Welcome to our Help Area

Practical Driving Test FAQs

The easiest way to judge if you are good enough to pass is to ask yourself.. "Can I drive for 30 minutes without any guidance or mistakes?"

If you can't, then your not ready!

What Happens on The Day of the Test?

You will be picked up one hour before the test, this enables you to relax and get into driving again. We can also go over some manouvres if you want.

We arrive at the test centre 10 minutes before the test. You will need to revers bay park into a space. Don't worry if this goes wrong, it usually does!

At test time, the examiner will call your name. You will need to show him BOTH parts of your driving licence and sign a residency declaration.

Once paperwork has been completed, you and the examiner proceed to the car.

Will I Get an Emergency Stop?

The controlled stop, more commonly referred to as the "emergency stop", is an exercise which determines the ability of the candidate to stop the vehicle promptly yet under control during a simulated emergency.

The simulation is performed by the examiner raising his or her hand and saying, "STOP!". The exercise should be carried out on approximately one out of every three tests, but must be carried out on every extended test.

Whats the pass rate?

Nationally its a dire 43%, but with our instructors its about 85%!

What car will i use for my test?

You can use your instructors car or your own car.

How long does the test last?

It's normally about 40 minutes, which is 30 mins of driving plus a couple of manouvres.

What Happens on the Test?

Generally, the candidate must demonstrate an ability to drive in various road and traffic conditions and react appropriately in actual risk situations.

The conditions typically encountered on test include driving in urban areas as well as higher speed limit roads where possible. The object of the test is to ensure that the candidate is well grounded in the basic principles of safe driving, and is sufficiently practised in them to be able to show, at the time of the test, that they are a competent and considerate driver and are not a source of danger to themselves or to other road users.

The drive will include two or three normal stops at (and moving away from) the side of the road on level roads as well as on gradients, in addition to a demonstration of moving away from behind a stationary vehicle. The regulations state that the on-road driving time must be no less than 30 minutes.

My friend only had 2 lessons.

We doubt this very much. There are very few people whi can pass a driving test with so little instruction.

You need to know what is expected before you go for the test.

What Should I do if I Fail?

The worst thing you could do is stop your lessons.

Quite often the wait for a driving test can be 6 weeks or more. You MUST keep driving during this time.

Just because you were driving well before your first test does not mean that standard will remain the same until your next test. It wont.

Will I Fail if I Stall?

Probably not. It depends on where it happened. If it happened in a traffic quese then almost certainly no.

However if you stall when pulling into a road junction, then probably yes.

It depends on where it happend and how dangerous it is deemed.

What Are Examiners Like?

They are just the same as you and me. They get tired, they get grumpy, but the vast majority are nice and friendly.

They will fail you if you are dangerous, pass you if your not.

Be polite and friendly and drive the best you can. They are not out to fail you!

Good Luck!

Why People FAIL!

Acting improperly at road junctions.

A common reason for a test fail with junctions is going over the give way or stop lines.

Coming to a stop over the line is of course dangerous. Approaching junctions too fast and lack of observation results in the number 1 test fail.

On approaching a junction, use your mirrors, slow down to an appropriate speed so that it gives you plenty of time to observe the road, other vehicles and pedestrians and carry out the MSM routine in good time

Reversing around a corner incorrectly.

Control, accuracy and observations are the key things to this manoeuvre.

Hitting the curb, swinging wide and lack of observation is a common test fail for this.

During the manoeuvre, use an appropriate speed. Keep it slow, giving yourself enough time to judge your distances correctly, use your mirrors and correct observation.

Give way to all other road users as necessary. Don't forget to check over your right shoulder before turning!

Failure to make proper use of steering.

Remember to feed the steering wheel through your hands. Don’t cross your hands on the wheel, don't let the wheel spin back after a turn or drive with any hands off the wheel for any longer than they have to be. Use the steering freely and smoothly.

Manoeuvre - problems with parking.

Reverse parking is arguably one of the trickiest manoeuvres.

The purpose is to show the Examiner that you have good control of the car using clutch control, accuracy and observation.

Keep the vehicle slow, giving yourself plenty of time to manoeuvre the vehicle accurately and to observe other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and stop if they approach.

Don't forget to look over your right shoulder before each turn to check for any other approaching road users.

Failure to make proper use of gears.

Make sure you are in the correct gear before pulling away.

When slowing down or coming to a stop, use the brakes to slow down and not the gears.

As a general rule, move into 2nd gear as soon as you move from stationary to about 7 mph, 3rd gear at 20mph, 4th gear at 35mph, and 5th gear at 45mph.

Don't worry though, if you have been taught by Bumpers you will be fine!

Useful Links

Show Me, Tell Me (Hyundai Getz)

Get Your Provisional Licence HERE.

Practice Theory Test.

Book a Theory Test HERE.

Book Your Practical Test HERE

Show Me, Tell Me Questions

Do I need a UK licence?

Foreign Licence Conversion

Is My Car on the Insurance Database?