What happens during the test?
Eyesight Test
You’ll have to read a number plate from a distance of:
- 20 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate
- 20.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate
You’ll fail your driving test if you fail the eyesight check. The test will end.
Show me, tell me questions
You’ll be asked 2 vehicle safety questions known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions.
You’ll be asked the:
- ‘tell me’ question at the start of your test, before you start driving
- ‘show me’ question while you’re driving
General Driving and Reversing
You’ll drive in various road and traffic conditions, but not on motorways.
The examiner will give you directions that you should follow.
You’ll be asked to pull over and pull away during your test, including:
- normal stops at the side of the road
- pulling out from behind a parked vehicle
- a hill start
You might also be asked to carry out an emergency stop.
The examiner will ask you to do one of the following exercises:
- parallel park
- park in a parking bay
- pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic
Independent Driving
You’ll have to drive for about 20 minutes by following either:
- directions from a sat nav
- traffic signs
The examiner will tell you which you have to follow.
They’ll set the sat nav up for you. You cannot use your own sat nav.