A guide to the DSA practical test for cars (cat.B)
This page contains all you need to know about your practical driving test, and will hopefully make the whole process less daunting when it comes to test day.
How do I book my driving test?
There are three ways to do this, my personal favourite is booking online. Book your driving test online here.
Alternatively, you can book by phone.
To book a practical driving test with a Call Centre Agent over the phone you will need:
a valid UK driving licence
a theory test certificate number
a valid debit or credit card for payment (Visa, Mastercard, Delta, Visa Electron, Switch/Maestro and Solo cards are accepted)
You can book a practical driving test over the phone using the number below, from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday.
Practical driving test booking line - 0300 200 1122
Finally, you can do it via posting an application form. Download the driving test application form here.
What happens when I get to the driving test center?
After an hour warm up drive, your instructor will accompany you to the driving test center waiting room. Once you arrive the examiner will call your name and ask you to look at the driving test report sheet and read the declaration which states that your vehicle is covered by a valid policy of insurance for the test " Don't worry, the Redline Driver Training car is fully insured for test use.
Read and sign the box ( top left hand corner of the form ). He will then ask to see your driving licence. If you hold a recent licence, you must bring BOTH PARTS with you to test. The photo card AND the paper counterpart. Without both parts, the driving test will be abandoned!
If you have an older paper licence, you must bring suitable photographic ID with you. A passport is ideal.
Once the paperwork is done, the examiner will ask you to "lead the way to your vehicle". You will also be asked where you are parked, so that the examiner can check your eyesight before you get to the car. This is done by getting you to read a number plate (from 20.5 metres away). If you need glasses or contact lenses to do this, you need to wear them for the whole test.
Before you begin driving, the examiner will ask you two safety questions relating to car maintenance. A full list of these can be found on the Show Me Tell Me page.
The driving bit!
When you are both in the car, the examiner will say something like this: " I would like you to follow the road ahead, unless traffic signs direct you otherwise, or I ask you to turn, which I will do in good time. - Move off when you are ready please ".
When you drive off try not to rush things. Take your time to make sure other test candidates aren't too close to you when you set off.
Your driving examiner will use the form you signed earlier to record any faults you make during the test. The form is called the DL25 and looks like this:
There are four columns on the sheet. The left hand column is used to record non-serious driver faults. The column next to it records the total number of these faults. The third column records serious faults, and the far right column records dangerous faults. In order to pass you may not commit any seious or dangerous faults. You must also drive with less than 16 non-serious errors to pass.
Sometimes however, it is possible to fail by accumulating too many faults in one area, for example: junctions - approach speed. This is at the examiners discretion, as to whether they feel there is a recurring fault.
During your driving lessons you will learn how to drive to a good standard and how to avoid all the faults listed on the DL25 form. The manoeuvres seem to be a particular worry for many students, even though in reality, this is the easiest part of the test. For more help with the manoeuvres,see these driving lessons.
At the end of the test, you will find out immediately if you have been successful or not.