Practical Driving Test
You must have a provisional driving licence and have passed your theory test before you can take your practical test which is taken at an approved DSA test centre.
View our Lesson Plans Notes and diagrams to aid your Driving lessons
Location of Practical Test Centres
In this area five local test centres are available. If you don't mind travelling or work further away there is a full list of available centres on the DSA web site.
|
Sutton-in-Ashfield
Outram
Street
|
Worksop
Unit 4
The Point
|
Sheffield
(Middlewood Road)
508
Middlewood Road
|
Sheffield
(Parkway)
Unit 2
Acres Hill Business Park
|
Chesterfield
Bus
Garage approach Rd
|
Booking Your Practical Test
You can book your practical test online, by phone or by post, the cost of this is, at present, £62.00
Remember you can't book your practical test unless you've passed your driving theory and hazard perception tests within the last 2 years.
To book online go to the DSA website
Before booking you will need:- a valid UK driving licence, a theory test certificate number and a valid debit or credit card for payment
To book by phone call 0300 2001122
The call centres are
open for booking and enquiries Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm (except
public and bank holidays).
Before booking you will need:- a valid UK driving licence, a
theory test certificate number and a valid debit or credit card for
payment
To book a practical test by post you will need an application form.
Application forms are available online or on request from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) booking line.
Payment can be made by cheque or postal order, but cash payments are not accepted.
Download an application form for a practical driving test (PDF, 143K)
Show Me/Tell me
This will be carried out at the beginning of your practical test. You will be asked to 'show and tell' how you would carry out safety and maintenance checks on your car. You‘ll need to answer two questions correctly. Answering one or both of your questions incorrectly will count as a driving fault in your test. There are only 19 questions the examiner can choose from so with the correct study it will not be difficult to answer the questions correctly.
Remember you can't take the practical test unless you've passed your driving theory and hazard perception tests within the last 2 years.
You should arrive 10 minutes before your practical driving test is due to start. This will give you time to relax and calm your nerves before the practical test begins.
Make sure you have all the following with you
-
Your appointment card
-
Your theory test pass certificate.
-
Both parts of your provisional photo card licence.
-
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, make sure you take them with you.
Failing to produce any of these items at the test will result in failure and you will not be eligible for a refund.
When it is time for your practical test, the examiner will enter the waiting room and introduce themselves. Your papers will be checked and you will be asked to sign a declaration to say the car you are driving is insured. You can ask for your instructor to sit in the back at this stage. It is also possible that a supervising examiner will sit in the back to examine the examiner. You will then be escorted out of the room and to the car park.
Before the practical test begins you will be required to pass an eyesight test. You must be able to read a new style number plate from a distance of 20.5 metres. You can, wear glasses when taking the eyesight test, if you do, then you must wear the same glasses throughout the rest of the test.
If you fail this test then the practical driving test will go no further.
If you pass the eyesight test you will then take the show me, tell me test.
Then the examiner will ask
you to get into the car while he walks around the car and checks to
see if the vehicle is roadworthy and legal. He will then join you in
the car and will ask you to drive away when you are ready.
During the practical driving test you will be expected to drive
for about 40 minutes in various road situations. You will be asked to
perform two of the four reversing manoeuvres, either parallel parking,
reversing into a side road, turn in the road or bay parking. You may
also be required to perform an emergency stop.
Drive as you have been taught!!
After 40 minutes it's all over and its back to the test centre. The moment of truth. The Examiner faces you and tells you that the test is over . and will tell you the result. At this point the Examiner will ask you if you would like an explanation of any faults that you have occurred. If you say. "yes". A debriefing will follow when the Examiner has asked you if you want your Instructor to hear the debriefing with you. This choice is entirely up to you, however if you decide to listen to the Examiner's debriefing without your Instructor present then you may run the risk of not fully understanding the Examiners wording.
In order to pass the practical driving test
You must drive without committing any serious or dangerous fault or without committing more than 15 driving errors of a less serious nature.
Dangerous faults - a fault that results in actual danger. Commit such a fault and you will fail the practical driving test immediately.
Serious faults - this is when a potentially dangerous incident occurs, when the candidate reveals a recurring driving fault or fails to perform a manoeuvre (parallel parking, bay parking, reversing into a side road, turn in the road, emergency stop) correctly. Receive a serious fault and you will fail the practical driving test.
Minor driving faults - less serious faults, such as hesitating too long at a junction, faults that don't provide any immediate danger. Receive 16 or more minor driving faults and you will fail the practical driving test.
Advice to help you pass the practical driving test
- Get all the required paperwork ready the evening before.
- Get a good night's sleep before the test.
- Make sure you eat a good breakfast. Even though you may be nervous and have lost your appetite eating breakfast is very important. Research has shown that your brain needs food to concentrate, so give yourself some food for thought!
- Dress comfortably - make yourself feel good.
- Have confidence in your ability.
- Arrive in plenty of time You should be present in the test centre at least ten minutes before the appointed time of your test. If you are late the test will be cancelled, and the fee will be forfeited.
- Listen carefully to the examiner's instructions, act on them in good time, and ask for them to be repeated if necessary.
- Give the examiner a beautifully smooth drive, one that both of you can enjoy.
- The examiner just wants to see what you would normally do - nothing that you do not already know.
- If you make a decision that you think could be misjudged by the examiner, explain your reasons while you drive.
- If you come across a new situation, hold back and assess it carefully before you decide to proceed - and be prepared to change your decision if necessary.
The biggest cause of test failure is lack of preparation and practice.