In short Your car must be taxed, insured for a driving test, roadworthy and, if over 3 years old, have a current MOT. It needs an extra interior mirror for the examiner, L-plates front and rear, a passenger seatbelt and head restraint, no dashboard warning lights on, legal tyres with no space-saver spare, a speedometer in mph, and a top speed of at least 62 mph. Some models cannot be used at all.
Updated 9 November 2026 · Source: GOV.UK car driving test guidance, checked 9 November 2026
Car requirements checklist
- Taxed
- Insured for a driving test (check with your insurer)
- Current MOT if the car is over 3 years old
- Roadworthy, with no warning lights on that show a safety issue (for example the airbag light)
- No tyre damage, legal tread on every tyre, and no space-saver spare fitted
- An extra interior rear-view mirror for the examiner
- A passenger seatbelt and a proper passenger head restraint (slip-on types are not allowed)
- Able to reach at least 62 mph, with a factory-fitted speedometer in mph (not a phone app or extra display)
- L-plates on the front and rear (L or D plates in Wales)
- Four wheels and a maximum authorised mass of 3,500 kg or less
- Tidy inside, and no smoking in it before or during the test
Practising in your own car? The Driving Test Routes app gives voice directions on practice routes around your test centre
Cars you cannot use
Some cars do not give the examiner a good enough view all round. The current list includes:
- Any panel van (no rear seats or rear side windows)
- BMW 218 convertible
- BMW Mini convertible
- Ford Ka convertible
- Polestar 4 and Polestar 5
- Smart Fortwo (2-door)
- Toyota iQ
- VW Beetle convertible
Other models may also be unsuitable, so contact the test centre before the day if you plan to use a coupé or a convertible. A convertible's roof must stay up for the whole test.
Cars with a safety recall
Some models with an open safety recall (for example several Citroën and DS models with an airbag recall) can only be used if you bring proof that the recall work has been done. Check the current recall list on the GOV.UK page for using your own car.
Features you can and cannot use
| You can use | You cannot use during the test |
|---|---|
| Electronic parking brake, hill-start assist | Self-parking |
| Cruise control, speed limiters | Tesla Autopilot |
| Parking sensors and cameras | Your own sat nav |
| Lane assist, blind spot monitoring |
Dashcams, tinted windows, dual controls
- Dashcams: allowed if fitted for insurance, facing out of the car only and not recording sound inside.
- Tinted windows: the windscreen and front side windows must meet the tint limits. Very dark rear windows can get a test cancelled if the examiner cannot see out.
- Dual controls: your own car does not need them. A hire car does.
- Manual or automatic: both are fine. Pass in an automatic or semi-automatic and your licence covers automatics only.
Own car or instructor's car?
Your own car feels familiar and saves the instructor's fee for the car, but you must sort the extra mirror, the L-plates and the insurance, and you lose the dual controls. Your instructor's car is set up for tests already, and you get a warm-up lesson in it. Most people take the test in their instructor's car.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my own car for the driving test?
Yes, if it meets the requirements: taxed, insured for a test, roadworthy, MOT if needed, an extra interior mirror for the examiner, L-plates, no warning lights, legal tyres and no space-saver spare.
Do I need dual controls in my own car?
No. Only hire cars used for the test need dual controls.
Is my learner insurance valid for the test?
Many learner policies cover a driving test, but check with your insurer before booking. The car must be insured for the test.
Can I use parking sensors and a reversing camera?
Yes. Self-parking systems cannot be used.
What happens if my car does not meet the requirements?
The test is cancelled and you have to pay for a new one.
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