LEARNING TO DRIVE: PRACTICAL (DRIVING) TEST

You must have passed the Theory Test before we can book your Driving Test. You cannot take a Driving Test more than 2 years after passing your Theory Test, you would have to resit the Theory Test first.

We will book your Driving Test for you, not through the post but directly with the Driving Standards Agency, this way we can chose the test date that best fits your requirements (subject to availability).

The current test fee is £48.50 for a weekday test and £58 for a Saturday test. If you have been advised you need to take an extended test (following a driving ban for instance) we can arrange this as well, the fee being twice the normal fee.

The waiting time for tests varies enormously across test centres, but is typically 6 to 8 weeks. This applies to all driving schools as tests are booked by a central booking office.

The Driving Test has three main parts, all of which you must pass.

• 1. Eyesight Test - you will be asked to read a number plate at a distance of 20.5 metres (67 feet) with contact lenses or glasses if you normally wear them for driving. Your instructor will have checked that you can do this during your training, but please note that if you cannot read the number plate when asked to by the examiner, then the Driving Test will not take place.
• 2. Show Me - Tell Me. The examiner will ask you two questions regarding basic safety checks and car maintenance - you will not be asked to change the oil but you may be asked how you would check the oil levels and top it up if necessary. Your instructor will ensure that you are familiar with all the Show Me - Tell Me questions.
• 3. The Driving Test itself. The examiner is looking for you to show that you can drive safely without supervision. The test will take about 40 minutes and the test routes that are used are designed to cover a variety of roads and traffic situations. You will also be asked to perform various manoeuvres such as the reverse parallel park, turn in the road etc. You will need to put into use the skills that your instructor has taught you to adapt to the traffic situations you are presented with. In theory, if you are ready to pass the Driving Test, it should not matter where you take it or in what car as you will be driving on different roads and in a different car after you pass your test.

Your instructor may feel it is appropriate to give you a mock driving test, during which he will only give you road directions and explain which manoeuvres he wants you to do; he will not correct your faults or offer the usual guidance and encouragement that you have been used to. The silence will be deafening and is good preparation for the real thing.