The UK practical driving test lasts about 40 minutes and assesses your ability to drive safely and independently.
Test structure
- Eyesight check: read a number plate at 20 metres
- 'Show me, tell me' questions: one 'tell me' question (verbal) and one 'show me' question (demonstrate) about vehicle safety
- Driving: general driving including independent driving (following sat nav or road signs) for 20 minutes
- Manoeuvre: one of: parallel park, bay park (forward or reverse), or pull up on the right and reverse back
- Emergency stop: in 1 in 3 tests
Fault scoring
- Minor (driving faults): up to 15 allowed
- Serious fault: one = fail
- Dangerous fault: one = fail (examiner takes control)
The most common reasons for failure
Observations at junctions (not looking properly), mirrors-signal-manoeuvre (forgetting to check mirrors), and moving off unsafely. These account for the majority of test failures.
Prepare with our free driving test day checklist.