Arrival (10-15 minutes before)
Get to the test centre with time to spare. Bring your provisional licence and your theory test pass certificate confirmation — no valid ID, no test.
Eyesight Check (about 5 minutes)
Your examiner will ask you to read a number plate from 20 metres away before you get in the car. This happens before anything else — fail it, and the test doesn't proceed.
"Show Me, Tell Me" Questions (about 5 minutes)
Two vehicle safety questions — one asking you to show how you'd check something (like the brake lights), one asking you to explain how you'd check something (like tyre tread).
The Drive (about 38-40 minutes)
General driving, at least one manoeuvre, and — for roughly 1 in 3 tests — an emergency stop. Your examiner gives directions throughout this part.
Independent Driving (about 20 minutes)
You'll follow directions from a sat-nav or a sequence of road signs, with minimal input from the examiner — this is testing your ability to make your own decisions on the road, not just follow instructions.
Result (about 5 minutes)
Back at the test centre, your examiner explains the result and, if relevant, talks through any faults marked during the test.
Making Test Day Less Stressful
- Book a warm-up lesson in the same car you'll test in, so the pedals and mirrors aren't unfamiliar
- Know your documents are in order the night before, not the morning of
- Remember the independent driving section allows minor route deviations — going the "wrong way" isn't an automatic fault as long as you drive safely
If your test doesn't go your way, see what happens if you fail your driving test for what comes next.
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