A driving test takes around 1 hour and includes 40 minutes driving time.  The test is made up five parts:

• an eyesight check
• ‘show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions
• general driving ability
• reversing your vehicle
• independent driving

The test is the same for both manual and automatic cars.

The eyesight check

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  ‘show me, tell me’ questions.

The ‘tell me’ question will be asked first, at the start of the test before you start driving and the ‘show me’ question will asked while you are driving.

Your general driving ability

It’ll come as no surprise that as part of your driving test, you’ll be required to show your driving ability. The examiner will give you directions on the route to take and will expose you to a range of road and traffic situations as part of the test (this will not include motorway driving).

Pulling over at the side of the road

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

Reversing your vehicle

The examiner will ask you to do one of the following exercises:

• parallel park at the side of the road
• park in a parking bay – either by driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out (the examiner will tell you which you have to do)
• 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.

If you cannot see traffic signs

If you cannot see a traffic sign (for example, because it’s covered by trees), the examiner will give you directions until you can see the next one.

Going off the route

The examiner will not give you a fault for taking a wrong turning.

They’ll help you get back on the route if you do.

If you make mistakes during your test

You can carry on if you make a mistake. It might not affect your test result if it’s not serious.

Your driving examiner will direct you back to the driving test centre if the mistake you made means you’ve failed. The test will end early.

Other people at your test

Your driving examiner’s supervisor might sit in on your test to watch your examiner’s performance. If you refuse, your test can be cancelled and you’ll have to book another test and pay again.