THE DSA PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST - GENERAL INFORMATION

 THE COST OF THE DSA PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST = £62.00 WEEKDAYS  -  £75.00 WEEKENDS / WEEKDAY EVENINGS

The DSA Driving Test has been designed to see if you can apply your driving skills safely and competently when driving generally and carrying out the set manoeuvres. Throughout the test the examiner will monitor your practical knowledge and understanding of the Highway Code.

APPLY for your Driving Standards Agency practical driving test when your instructor informs you that you are ready.

THE DRIVING TEST is approximately 40 minutes in duration and will be taken at your local DSA Test Centre by a DSA Examiner. 

TEST ROUTES will involve town driving, single and dual carriageway roads outside 30 mph limits.

 On the day of your test, you will need to take the following driving documents listed below:

* Your PLASTIC PHOTOCARD LICENCE and the A4 PAPER COUNTERPART or, your old-style PAPER LICENCE and PASSPORT.

* Your Hazard Perception & Theory PASS PAPERWORK or, your old-style Hazard Perception & Theory PASS CERTIFICATE.

 Please note: If you do not show the required documents you will not be allowed to take the test and you will lose your fee.

 In addition, take your Test Appointment CONFIRMATION just in case there is a problem with the booking at the DSA Test Centre. 

You are allowed to take someone with you on the test, this person must be over 16 years old and cannot take any part in the test.

Your examiner will meet you in the test candidates waiting room at the test centre and ask you for your driving documents to check their validity and to confirm your current address. You will be asked to sign the residency and insurance declaration box in the top left hand corner of the driving test report form, at this point you will be asked if you want your instructor or anyone to go with you on the driving test, answer accordingly, if not, you will then be asked, do you want your instructor present for the debrief, then you will leave the waiting room to go out to your car. Take all of your driving documents with you as the examiner will need them at the end of the test if you pass.

Outside in the car park area, your examiner will ask you to read a car registration number plate from the required minimum distance of 20 metres (new-style number plate) or 20.5 metres (old-style number plate). You will be allowed up to 3 attempts on different number plates, if you fail to read the third number plate the driving test will not continue.

Before getting into the car the examiner will ask one "SHOW ME" and one "TELL ME"  question relating to vehicle safety checks and maintenance. The "Show me" "Tell me" questions fit into 4 different categories:

* UNDER THE BONNET
* INSIDE THE CAR 
* LIGHTS
* TYRES

If one or both "Show me" "Tell me" questions are answered incorrectly, one driving fault (MINOR) will be recorded.

After completing the "Show me" "Tell me" section you will get in the car and the examiner will explain how the driving test will be carried out. You will be asked to start the car and then move off following the examiners directions. Test routes are designed to be as uniform as possible and will include a range of typical road and traffic conditions. General driving ability will be assessed continuously throughout the test and you will be asked to stop at the side of the road numerous times in a safe, convenient and legal position (SCALP). At some point on the test you will be asked to complete one of the following set manoeuvres:

* BAY PARK
* PARALLEL PARK
* TURN IN THE ROAD 
* REVERSE AROUND THE CORNER

Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving, including when you are carrying out the set manoeuvres. They will record any MINOR, SERIOUS or DANGEROUS driving faults on the DRIVING TEST REPORT FORM.    

The examiner will inform you of your test result at the end of the test, your driving instructor can be present for the debrief if you wish.  

The examiner will provide you with a copy of the driving test report form for your information.