Driving Test Checklist
Read our driving test checklist to help learner drivers know what driving test examiners are looking for
Did you know that the DVSA publishes the driving test checklist that examiners use? To make things easy we’ve gone through and explained what examiners are looking out for. As with any test, knowing what you’ll be marked on can help you be better prepared!
The driving test checklist contains 27 categories that cover the faults that examiners are keeping an eye out for. We’ve listed these categories for you and highlighted some of the common faults.
Pass or Fail?
We’ve shared the checklist, and highlighted the potential faults, but how do they work and how does that translate into a Pass or Fail?
Faults can be classed as major faults and minor faults.
Major faults
Minor faults
That is everything you might need to know about the mark sheet and what the candidate needs to consider for their test. The most important thing for any learner the candidate to remember is to remain calm and remember what they have learned in their lessons. Best of luck with your driving test!
Faults can be classed as major faults and minor faults.
Major faults
- An incident that causes danger to the candidate, the examiner, the public or property
- An incident that is potentially dangerous
Minor faults
- Driving behaviour that isn’t necessarily dangerous but could become dangerous if it happens frequently
That is everything you might need to know about the mark sheet and what the candidate needs to consider for their test. The most important thing for any learner the candidate to remember is to remain calm and remember what they have learned in their lessons. Best of luck with your driving test!
1
Eyesight
The learner driver needs to take before the test can start. This test doesn’t require the candidate to visit the opticians, it simply requires the candidate to read a car licence plate from 20 meters away. If they are not able to read the plate, the candidate will be marked with a major fault and the test will go no further – so make sure you have your glasses if you need them!
2
Controlled stop
This is also known as an emergency stop and is done in every 1 in 3 tests. The examiner will tell the learner driver that when they give a signal, usually with a raise of the hand, they will need to stop quickly and safely while maintaining control of the car. They also look for the learner driver to move away safely after the stop.
Potential faults: Reacting slowly; not breaking hard enough; losing control.
Potential faults: Reacting slowly; not breaking hard enough; losing control.
3
Reversing Manoeuvres
Sections 4,5 and 8 cover the three reversing manoeuvres. The learner driver will be asked to perform one of these on the test.
Potential faults: Stopping next to driveways, junctions or bends; not performing sufficient observations; not signalling or signalling too late; having wheels over the line of a parking spot.
- Reverse/Right, also known as “pull up on the right”
- Reverse park into a bay or parallel parking
- Forward bay parking
Potential faults: Stopping next to driveways, junctions or bends; not performing sufficient observations; not signalling or signalling too late; having wheels over the line of a parking spot.
4
Vehicle checks
This is for the 2 “show me, tell me” questions each candidate needs to complete. Minors can be picked up for an incorrect answer or a major for losing control of the vehicle. We’ve written a blog on the ‘show me’ and the ‘tell me’ questions you can read on the driver hub.
5
Precautions
When starting the car, the candidate will need to do some routine checks. The examiner will be looking to see if the candidate has checked:
Potential faults: Jumping the car (starting the engine in gear); rolling forwards or backwards when the handbrake is off; adjusting mirrors while moving; etc
- All the doors are shut, and the seatbelt is not twisted
- The cars main controls can be operated safely (e.g. steering wheel and pedals)
- Mirrors are correctly adjusted
- If the handbrake is on
- That the car is in neutral (or in park (P) or neutral (N) for an automatic)
Potential faults: Jumping the car (starting the engine in gear); rolling forwards or backwards when the handbrake is off; adjusting mirrors while moving; etc
6
Control
Drivers need to demonstrate they can safely control the pedals, parking brake and steering in a smooth and controlled manner. The candidate will need to be able to:
Potential faults: Uncontrolled use of the accelerator, clutch or brakes; late use of the brakes; incorrect us of the parking brake; erratic steering; missing the turning point; taking both hands off the wheel. Hitting the curb is also a fault, but it is only a major if the candidate mounts the curb or hits it hard. A small graze or ‘tap’ would only be classed as a minor.
- Use both clutch and accelerator to pull away smoothly
- Use the clutch when coming to a stop
- Not coast with the clutch down or car in neutral
- Brake smoothly
- Use the parking brake to stop the car from rolling
- Steering smoothly
Potential faults: Uncontrolled use of the accelerator, clutch or brakes; late use of the brakes; incorrect us of the parking brake; erratic steering; missing the turning point; taking both hands off the wheel. Hitting the curb is also a fault, but it is only a major if the candidate mounts the curb or hits it hard. A small graze or ‘tap’ would only be classed as a minor.
7
Move off
This is more or less a combination of the last 2 sections. The candidate needs to make sure they have completed their precautionary checks, checked their blind spot and mirrors and can move off safely and smoothly.
Potential faults: Not completing one or more of the observations; not signalling correctly; not moving off smoothly.
Potential faults: Not completing one or more of the observations; not signalling correctly; not moving off smoothly.
8
Use of mirrors
MSM: mirror, signal, manoeuvre. This is something all learner drivers need to keep in mind when out on the roads. Candidates need to check their mirrors before signalling, changing direction or changing speed.
Potential faults: Not using mirrors effectively when needed.
Potential faults: Not using mirrors effectively when needed.
9
Signals
All the learner driver needs to do is signal correctly when it is necessary and in good time. This means that if they need to signal, it should be done in enough time to allow other road users to see what their intentions are.
Potential faults: Failure to give the necessary signal; giving a misleading signal; failure to cancel indicators; giving incorrectly timed signals that are too late or misleading.
Potential faults: Failure to give the necessary signal; giving a misleading signal; failure to cancel indicators; giving incorrectly timed signals that are too late or misleading.
10
Clearance/obstructions
Not everything on the road is moving, so if the candidate needs to pass something, they must make sure that plenty of room is left between the car and the obstruction. They also need to make sure that the pass is completed at a sensible speed and stop when it is needed.
Potential faults: Not leaving enough space when passing the obstruction or passing when it is not safe.
Potential faults: Not leaving enough space when passing the obstruction or passing when it is not safe.
11
Response to signs/signals
Car indicators, road signs and road markings are a few of the signs and signals candidates need to keep their eyes peeled for.
Potential faults: Failure to react appropriately to signs or reacting too late.
Potential faults: Failure to react appropriately to signs or reacting too late.
12
Use of speed
This isn’t just about being aware of the speed limit, it is also about driving to the weather conditions and the road being driven. The amount of traffic can also affect the speed at which it is suitable to drive. The main thing to remember is that the car needs to be able to safely come to a stop.
Potential faults: Driving too fast for road, traffic or weather conditions.
Potential faults: Driving too fast for road, traffic or weather conditions.
13
Following distance
The golden rule to follow here is to stay 2 seconds behind the car in front when driving in good conditions. This should double to 4 seconds when it is wet.
Potential faults: Not keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front while moving or not leaving a reasonable gap when stopping in traffic.
Potential faults: Not keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front while moving or not leaving a reasonable gap when stopping in traffic.
14
Progress
When thinking about the speed, it is just as important to make sure the car isn’t moving too slow as well as moving too fast. The learner driver needs to be moving at an ‘appropriate’ speed to ensure that other drivers aren’t encouraged to overtake, but at the same time, they can react to hazards in a safe and controlled manner.
Potential faults: Undue hesitation (such as not proceeding when it is safe to do so).
Potential faults: Undue hesitation (such as not proceeding when it is safe to do so).
15
Junctions
At junctions, there are several things to consider, and because of this, it is one of the more common areas candidates fail their test. On their approach to the junction, learners need to carry out observations, get themselves in the right position, give any relevant signals to other road users and then perform the manoeuvre safely.
Potential faults: Approaching at an inappropriate speed, lack of observations, late or incorrect signalling and positioning, being too close or too far away from the kerb when turning left, or cutting corners when turning right.
Potential faults: Approaching at an inappropriate speed, lack of observations, late or incorrect signalling and positioning, being too close or too far away from the kerb when turning left, or cutting corners when turning right.
16
Judgement
The examiner needs to be confident to the learner’s ability to assess their situation and decide an appropriate course of action. This could be to overtake a slow-moving vehicle or being prepared to wait to let an oncoming vehicle pass. When overtaking it is important to only do so when it is safe and while doing so a good amount of space needs to be left for the other vehicle or cyclist. When turning right, the candidate should not cut across the path of oncoming traffic, cause other road users to slow down, stop, or change direction.
Potential faults: Attempting an unsafe overtake, cutting in after an overtake, not showing appropriate judgement to oncoming traffic, or turning across the path of oncoming road users.
Potential faults: Attempting an unsafe overtake, cutting in after an overtake, not showing appropriate judgement to oncoming traffic, or turning across the path of oncoming road users.
17
Positioning
The learner driver needs to make sure they keep an appropriate position throughout the test. This means driving between the lines on a marked road.
Potential faults: Incorrectly moving across lanes at roundabouts or being in the wrong road position at unmarked roundabouts.
Potential faults: Incorrectly moving across lanes at roundabouts or being in the wrong road position at unmarked roundabouts.
18
Pedestrian crossing
It isn’t just vehicles learner drivers need to be wary of. Pedestrians and cyclists need to cross roads and will use different types of crossings to do so, such as:
Potential faults: Not giving precedence to pedestrians using the crossing; not complying with the lights at the crossing.
- Zebra crossings - Pedestrians have priority
- Pelican Crossing – Controlled by lights
- Puffin Crossing - Use sensors to tell when they are clear or if there are people still crossing to control the lights
- Toucan Crossing - Similar to Puffin, but wider so cyclists can use them as well
- Pegasus/Equestrian Crossings allow horses to cross as well
Potential faults: Not giving precedence to pedestrians using the crossing; not complying with the lights at the crossing.
19
Positional/ normal stops
It is common on tests for the examiner to ask the candidate to pull over and stop a number of times. They will check if the learner driver has done so in a safe, legal and convenient spot. The candidate should stay clear of bends and junctions as well as bus stops and other parked vehicles. Try to avoid lower kerbs or brows of hills and don’t forget that it is illegal to park within 10m of a junction, in a bus stop or a cycle lane.
Potential faults: Stopping in unsafe, illegal or inconvenient positions, or unsafe/uncontrolled move away.
Potential faults: Stopping in unsafe, illegal or inconvenient positions, or unsafe/uncontrolled move away.
20
Awareness/planning
This is similar to judgement and looks at how the learner driver predicts the movements of other road users and reacts to these changes. They must be able to react to this in a good time and not just at the last second.
Potential faults: Slow reaction to other road users, not reacting to other road users, or not planning an effective course of action.
Potential faults: Slow reaction to other road users, not reacting to other road users, or not planning an effective course of action.
21
Ancillary controls
These are the vehicle's wipers, air conditioning and other secondary controls. The examiner will check that the candidate can use these while keeping control of the vehicle.
Potential faults: Not keeping control of the vehicle while using ancillary controls; not using the correct ancillary control where needed.
Potential faults: Not keeping control of the vehicle while using ancillary controls; not using the correct ancillary control where needed.
22
Eco-safe driving
Although this section does not affect the result, the examiner will look at things such as heavy-breaking, over-revving and if the correct gear is selected. Feedback is given at the end of the test.
23
Examiner took action
This is as it sounds. If the examiner needs to take either verbal or physical action it will fall under this section. This doesn’t necessarily mean a fail, but it isn’t good.
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