In short Book the test when you can drive a whole lesson without prompts, then spend the last weeks on the roads around your test centre, on independent driving with a sat nav, and on one or two mock tests. On the day, have a warm-up lesson, arrive early, use mirror, signal, manoeuvre every time, keep to a sensible speed rather than creeping, and if you make a mistake, put it behind you and drive the next junction well.
Updated 9 November 2026 · Source: GOV.UK car driving test guidance, checked 9 November 2026
In the weeks before
- Book when you are ready. A good sign: you drive a full lesson without your instructor needing to prompt you.
- Drive the roads around your test centre: the big roundabouts, awkward junctions, 20 mph streets and faster roads. Test routes are not published, so know the area, not one route.
- Practise independent driving with a sat nav and by following signposts.
- Take one or two mock tests with your instructor, or with a parent, and practise the faults they show up.
- Learn the show me tell me questions in the car you will test in.
- Practise all three manoeuvres and the emergency stop.
- Drive at different times, including the time of day of your test, and in rain or the dark.
Practice routes around your test centre, with voice directions, in the Driving Test Routes app
The night before
- Get your licence and glasses ready.
- If it is your own car, check the requirements: L-plates, extra mirror, no warning lights.
- Sleep. A late night of revision does more harm than good.
The morning of the test
- Have a warm-up lesson that ends at the test centre.
- Eat something, and go easy on coffee.
- Arrive a few minutes early, and use the toilet before your name is called.
- Decide whether you want your instructor in the back or at the feedback.
During the drive
- Use mirror, signal, manoeuvre every time, even when the road looks empty.
- Look properly at junctions. It is the most common reason for a serious fault.
- Drive at the speed the road allows. Creeping well under the limit is a fault too.
- Keep a safe gap from the car in front, about two seconds in the dry.
- If you did not hear a direction, ask the examiner to repeat it.
- A wrong turn is not a fault. Keep driving safely and the examiner gets you back on route.
- Take the manoeuvre slowly. There is no time limit, but there is a mark for observation.
- If you make a mistake, do not assume you have failed. Many people pass after a mistake they thought was serious.
- Talk to yourself quietly if it helps ("mirrors, signal"). Examiners are used to it.
Afterwards
- Listen to the feedback, even if you passed. It is the best list of what to work on next.
- If you did not pass, book again and spend the 10 working days on the faults on your sheet.
Find your weak spots with a mock test that marks the drive
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to prepare for a driving test?
Drive the roads around your test centre, practise independent driving with a sat nav, learn the show me tell me questions, practise all three manoeuvres and take one or two mock tests.
What do most people fail their driving test on?
Poor observation at junctions and not using mirrors before changing direction are the most common, followed by control when moving off and steering.
Can you fail for driving too slowly?
Yes. Not making progress or hesitating when it is safe to go are driving faults, and can be serious if it causes a problem for other traffic.
Should I have a lesson before my driving test?
A warm-up lesson that ends at the test centre helps most people settle their nerves and gets them used to the car.
Read next
Practise on the roads around your test centre
The Driving Test Routes app turns your phone into a practice coach for the practical test.
- Practice routes around UK test centres, with voice directions
- Mock tests that score the drive and list the faults to work on
- All 21 show me tell me questions, with photos of each control
- An emergency stop drill that times your reaction