Liverpool Driving School

The Practical Driving Test

The practical test The driving test is designed for you to show your practical skills and understanding of the Highway Code and the theory of driving safely.

Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving. Find out about the different parts of your driving test. The driving test is straightforward and has been designed to see if you: can drive safely in different road and traffic conditions know The Highway Code and can show this through your driving ability So long as you show the standard required, you'll pass your driving test. There are no pass or fail quotas.

Before you start the driving ability part of your test Before you start the driving ability part of your test, you'll have an eyesight check and be asked two vehicle safety questions.

The eyesight check 

The examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a parked vehicle to test your eyesight. If you fail the check, your driving test won't continue.

The driving ability part of your driving test 

The driving part of your test will last about 40 minutes. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving. Your general driving ability During your test the examiner will give you directions which you should follow. You'll drive in various road and traffic conditions.

You should drive in the way your instructor has trained you. You might also be asked to carry out an emergency stop. Your ability to reverse your vehicle safely You'll be asked to complete an exercise to show how well you can reverse your vehicle.

The examiner will choose one exercise from: reversing around a corner turning in the road reverse parking - either into a parking bay, or parallel parking at the side of the road.

Independent driving section of the driving test

Your driving test will include around ten minutes of independent driving. This is designed to assess your ability to drive safely while making decisions independently.