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At the moment you must pass the following 2 tests to gain your driving licence. To see some of the most common myths and lies about the test, see our "Myths of the driving test" page.

     Read about the changes for the new driving test in 2010

Important news - We'd like to make you aware of several sites operating at the moment involved in booking both theory and practical driving tests. These sites offer to book your tests for you but will charge you far more than it will cost to book it yourself. The theory test for example only costs £31 but these sites will charge you around £50 and it's completely unnecessary to pay this extra fee. Please only book your tests directly through the official government sites.

Theory test

Current fee from April 2009 - £31

Click here to book your theory test online now

The theory test is now in 2 parts, the theory questions and hazard perception. From September 3rd 2007 the theory test now includes 50 questions out of which you'll need to get 43 correct. There will be many new questions about the effect of driving on the environment, uninsured driving and motorways. 

Case studies - From September 28th 2009 there will be a new element to the theory test. You will just be asked 5 questions based upon a story, these 5 questions count as part of the 50 you get asked in total. For example, you may read that you were on the way to work and came across an accident that had closed the road and made you turn around and take a different route. You'll be asked what you should do before turning, how to warn other road users etc. All these new questions are covered in the latest books and DVDs.

Hazard perception - In this you have to watch 14 video clips and identify hazards in each one. You do this by clicking on a mouse button whenever you see a potential developing hazard, you must click before the hazard happens, not once it has already happened because then it's too late. For example if you see someone in the distance walking behind a parked car you click as they disappear from view. Once they reappear on the other side of the car and you have to slow down then it's too late to click. Remember a developing hazard is one that builds in danger as you approach as with the previous example. A road sign or a a speed change is not a developing hazard because it doesn't move or change, it's a static object.

You can practice this yourself by buying a cd rom for £9.99 from anywhere like PC World or Game. You can often find them on ebay for less than £5. The best one in our opinion is called Driving Test Success - Hazard Perception. This CD ROM is even better than the real exam as it tells you exactly what you scored and where. The real tests only gives you a pass or fail. There're 2 CD's with 100 practice clips on. 

You must pass both the theory and the hazard perception on the same test to get your theory certificate and number. Without these you cannot book a practical test. If you hold a full bike licence you may not have to take the theory test.

The Practical driving test

Current fee from April 2009 - £62 normal times/£75 weekends and from 4:30pm

Click here to book your driving test online now

You'll notice when booking a test that they're all at odd times. Common test times are 12:16, 10:44, 9:27, 15:37 etc. They start from 720am to 430pm in the summertime and from around 8pm to 337pm in the winter. The reason they're at odd times is mainly due to the way the test has changed over the years and times have had to be tweaked to fit the new things in.

The test lasts for around 40 minutes and you're marked only on the mistakes you make, you do not gain any points or marks for doing things well. You're allowed to make 15 minor faults, any more more will result in a fail. A minor fault is something such as forgetting to check a mirror before turning, touching the kerb when you pull up or stopping a bit far back from the end of the road.

A major fault is something more serious such as making any other vehicle stop or change direction, smashing hard into a kerb etc. The last kind of fault is a dangerous fault which is similar to a major fault but more serious and is given when you caused actual danger to other road users. Getting just 1 major or dangerous will obviously result in a fail.

As the video above, from the people that conduct the tests, shows you, most people who pass have had a minimum of 65 hours driving experience. This does not all have to be with an instructor so it's not as expensive at you may think! If you are not up to standard and can't do everything on your own then you will just be wasting your time going on a test. Doing everything means not just moving the car but also being able to operate the heater, lights, plan your own routes, follow road signs and many other things.

Please understand that passing the test is the easy bit, driving on your own is when the real test begins! 1 in 5 new drivers is killed or seriously injured within 6 months of passing so it's vital you are sure you can do everything on your own before taking a test.  Once you have a test booked you can move it 3 times or cancel it and get your money back, so long as you give 3 working days notice, so there is no pressure to stick to the first test date you're given.

Show me / Tell me

On the way to your car with the examiner you'll be asked 2 questions. One will be asking you to show them something and the other to tell them something, all the questions regard car maintenance and general knowledge. If you get either or both questions wrong you just get 1 minor fault - you do not fail the test. You can't move the car before testing any parts of it, for example if you drove off then pressed the brakes and they weren't working then it's too late! 

Remember - do not turn the car on unless the examiner is sitting in the passenger seat. Turning the engine on while you are alone in the car is technically driving without a licence.

Tell me how you would…

Check the handbrake is working

When pulled up it should click 4 or 5 times and feel stiff. If it travels very high and doesn’t stop or get stiffer then it’s not working

Check the power steering is working

Turn the car on while moving the wheel, it should get lighter as the engine turns on. If it stays stiff then it’s not working. In our cars there's also a symbol of a steering wheel on the dashboard that lights up if there's a problem with the steering.

Check the footbrake is working

Pump the brake pedal while the car is turned off. After several pumps it should get stiffer and resist being pushed down.

Check the tyres

Look for cuts, bulges, over or under inflated tyres. Tread depth should be 1.6mm across the central ¾ of the width of the tyre, all the way round. There should be no nails or objects stuck in the tyre.

We recommend changing your tyres when they reach 3mm as braking distance can be increased by up to 60% by this stage and it's never a good idea to run tyres down to the absolute minimum. You don't have to tell the examiner about the 3mm thing, it's just a tip!

Check the tyre pressures

Look in the cars manual and then use a gauge at a garage. If the pressure’s aren’t in the manual they’ll be on a sticker inside the sill by the drivers door or in the fuel cap. Tyre pressures are not on the tyres because the same size tyre can have different pressures depending on the weight of the vehicle it's fitted to

Check the brake lights

Hold the brake pedal down with the engine on and get someone to check them. If nobody’s around park by a garage door, tree etc and look for reflection

Check the horn

Press the horn.

Make sure your head restraint is in the correct position

It should be in a position so your head rests on it when you lean back. It should be at least as high as the bottom of your ears.

How you'd know if there was a problem with the ABS

A warning light comes on the dashboard that says ABS

Check the main beam is working

Pull the indicator stick towards you while the lights are on and look for the main beam shining in front of the car. The blue main beam light will also display on the dash.

Show me how you would…

Clean the windscreen using the wipers

Hold the button in on the end of the wiper stick for a few seconds. For the rear window, pull the stick out towards you.

Switch on the rear foglights and explain when you'd use them

Rob's car -

Paul's car - Press the power button while the clutch is up to activate the electrics. Turn the lights from automatic to manual mode by twisting the dial once to the left then press the rear fog light button by the light switch (the one to the right of the main dial). You need them when visibility is below 100 metres.

Set the heater up to demist the front windscreen

Rob's car - Turn the heat setting to hot, the direction setting to windscreen and the fan speed to 2 or above

Paul's car - Press the MAX button on the heater

Switch your headlights from dipped to main beam and check them from inside the car

Hold the indicator stick towards you. Pull it towards you hard to the leave the beam on. A blue light will show on the dashboard when the main beam is on.

       Check the water level,brake fluid level, etc

Point to the correct item then check and see if the fluid is between the minimum and maximum levels. If you are asked about the power steering then tell the examiner this car has electric power steering so it won’t have a reservoir (all 1stdrive cars have electric power steering). You do not need to touch anything for this, just point as the engine will be very hot.

      Check the oil level

Pull out the dipstick and wipe it, put it back in, pull it out again and check if you can see oil between the maximum / minimum line. You must wipe the stick and pull it out again because the oil will have been moving around while you drive and the whole stick will look dirty. You do not need to touch anything for this, just point as the engine will be very hot.

       Check your indicators are working

Put on the hazard lights and walk around the car looking at them. Remember you have to physically walk around the car and look at them because this is a show me question. You can also tell if a signals broken because when you indicate left or right the other 2 signals on that side will flash and tick twice as fast as normal. You don’t need to tell the examiner this, it’s just a tip. 

       Check the front and tail lights

Paul's car - Press the power button while the clutch is up to activate the electrics. Turn the lights from automatic to manual mode by twisting the dial once to the left then walk around and check them.

Under the Bonnet

Click on the photo's to enlarge them

                                    Paul's car                                      Rob's Car (coming soon)

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