Practical Test

The Driving Standards Agency recommends that most learners take at least 45 hours of professional tuition lessons and at least 22 hours with friends and family.

The average number of lessons is currently 45 hours. As all learners are different, some will pass more quickly than others.

Your driving test will start with an eyesight check and some vehicle safety questions. The driving part of your test will last about 40 minutes. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving, including when you are carrying out the set exercises. You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure). However, if you commit one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test.

Following directions from a sat nav

During the independent driving part of the test, most candidates will be asked to follow directions from a sat nav.

The examiner will provide the sat nav (a TomTom Start 52) and set it up. You won’t need to set the route - the examiner will do this for you. So, it doesn’t matter what make or model of sat nav you practise with.

You can’t follow directions from your own sat nav during the test - you have to use the one supplied by the examiner.

You’ll be able to ask the examiner for confirmation of where you’re going if you’re not sure. It won’t matter if you go the wrong way unless you make a fault while doing it.

One in 5 driving tests won’t use a sat nav. You’ll need to follow traffic signs instead.

See the video below for an example of the test.

The cost of the Practical Test is currently £62.00 weekdays and £75.00 Evenings, weekends and Bank holidays.