The driving exam, officially the practical driving test, lasts about 40 minutes and checks that you can drive safely on real roads without help. It starts with an eyesight check, includes around 20 minutes of driving on your own, and you pass with no serious or dangerous faults and no more than 15 minor ones. Getting a date can take months, so the quickest way to get one is to book with us and let us find you a test fast.
What happens in the driving exam
- Eyesight checkBefore you get in the car, you read a number plate from 20 metres away. If you cannot read it, the exam stops there.
- Tell me questionThe examiner asks you to explain how you would carry out a safety check on the car, such as checking the tyres or the brakes.
- General drivingYou drive on a mix of roads, following the examiner's directions. Expect junctions, roundabouts, faster roads and quieter streets.
- Show me questionWhile you are driving, you are asked to do something, such as washing the windscreen or switching on the rear demister.
- Independent drivingFor about 20 minutes you drive on your own, following a sat nav or road signs. Going the wrong way is not a fault as long as you drive safely.
- Reversing exerciseYou do one of these: parallel park, park in a bay, or pull up on the right and reverse about two car lengths.
- Emergency stopSome exams include one. The examiner tells you beforehand and gives a clear signal.
How the driving exam is marked
- Driving faults are minor mistakes. You can have up to 15 and still pass.
- Serious faults are something that could have been dangerous. One is a fail.
- Dangerous faults put someone in real danger. One is a fail.
At the end the examiner tells you whether you have passed and talks you through any faults. Your instructor can sit in the back and listen if you want them to.
Driving exam pass rate
Exactly half of all driving exams are passed. Across Great Britain, 1,998,261 car tests were taken between April 2025 and March 2026, with a pass rate of 50%. It varies a lot by centre, so check yours on our test centres pages, where every centre shows its own pass rate and wait.
The 10 most common reasons people fail
These are the top reasons for failing the driving exam, as published by the DVSA:
- Not making effective observations at junctions
- Not using mirrors correctly when changing direction
- Not moving off safely
- Incorrect positioning when turning right at junctions
- Not responding appropriately to traffic lights
- Not having proper control of the steering
- Not responding correctly to road markings
- Not responding correctly to traffic signs
- Poor positioning on the road during normal driving
- Not driving at a safe and reasonable speed
Most of these are about looking and planning, not car control. Ask your instructor to focus your last lessons on junctions, mirrors and moving off.
Tips to pass your driving exam first time
- Take a mock exam with your instructor on roads near your test centre, so the real one feels familiar.
- Exaggerate your mirror checks slightly, so the examiner can see you making them.
- Ask if you do not hear an instruction. The examiner will happily repeat it.
- Do not give up after a mistake. One minor fault does not mean you have failed, so keep driving as well as you can.
- Drive the way you have been taught, not more slowly or more cautiously than usual. Driving too slowly can be a fault too.
How much the driving exam costs
The DVSA fee is £62 for a weekday exam, or £75 for evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Our guide to driving test costs covers every fee in full.
What to bring on the day
- Your provisional licence, the photocard.
- A car that is legal for the exam: taxed, insured for a test, roadworthy, with L plates and an extra rear-view mirror for the examiner. Most learners use their instructor's car.
- Glasses or contact lenses, if you need them to drive.
Why it is hard to get a driving exam date
Nearly half of all test centres have nothing free in the whole booking window. Yet half of learners sat their exam far sooner than the advertised wait. They took earlier dates that came free when other learners moved or cancelled.
Get your driving exam sooner
Book with us. Tell us your test centre and the months that suit you, and we find you a test fast. You hear by SMS and WhatsApp when we find a date, and you decide whether to take it. Nothing to pay upfront, and you only pay if we find you a test and you take it. You do not need a test booked already, and if you have one, keep it and we'll look for an earlier date to move it to.
Find me an earlier testNothing to pay upfront
If you do not pass
You have to wait at least 10 working days before you can take the exam again. Our guide to retaking your driving test covers what to do next, and you can book with us straight away so we start finding your next date.
Questions about the driving exam
How long is the driving exam?
About 40 minutes of driving, including around 20 minutes of independent driving.
How many minors can you get and still pass?
Up to 15 driving faults, as long as you have no serious or dangerous faults.
Is the driving exam the same as the practical driving test?
Yes. Driving exam is just another name for the practical driving test.
How do I get a driving exam date sooner?
Book with us. Tell us your centre and the months that suit you, and we let you know by SMS and WhatsApp when we find you a date. There is nothing to pay upfront.
Can my instructor come with me?
Yes. Your instructor can sit in the back during the exam if you want them to.
What is the driving exam pass rate?
50% across Great Britain between April 2025 and March 2026. Each test centre has its own rate, which you can see on its page.
What is the most common reason for failing the driving exam?
Not making effective observations at junctions. It has been the top reason on the DVSA's list for years.
How much is the driving exam?
£62 on a weekday, or £75 for evenings, weekends and bank holidays. That is the DVSA fee.