The Practical Driving Test

The practical driving test centre in Dundee is located at: Unit 1 Faraday Court, Dryburgh Industrial Estate, Dundee DD2 3UD.

• Book Your Theory Test Online
• Check, Change or Cancel Your Theory Test Online
• Book Your Practical Test Online
• Check, Change or Cancel Your Practical Test Online

When you attend for test you will require both parts of your driving licence as well as the Theory Test Pass Certificate. It is also a good idea to have the letter of confirmation for your test appointment. The examiner will check the documentation while you read and sign a declaration of residency.

From 6 April 2010 examiners will always ask candidates if they would like their instructor (or another observer – preferably the person who has taught them) to sit in on their test and listen to the feedback. However, it is purely the candidate’s choice.

Your driving test will start with an eyesight check, which you must pass or else you will not be allowed to drive at all. You will also lose your test fee.

He/she will then ask two vehicle safety questions (See "Show Me, Tell Me"). Your test is not dependant on getting these right but you do not wish to incur any avoidable minor faults.

You will then start your practical driving test which will last about 40 minutes. Your examiner will give you a test briefing at the start to outline what is going to happen on the test. You will be asked to follow a predetermined route (which the examiner can alter if traffic conditions/circumstances demand) and perform two set exercises along the way. You may also be asked to carry out a controlled emergency stop exercise. You should listen carefully to any instructions or directions that the examiner gives you but should follow the road ahead unless otherwise instructed, or if road signs dictate.

Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving, including when you are carrying out the set exercises. He will look for you to be confident and to make reasonable progress through the various situations that you will encounter. He will not try to find difficult situations but will expect you to handle whatever does come up during the drive. You can make up to 15 driving (minor) faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure). However, if you commit one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test. If the examiner has to take any sort of correctional action, be it verbal or physical, this will also most likely result in failure.

The driving test has been designed to see if you can drive safely, demonstrating and understanding the rules of The Highway Code.

On returning to the test centre the examiner will complete his test sheet and will give you the result of the test. You will also be offered an explanation of how he has marked the more serious decisions. Should you wish me to be present at this debrief you must request that I be asked over.

If you have passed, the examiner will ask if you wish your new driving licence to be sent out to you automatically. If so then he will take your provisional and will give you a pass certificate which you can use in the meantime.

• Book Your Theory Test Online
• Check, Change or Cancel Your Theory Test Online
• Book Your Practical Test Online
• Check, Change or Cancel Your Practical Test Online

Independent Driving

Independent driving will become part of the practical driving test in Great Britain in October 2010.

It's tasking the candidate to drive for about 10 minutes, either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both.

To help the candidate be clear about where they’re going, the examiner can show them a diagram too.

It doesn't matter if candidates don't remember every direction, or if they go the wrong way - that can happen to the most experienced drivers.

Newspaper reports

The claim in some newspapers that independent driving would lead to a fall in the driving test pass rate is based on early research where conditions did not reflect the eventual design of the new element of the test.

Subsequent trials with a larger number of participants and more closely reflecting the conditions in the planned new test showed no significant fall in the pass rate.

Video shows independent driving

DSA has published a short video on its YouTube channel explaining more about independent driving.

Watch the video on YouTube.

New version of 'Are you ready?' on YouTube

A new version of the 'Are you ready?' video for the car practical driving test has been published on DSA's YouTube channel at youtube.com/dsagov. It shows how the test will look from 4 October 2010.

The video includes information about the independent driving section of the test, and confirms that, from 4 October, car test candidates will only have to complete one reversing manoeuvre rather than two. The manoeuvre will be selected at random by the examiner from:

• turning in the road
• reversing around a corner
• reverse parking (either on the road, or into a bay)

The current version of 'Are you ready?' which shows how the test is now is still on YouTube.

Watch the new version on YouTube.