The Practical driving test

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_driving_test

WARNING! There are some sites that charge ( approx £30) admin fee for booking your test please make sure the site is the DirectGov site or you could pay much more for your driving test. If your not sure call me you should only pay for the test. Click here to book with the DSA website

Taking your instructor on test

From April 6th 2010 the examiner will ask if your instructor can come along on the driving test.

DSA has published a video on YouTube called 'Take your instructor on your driving test'. video on YouTube. In the video, Cecilia, a media student who passed her test two years ago, talks to learner drivers and instructors about the benefits of taking someone with you on your driving test.
You can watch it by clicking on the following link. Watch 'Take your instructor on your driving test' on YouTube.

Your driving test will start with an eyesight check and some vehicle safety questions. You will then start your practical driving test which will include some specific manoeuvres.

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. The examiner will use standard test terminology throughout the test.

Driving faults are marked under three levels 1) Dangerous 2) Serious 3) Minor.

You can make up to 15 minor driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure). However, if you commit one serious or dangerous fault or the examiner has to take any action either Verbal or Physical you will fail the test.

The Purpose of the Driving Test
The driving test is straightforward. It is designed to see if you can drive safely, know the Highway Code and can demonstrate this through your driving.  Test routes are designed to be as uniform as possible and will include a range of typical road and traffic conditions.
You will be given directions in good time and asked to carry out set exercises.
The driving test lasts approximately 38 / 40 minutes (Extended tests will last about 70 minutes)

How will I be tested?

The driving test involves a Driving Standards Agency examiner observing your driving over a set route,
Often when candidates are unfortunate enough to fail  a standard driving test, they do not understand how they could have possibly failed when the test seemed so easy.

See the Practical test elements This page  is an explanation of the standard requirements of the test and examples of the faults that can happen on the driving test, click on the link to have a look.

See a test on Youtube

Booking the The Practical Test - Category B (Car)  Current prices  Please see the DSA website

You can book by post, online, or by telephone
You may be able to have your test in the evening or on Saturday but the cost is increased

Your driving school, instructor, or local test centre should have an application form, although you can book your test over the phone if you have a credit card.
If you book your test over the phone you need to call  0300 200 1122 to book over the phone

You best way is to book online at DSA Online booking it will also show the current waiting time (usually 6-8 weeks)

You’ll now need to provide a contact email address when you book or change your practical test online to receive your booking confirmation.
Booking confirmations for tests will no longer be posted out to you.

You must have the following information ready:-
Your driving licence number.
Your personal details (Name, Address, Post code, Date of birth, Telephone number) .
Type of vehicle (Car, Motorcycle). Time of test (Weekday, Evening, Saturday).
Your instructor's ADI number. (Ask your instructor for this)
How soon you would like your test.
Your credit card details.
A test date and time will be given, which may be changed if its unsuitable.
You must give a least 10 working days notice to cancel your test or you will lose your fee.

REMEMBER: you must inform your instructor of the TIME, DATE and LOCATION of your test

Minimum Test Vehicle Requirements for a Practical Test
Category B (Car)

Cars / vans presented for test must be a four wheeled vehicle capable of a speed of at least 100 kph.

They must be roadworthy and Taxed and insured and be fitted with;

Local Test centre address for the Cardiff area is
Cardiff West     (Fairwater)                                     
30 Norbury Road
Fairwater, Cardiff                                                               
South Wales                                                        
CF5 5HU

Documents

Before attending your driving test ensure that you have your provisional licence and your Theory Test Pass Certificate with you when you arrive for your test.

You must check that you have signed your license, you cannot sign this on the day.
If you have a full driving licence which was issued in another country but isn’t eligible for exchange for a GB Licence, you must apply for, and bring with you, a GB provisional licence.  For more information see DVLA information sheet D100 Downloadable here.

Photo identity

If your licence does not show your photograph (old paper type) you must also bring with you a form of photographic identification.

Your examiner will only accept a valid passport as Photo ID. Your test will be cancelled if you cannot provide one of these forms of identification
Eyesight:
The examiner will check your eyesight. Make sure you can read a number plate at 20.5 meters (67 feet, about six car lengths). If you wear glasses or contact lenses to read the number plate, you must insure you wear them when you are driving, you will be failed if you cannot meet this requirement..
Nerves:
There is no easy fix for nerves other than confidence in your abilities,  the examiner will ask if your instructor can sit in on the test. They are not allowed to comment or guide you during the test see braking news for info on Test etiquette for instructors.
pass rate:
Examiners do not have their pass quotas. If you are a competent driver and can demonstrate this then you will be awarded a pass.
The national average pass rate for Fairwater, Cardiff is 51.99% (Source DSA 2008/9)

Test times:
Tests are normally conducted at the following times: ( In summer months  extra tests may be put on)

 

please see the FAQs page

The aim of anyone involved in driver training and testing is to improve safety on our roads. To make you a little better than the average motorists it's always a good idea to take further training after passing your test.

The purpose of re-testing is not punitive; it is a road safety measure, to check the driver's competence.

Extended tests for disqualified drivers

 Retesting for disqualified drivers and riders was introduced from 1992

Courts can impose an extended driving test on anyone who has been:

Loss of your driving licence for dangerous driving or related offences involving obligatory disqualification means that you return to 'learner' status. Normal rules for provisional licence-holders will apply.

You must take and pass a theory test for the category of vehicle for which you intend to take an extended practical driving test.

The extended driving test is longer and therefore more demanding. It lasts for about 70 minutes and covers a wide variety of roads, usually including dual carriageways. You are advised to prepare by taking suitable instruction from an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI)

 Current prices for extended tests Please see the DSA website the higher fee reflects the length of the test.

Driving tests and bad weather

Some driving tests may be affected by winter weather

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) doesn't conduct practical driving tests in adverse weather conditions, for example when the roads are icy. This is for the safety of both the person taking the test and the examiner.

If you're due to take your practical test, follow the advice given on your appointment email or letter. Call your test centre only if there is snow or ice in your local area on the day of your test.

When to phone your test centre
It's best to phone your test centre around two hours before your test is due to start. This is because conditions on the roads may improve during the day, and driving tests can then go ahead.

If your test is early in the morning, call as soon as you can on the day. If you call the day before, the test centre won't be able to tell you if your test will go ahead.

If your test is in the afternoon, call the test centre later in the morning. The test centre is more likely to know if the roads will be suitable for your test.

If nobody answers the phone, and the conditions in your area aren't looking too bad, it's likely that the driving examiners are out:

However, this isn't a guarantee that your test will go ahead. Please call the test centre again or go there in time for your test.

If your test cannot go ahead
If your practical driving test is cancelled another appointment will be arranged automatically at no further cost. However, the DSA don't pay any out-of-pocket expenses.

A new appointment date is usually sent within three working days. This may take up to seven days when there's a period of prolonged bad weather.

If your test hasn't been rebooked at that time, you should call the DSA customer service centre.

They will pay the normal hire charge for a driving school car except in Snow/Ice as this is classed as an act of god and not in there control

 

Drivingtests © Philip Manfield 1989 - 2012