The day of your practical driving test can feel like one of the most nerve-wracking days of your life. Your stomach is in knots, and your mind is racing with questions: What will the examiner be like? What if I make a mistake? What exactly will I have to do?

The single best way to combat this anxiety is with knowledge. Knowing exactly what will happen, from the moment you arrive to the moment you get your result, demystifies the process and allows you to focus on what you do best: driving.

This complete guide will walk you through the entire test, step-by-step, so you know exactly what to expect and can walk into the test centre with confidence.

Before Your Test: The Preparation

1. The Legal Requirements:
Don’t let a simple admin error ruin your day! You must bring:

• Your UK provisional driving licence (the photocard).
• Your theory test pass certificate.
• A car that is roadworthy, taxed, insured for a driving test, and has no warning lights showing (e.g., airbag, engine management).

2. The Car Check:
Your instructor will ensure the car is ready. They will typically adjust the mirrors and seats for you beforehand, but know how to do this yourself. Remember your L plates!

The Test Itself: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough (Approx. 40 Minutes)

Part 1: The Eyesight Check

Before you even get in the car, the test begins. The examiner will ask you to read a number plate on a stationary vehicle from a distance of 20 metres (20.5 metres for old-style number plates). If you fail this, your test will go no further. If you wear glasses or contact lenses for driving, make sure you have them on.

Part 2: The ‘Show Me, Tell Me’ Vehicle Safety Questions

You’ll be asked two questions about car safety and maintenance. One ‘tell me’ question at the start of your test (where you explain how you’d perform a check) and one ‘show me’ question while you’re driving (where you physically demonstrate something, like cleaning the windscreen).

• Example ‘Tell Me’: “Tell me how you’d check the brakes are working before starting a journey.”
• Example ‘Show Me’: “Show me how you’d demist the front windscreen.”

Getting one or both wrong will result in one minor fault, but it’s not a fatal error. The GOV.UK website has the full list of possible questions.

Part 3: The Driving Part

This is the main portion of the test. The examiner will give you directions clearly and in good time. Their instructions are designed to be followed safely, not to trick you. The test will cover a variety of road types and traffic conditions, and you will be assessed on:

• Your ability to drive safely in different road and traffic conditions.
• Your use of mirrors (always check before signalling or changing speed/direction).
• Correct use of signals (without misleading others).
• Your positioning on the road, especially for normal driving and during turns.
• Moving away from and returning to the curb safely.
• Use of speed (making safe progress without exceeding limits).
• Anticipating the actions of other road users and reacting appropriately.
• Junction procedure and roundabouts.
• Meeting and overtaking other vehicles.

During this time, you will be asked to perform one of the following manoeuvres:

• Parallel park at the side of the road.
• Park in a parking bay (either driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out).
• Pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic.

You will also be asked to complete approximately 20 minutes of independent driving. This isn’t harder; it’s designed to see how you make your own decisions. It’s done one of two ways:

1. Following traffic signs: The examiner will ask you to follow signs for a specific destination.
2. Following a series of directions: The examiner will give you a list of directions to follow (e.g., “at the roundabout, take the second exit, then at the junction turn left”).

It’s okay to ask for clarification if you forget an instruction. It’s also okay to go the wrong way; you won’t be failed for taking a wrong turn as long as you do so safely.

How You’re Assessed: Majors and Minors

• A Dangerous Fault (Major): Something that involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public, or property. This is an automatic fail.
• A Serious Fault (Major): Something that is potentially dangerous. This is an automatic fail.
• A Driving Fault (Minor): A less significant error that isn’t potentially dangerous. You can accumulate up to 15 minor faults and still pass. However, if you make the same minor fault repeatedly, it could be upgraded to a serious fault.

The Result

Once you return to the test centre and have parked safely, the examiner will tell you whether you’ve passed or failed.

• If you pass: They will give you a pass certificate and explain how to exchange it for a full licence. Congratulations! Your instructor can usually drive you home.
• If you fail: The examiner will explain why, showing you the fault(s) marked on your test report. It’s disappointing, but see it as a learning experience. Book another test as soon as you feel ready.

How to Prepare: Top Tips for Success

1. Take Mock Tests: The best preparation is to have your instructor run through several full mock tests. This simulates the pressure and helps you get used to following instructions from someone other than your usual instructor.
2. Know Your Test Routes: While the examiner can take you anywhere, practicing the common test routes from your local centre will make you feel more comfortable with the area’s specific challenges.
3. Watch Test Videos: Seeing the test from the driver’s perspective is invaluable. The Official DVSA YouTube Channel has a brilliant series, including a full ‘Driving Test Success’ video that shows a real test with commentary.
4. Get a Good Night’s Sleep: Don’t cram practice the night before. Be well-rested and eat a good meal beforehand to keep your energy levels up.
5. It’s a Test of Safety, Not Perfection: Examiners don’t expect a flawless drive. They want to see that you can drive safely throughout the test. If you make a small mistake, don’t assume you’ve failed. Take a deep breath, put it behind you, and focus on driving safely for the rest of the test.

You’ve Got This!

Walking into the test centre, remember that you have been trained for this. Your instructor wouldn’t have put you in for the test if they didn’t think you were ready. Trust in the skills you have learned, listen carefully, and focus on safe, systematic driving.

Take a deep breath, believe in yourself, and go show the examiner what a safe and competent driver you are. Good luck

You’re concentrating on merging onto a busy road. Your hands are at ten and two, you’re checking your mirrors, and your heart is pounding just a little. Then you hear it from the passenger seat: “Watch your speed!” “You’re too close to that car!” “Shouldn’t you be signalling?”

Welcome to the frustrating world of the backseat driver. This unsolicited “advice” can shatter your concentration, spike your anxiety, and turn a learning experience into a nerve-wracking ordeal. When the backseat driver is a parent or family member, the dynamic is even more charged with history and emotion.

This guide will help you understand why people become backseat drivers and provide you with practical, respectful strategies to manage the situation, reclaim your focus, and protect your confidence on the road.

Why Do People Become Backseat Drivers?

Before getting defensive, it’s helpful to understand the psychology behind the behaviour. It’s rarely about you personally.

1. Anxiety and Loss of Control: For many passengers, especially those who are experienced drivers themselves, being in the passenger seat means relinquishing control. This can trigger significant anxiety, and their “comments” are an attempt to regain a sense of control over their safety.
2. A Misguided Desire to Help: Often, a parent’s backseat driving comes from a place of love and concern. They want to share their hard-earned wisdom and prevent you from making the same mistakes they did. Their delivery may be poor, but the intention is usually protective.
3. Habit: For some, it’s simply an ingrained habit. They might critique every driver they ride with, not just you.

Strategies for Dealing with Backseat Drivers in the Moment

When the comments start flying, it’s crucial to have a plan to stay calm and in control.

1. Stay Calm and Don’t Engage in an Argument
Your primary responsibility is safe driving. Arguing, getting flustered, or snapping back is dangerous as it takes your focus off the road. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that their behaviour is about their anxiety, not your incompetence.

2. Acknowledge and De-escalate
A simple, calm acknowledgment can work wonders. Try a neutral, non-committal phrase like:

• “Thank you, I’ve got it under control.”
• “I need to concentrate on driving right now.”
• “I can see the car, I’m managing my distance.”

This acknowledges that you heard them without agreeing or escalating the situation. It often satisfies their need to be heard, allowing you to continue driving.

3. Set Pre-Drive Boundaries (The Most Effective Tool)
The best time to handle a backseat driver is before the car is even moving. Have a calm, respectful conversation on neutral ground.

You could say:

• “I really value your experience, and I know you’re trying to help. To help me build my confidence, it would be most helpful if we could keep conversation to a minimum while I’m navigating tricky roads. Maybe we can talk about what I did well and what I can improve on after we park.”
• “I get really nervous when I get instructions while I’m trying to concentrate. For both our safety, could we agree that unless it’s an emergency, I’ll drive without commentary?”

Setting this expectation beforehand frames your request around safety and your learning process, which is hard to argue with.

4. For Learner Drivers: Use Your Instructor as the Authority
If a parent is your main practice supervisor, it can be helpful to have your professional driving instructor mediate. Ask your instructor to explain the correct techniques and the importance of a calm learning environment. Hearing it from an “expert” can often encourage a parent to step back and trust the process.

What to Do If the Backseat Driver Is Your Parent

This scenario requires an extra layer of tact. Your goal is to assert your growing independence while respecting their role.

• Choose the Right Time to Talk: Don’t have this conversation while driving. Bring it up at home over dinner. Use “I” statements to express your feelings without sounding accusatory.
  • Instead of: “You always stress me out when you yell from the passenger seat!”
  • Try: “I feel my confidence shake and I get flustered when I get multiple instructions while I’m driving. It makes it harder for me to focus.”
• Ask for Specific Feedback Later: Suggest an alternative. “I would really find it helpful if after we finish driving, we could park and you could then give me one or two tips on what I did well and one thing I could work on. That would help me learn without being overwhelmed in the moment.”
• Show Them Your Competence: The best way to earn trust is to demonstrate steady, consistent improvement. The more calm and capable you are behind the wheel, the more their anxiety will naturally lessen.

When You’re the Experienced Driver

If the backseat driver is a partner or friend, your approach can be more direct, but still kind.

• Use Humour: A light-hearted comment can defuse the tension. “I appreciate the navigation help, but I’ve got the driving part covered!”
• Be Direct but Polite: If it persists, you have every right to say, “Your comments are making it difficult for me to concentrate. Please let me drive.”

A Note for the Backseat Drivers Themselves

If you see yourself in this description, please know that your commentary, however well-intentioned, can be detrimental. It increases the driver’s stress and cognitive load, making a mistake more likely, not less. The safest thing you can do is put on your seatbelt, offer navigation help if asked, and be a quiet, supportive presence. Trust the driver.

Learn from the Experts

Understanding communication and anxiety can be incredibly helpful. The channel Conquer Driving, created by a brilliant driving instructor, has a fantastic video titled How to Deal with a Back Seat Driver –. It offers practical, in-the-moment advice from an instructor’s perspective.

For help with the difficult conversations around boundaries, the Charisma on Command YouTube channel is excellent. While not driving-specific, their video on How to Stay Calm in Any Situation provides great techniques for managing your own emotions when under pressure.

Drive in Peace

Dealing with a backseat driver is ultimately about managing a relationship dynamic within a high-stakes environment. By communicating your needs clearly and calmly, setting boundaries, and understanding the root of their behaviour, you can create a more peaceful and productive driving experience.

Remember, your focus and confidence are critical to your safety. It is not only okay but necessary to protect them. Take a deep breath, trust in the skills you’ve been learning, and drive on.