David Atkinson School of Motoring

Practical Test Information from David Atkinson School of Motoring.

Once you have past your Theory test you can then apply for your practical driving test. Firstly please consult your driving instructor to mutually arrange a date and time.

Are you at test standard?
If you can drive and control your car safely and smoothly, with full awareness of other road users and consideration for the road, weather and traffic conditions, and can competently perform all the required manoeuvres with the bare instruction from your driving instructor then the answer is probably yes.

Book Your Practical Driving Test Online

David Atkinson School of Motoring are always here to help and will gladly book your test for you free of charge.

Documents to take with you

1. Your signed provisional driving licence and counter part
2. Your theory test pass certificate.
3. If you have any other type of licence, make sure you have suitable forms of signed photo ID e.g. passport.

At the test centre
Arrive at the test centre in plenty of time and try and relax. Try not to imagine the examiner as some mystical monster he or she also want you to pass your test and only wants to see you drive without being a hazard to other road users.

The driving test
After a brief introduction the examiner will ask you to read a number plate from a distance of 20.5m / 67 feet (old style) or 20m / 66 feet (new style). The examiner will then run through two "show me / tell me" questions and then do a spot check around the car. Once in the car the examiner will explain how the test works. You will be asked to start the car and move off.

On the test route
The test lasts about 35 - 45 minutes and will include one of the four manoeuvres. Turn in the road, reverse round a corner, and reverse parallel behind a parked car or bay and the emergency stop.

Independent Driving

Your practical driving test will include approximately ten minutes of independent driving.

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.

During the test it is likely you will be asked to demonstrate a hill start and an angled start. The rest of the time is taken up with general driving on the test route.
You will be expected to deal with every situation that you come across, but some minor driving faults are permitted. These are errors that do not cause a potential danger to other road users. If you make 16 or more of these faults you will fail the test. You will also fail if you make a serious or dangerous error.

At the end of the test
When you have switched the engine off the examiner will tell you if you have past or failed and depending on the outcome will advice you of what you need to do next.