You have to have passed your theory test before you can book your practical driving test.

The practical car driving test takes about 40 minutes and costs £62.00 (weekdays during the day) and £75.00 (evenings, weekends and bank holidays). The nearest practical driving test centres are Bedford, Letchworth and Cambridge. You can find your nearest Driving test centre on the DVSA website.

You can book your test by either telephoning the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on 0300 200 112 or by booking online. You will need your driver licence number, theory test pass certificate number and payment details.

Test Day

You need to take with you your appointment letter, paper driving licence, photo licence (or old style driving licence and photographic ID) and theory test certificate. Your driving instructor may accompany you, at your request, on your test but they are not allowed to say anything. An interpreter may accompany you, if required. At the beginning of your test, your eyesight will be checked. If this is satisfactory then you will be asked two vehicle safety questions,  see the Show Me, Tell Me section of this site for questions. You will then start your practical driving test. The examiner will give you directions and during the test you will be asked to do one manoeuvre; Reverse Parking, Bay parking or Pull up on the right. You may also be asked to do an Emergency Stop.

Your practical driving test will include approximately twenty minutes of independent driving with or without a sat nav.

During your test you’ll have to drive independently by either following:

• • traffic signs
  • a series of directions
  • a combination of both

To help you understand where you are going when following verbal directions, the examiner will show you a diagram.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember every direction, or if you go the wrong way – that can happen to the most experienced drivers.

Independent driving is not a test of your orientation and navigation skills. Driving independently means making your own decisions – this includes deciding when it’s safe and appropriate to ask for confirmation about where you’re going.

You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test. If you make 16 or more driving faults, this will result in a fail.

If you make one serious or dangerous fault, this will result in a fail.