You can book your driving test when you’ve passed your theory test.

You don’t need to pass another theory test if you’re upgrading an automatic car licence to a manual licence.

 

To pass the driving test you must be able to drive safely in different road and traffic conditions and show that you know The Highway Code by the way you drive.  The national standard for driving cars tells you everything you must be able to do to pass the test. Only take your test when you can do everything without instruction.

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To pass the test you must record no more than 15 driver faults with no serious or dangerous faults.  There are 4 levels of driving faults.

 

Not Worthy

 

This means that a driving fault has been noticed by the examiner but it is not serious enough to mark as a fault on the driving test report, for example you may cross your hands when steering, but if this becomes a pattern repeated  throughout the test or if this leads to a loss of control of the vehicle it may become a more serious fault.

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Driving Fault

 

This means that a fault has been recorded on the driving test report but it is not serious enough to warrant a fail.  A driving fault is any fault that demonstrates a loss of control of the vehicle, failure to follow best practice with regards to positioning of the vehicle or any fault which shows a lack of forward planning when it comes to dealing with other road users, for example getting a little too close to parked cars.

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Serious Fault

 

This means that a fault has been recorded which resulted in the potential for other road users having to take evasive action or which resulted in breaking the law.  For example, going through a red light, failing to stop at a stop sign, changing direction or lanes without a proper mirror check, getting much too close to parked cars or forcing oncoming cars to slow down or change direction by not giving way appropriately or driving too fast or too slow.

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Dangerous Fault

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This is a more serious level of driving fault, similar to a serious fault but often involving actual danger.  For example if the driving examiner has to guide your steering or use the dual brake to avoid a collision with another road user.  This type of fault can sometimes result in termination of the test.  At this point the examiner would walk back to the test centre informing your accompanying driver or driving instructor of the location of the vehicle and ask you to remain in the vehicle until your accompanying driver or driving instructor comes to meet you. 

 

There’s no minimum number of lessons you must have done before you book and take your test.  If you failed your test and want to resit it you have to choose a date at least 10 working days away.