There is no minimum number of lessons or hours of driving tuition required before you can sit your practical driving test. However, you are expected to show safe driving in numerous conditions, and knowledge of the Highway Code displayed through your driving.
At Keep Calm Driving School, we take the approach that our expert should tell you how many hours you will require and when you are ready, but the final decision will always lie with you. We understand you have personal, social, and even financial constraints for getting through your test, which is why it is a personal decision to be made by you.
What happens in the test?
Your driving test will start at one of the test centres with an eyesight check, where you will need to read a number plate from a distance of around 20 metres. If you fail the eyesight check, you fail the test.
You will also be asked two vehicle safety questions, known as 'show me, tell me' questions, designed to ensure you understand the car itself. The 'tell me' question is asked at the start, before you begin driving, and the 'show me' question is asked while you are driving.
You will drive for around 35 minutes, in a variety of road and traffic conditions, but not on motorways.
Reversing
There will be one reversing manoeuvre, which is designed to allow you the chance to show you can reverse the car in a safe, controlled manner. The examiner will ask you to do one of the following:
- parallel park at the side of the road
- park in a bay, either driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out
- pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic
The turn in the road and reversing around a corner are no longer part of the test, but we still teach them because you will use them when driving.
Independent Driving
Part of the drive will be 'independent driving', which lasts for 20 to 35 minutes. You will follow directions from a sat nav, traffic signs, or a combination of both, as the examiner tells you. The examiner provides and sets up the sat nav, so you cannot use your own. The purpose of this is to assess your ability to deal with road signs, and other traffic whilst maintaining a proper driving manner.
This is not a test of your navigational skills. The examiner will not give you a fault for taking a wrong turning, and will help you get back on the route if you do. You are not expected to have knowledge of the local area.
Mistakes
One of the most fundamental points in relation to your test is to not panic if you make a mistake. We all make mistakes, and a mistake does not automatically mean that you have failed your test.
You are entitled to have someone over 16 sit in the back during your test, usually your driving instructor but this can also be a family member or friend. This person must not take any part in the test.
You are allowed a total of 15 driving faults, but no serious or dangerous faults. A repeated driving fault may become a serious fault resulting in failure.
How much does it cost?
Your test will cost £62 on a weekday, or £75 for an evening, weekend or bank holiday test. Tests from 4:30pm onwards count as evening tests.
If you fail your test and require to resit it, you will have to pay the full amount again.
We strongly advise using the official booking service, as other websites may charge more for the same service. You can book your official test at www.gov.uk/book-practical-driving-test