Driving test tips

After so many hours spent learning to drive, your practical driving test is a nerve-racking experience. What can you expect and how can you prepare to give yourself the best chance of passing the driving test first time? This guide offers handy tips on what to focus on in the days leading up to it and during the test itself…

The first thing to bear in mind is you can’t book your practical driving test until after you’ve passed your theory test. Once you’ve passed this, you can start preparing for your next challenge – passing the practical driving test. Even if you’re normally highly confident, you’re bound to be feeling nervous before taking your practical test. It’s an important moment in your life. The best way to ensure everything goes smoothly is to be properly prepared.

The waiting time for a driving test can vary dramatically depending on where you live, so you could end up waiting a number of weeks. It’s important that you don’t waste this time and use it to your advantage.

Things to do before your driving test

Book your test

Before you can start preparing for the practical test, you have to book it. Your instructor will be the best judge of how ready you are and when you both agree you can select a date.

To book your driving test you will need your driving licence number and a credit or debit card. A standard car practical test will cost you £62 for a weekday test and £75 for one in the evening, at the weekend or a bank holiday.

It’s important to pick the right time of day you take your test. Having quieter roads in the middle of the morning or afternoon can be a big advantage to nervous drivers. It’s always best to avoid rush hour as this can add unnecessary stress on the big day.

You may find that you have to wait a while for your exam but if you feel you’re ready, you can find an earlier slot if someone else has cancelled theirs.

Please be aware that practical driving tests are very popular and you may need to stay patient while you find your preferred location. If you’re keen to take your test on an earlier date, you can book it in a different location.

Practical driving test practice

After you have booked your test, you’ll probably have time to get in some last-minute practice. You may find you’ve reached the point where you don’t want to pay an instructor for more lessons but don’t let that stop you practicing.

If you’re lucky enough to have your own car or access to a car (maybe a parent or friend’s) you can practice in, you should try and get in as much experience as possible before the big day. It’s the best way to brush up on what you’ve been learning with your instructor and the perfect way to get some driving practice in a relaxed manner. 

Do you need insurance when driving with a family or friend?

Your friend or family member will have to be with you in the car and they must hold a valid licence, be over the age of 21 (for Tempcover insurance, the person accompanying you must be over 25 years of age) and have over 3 years of driving experience.

No matter whose car you’re practicing in, if you’re on a public road you must have insurance. As a learner driver, you might find that getting added to an existing policy belonging to your parents or a friend can be extremely costly.

A great way to get comprehensive cover while you’re driving is to get temporary car insurance specially designed for learner drivers. It’s flexible insurance that works around your schedule.

You’ve already had to pay for hours and driving lessons and over £60 for your driving test, so the last thing you want to do is pay more than you need to. Policies are available for 12 hours and 1 to 28 days so however long you’re waiting to take your test, you only have to pay for the cover you need.

A short-term policy could not only save you money but as a standalone policy, it won’t affect the vehicle owner’s existing insurance. Their premiums will stay the same and if you have an accident while driving, they won’t lose their no claims discount. Find out how temporary learner driver insurance can help you.

How to calm your nerves before your driving test

There’s no avoiding the fact that your driving test is important. Naturally, it’s bound to cause a few nerves, especially if you’re taking it for the first time. Some top tips for overcoming driving test anxiety include:

• Prepare – Maybe you could go on a practice run while driving with your friend or family member. Ask your instructor about the likely routes where the driving test will take place and familiarise yourself with all the surroundings including large roundabouts. Treat every drive around the area as a mock exam.
• Get plenty of rest, relaxation and exercise – Although it may be easier said than done, try and get a full 8 hours of sleep the night before your test. This will help you stay alert throughout the exam.
• Don’t drink too much caffeine – Drink plenty of water instead of coffee or fizzy drinks. This will help you relax and get a good night’s sleep.
• Exercise – Clear your head by going for a run or having a session at the gym. Getting into the routine of regular exercise will keep your mind away from the upcoming pressure of a driving test and help improve your mental health.
• Stay positive – Remember that nerves are completely normal and that the overall pass rate is just under 50% every year. Put things into perspective and remember that even if you don’t pass, it will all be ok. There will always be another opportunity.

Another great way of relieving some nerves is to take away the added stress of expectation. There’s no need to tell everyone when your test is because you’re likely to feel that added pressure of expectation.

You can find more tips on the UK government’s Ready to Pass website.

What to expect on your driving test

When the big day arrives, having an idea of what is to come can help reduce nerves and improve your chances of passing.

Try and arrive at the test centre at least 10 minutes before your test and ensure you have all the required documents. You will need to take:

• Your UK driving licence
• Your theory test pass certificate
• A car – most people use their driving instructor’s, but you can use your own car if it meets the rules

Once you’ve arrived and signed in, your examiner will come and collect you. At this point, you have to decide whether or not to have your instructor join you on your exam.

If you feel that having someone you know in the car will help you relax then it’s a good idea. Remember that they can’t help or advise you during the test.

Take your driving eyesight test

The first part of your practical driving test will be the eyesight test. While you don’t need to have taken a recent eye test to get your provisional licence, the first part of your practical test will involve a quick eye test in the test centre car park.

Your examiner will ask you to read out a number plate of their choice. The number plate will be about 20 metres away and if you fail to read this correctly you will be asked to read a second number plate.

This will continue until you correctly read one or you have failed to read 3 number plates. If this happens, the test will be cancelled and marked as a fail.

What are the Show Me Tell Me driving test questions?

Next, you will be asked a couple of questions known by many as Show Me Tell Me questions. These will be two of a possible 19 questions.

One will be a ‘Show Me’ and one will be a ‘Tell Me’. These questions will test your knowledge on the maintenance and safety of your vehicle.

Questions range from ‘Tell me how you would check that the brakes are working before starting a journey’ to ‘Open the bonnet, show me where the windscreen washer reservoir is and tell me how you check the level?’

If you fail to answer one or both of these questions correctly, you will get one minor. You can have up to 15 minor fails during your test and still pass. Just one major fault will see you fail your test.

The driving part

Finally, you will start the driving part of your practical test. This will involve facing a number of different roads and systems including roundabouts and crossroads.

During the driving part you will be asked to perform one of three manoeuvres:

• Driving or reversing into and out of a parking bay
• Parallel park at the side of the road
• Pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for 2 car lengths and rejoin the traffic

You will have practiced these manoeuvres during your lessons, Remember to take your time as there is no time limit; you should go at a pace that suits you. Another part of the test is known as independent driving. Your examiner will give you a set of simple directions using a map or diagram to help show you where to go.

The point of this exercise isn’t to test how well you can remember directions. It’s to see how safely you can use road signs. If you forget a direction, simply ask the instructor to repeat it.

What happens after you pass your driving test?

Your practical driving test normally takes around 40 minutes to complete. Once you are back at the test centre, the examiner will inform you whether you have passed or failed. They will explain any mistakes you made and, if applicable, the reasons why you have failed.

If you have passed, you’ll be given your test pass certificate and be able to drive immediately – providing you have insurance. Tempcover offers drive away insurance which will help get you on the road quicker. Our temporary car insurance policies are fully comprehensive and give you time to find the right annual insurance policy.

You can quickly arrange temporary car insurance through Tempcover after you pass and have the certificate in hand if you don’t want to tempt fate. You can get a quote in under 2 minutes and be on the road the minute the policy starts.

We hope these driving test tips help but it’s important to remember that no matter what there will always be another opportunity.

• If you have passed your test, enjoy your new-found freedom.
• If, sadly, you have failed it’s ok to be upset but take some time to refocus, learn from your mistakes and book another test when you feel ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I increase my chances of passing my driving test?

Getting extra practice once your instructor has confirmed you’re ready to take the test is a good way of settling the nerves and keeping your driving up while you await the date of the test.

What are the biggest mistakes people make during driving tests?

readytopass.campaign.gov.uk states the top reasons for failing a driving test include not making effective observations at junctions, not using mirrors correctly when changing direction and not responding appropriately to traffic lights.

How do I change the time of my driving test?

You can change the time of your driving test by visiting the government website. You must give at least 3 full working days’ notice to make this change otherwise you’ll have to pay for it again.