his/her job properly.
Your Examiner will try to put you at ease, they know you will be nervous on the test.
About your Driving Test
During the driving test the examiner will give you directions which you should follow. You will go on a preset test route, Most major test centres have between 8 and 15 test routes.
From October 2010 you also have to complete a period of Independent Driving lasting 8-10 minutes. This means either the Examiner will ask you to keep following road signs to a predetermined destination (such as "keep following the signs to Aberdeen"); or the Examiner may give you a series of 3 directions to remember, he/she will also show you a simple diagram of the route to help you to remember.
More info is available on the Independent Driving page on this website:
The test uses a marking system where you can get up to 15 driving faults (minor's) and still pass, however if you get 16 or more you would fail. Also if you get any serious or dangerous faults you will fail. So if you make a mistake on your test don't worry, it's probably only a driving fault.
The test starts from the Driving Test Centre where the Examiner will come into the waiting room and meet you; if your local test centre doesn't have a waiting room the Examiner will usually meet you at your car.
Your driving test will start with an eyesight check where you will need to read a number plate at 20.5 metres; followed by two simple car safety questions, you can access a list of the questions at the end of this webpage.
You will then start your practical driving test which will last for around 35 to 40 minutes.
You will be tested on your general driving, plus you need to do one manoeuvre.
The manoeuvre is chosen by the examiner from one of the following:
Reverse around a corner
Turn in the road
Reverse Park on a car park
Parallel Park on the road
You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop exercise. Examiners carry out the emergency stop on one test in every three.
The test will take in as many different types of road as is possible within the time in the local area.
If you take a wrong turn on the test don't worry, as long as you do the turn safely you will not fail for it.
If you're not sure where to go, ask the examiner.
At the end of the test the Examiner will give you the result. He/she will also explain any faults your driving may have, particularly if you failed the test. You get a copy of the driving test report sheet at the end.
If you pass the Examiner will take your licence and ask if you would like your new full driving licence sent to you automatically, this is the easiest way. You must make sure the address on your licence is correct or your new full licence could be sent to the wrong address.
The Examiner will give you your completed pass certificate at the conclusion of the test.