Once we have passed the theory tests you will be eligible to apply for the practical test - the timing of the practical test is not easy to assess - the current waiting list in our area is about 6 weeks, so there is an element of anticipation in the timing of your application. We will have to discuss it together and plan for when we think you will be confidently up to the required level, but even if we do book a test and we then get near the date of the test and one or both of us does not feel you will be ready by the test date it can be cancelled without losing the fee providing sufficient notice is given to the DSA.

Now, that's the last time you'll hear me mention a diving test - it's simply an assessment of your ability to drive the car safely, confidently and with effective observations. You need to be able to drive safely and confidently without receiving assistance from your instructor or examiner apart from them giving you directions around the assessment route. Once you can perform the manoeuvres and are able to drive the car under full control, with complete awareness of other road users, road and traffic conditions you will be ready for your assessment. You will be able to tell this by the amount of time I spend talking to you - early in your training I will have been talking you through situations which you were learning or had not yet experienced, in short I was driving the car for you. As your experience and ability developed my input will have been reduced and when you are able to drive without me talking you through situations you will be ready for your assessment.
Once you are at the required level we will practice driving under assessment conditions and if you wish I can arrange practice runs with another instructor to properly simulate the assessment conditions prior to the real thing.

I will do everything I can to ensure that you have the best possible chance of success when you do attend for you test. The current pass rate for learner drivers is unfortunately less than 50% so we need to make quite sure that you are as well prepared as you can be before you attend. One reasons for this is the cost - you can take the assessment in any car (providing it meets the mechanical and insurance requirements laid down by the DSA) but most pupils prefer a 1 hour lesson prior to the test as a warm up and then use my car for the assessment drive, add this to the cost of payable to the DSA (go here to find out the current prices www.dsa.gov.uk) and the real cost of a driving assessmetn could be almost £100. I always maintain that you would be better off taking an extra 5 lessons or practice runs rather than failing because you were not properly prepared - don't throw your money down the drain.

Once we have decided on a mutually acceptable date the assessment can be booked by post, telephone or internet just as you did for the theory test. Just as before you will need your driver number from your provisional licence to hand but this time you will also need to quote your theory test certificate number, and tell the operator whether the test will be in an automtic or manual car - don't forget your pen and paper to make a note of the booking reference number.

If you wish to book a car practical test by telephone you call ... 0870 0101372
wait for the automated answer and then key   ** 111
If you are using someone else's credit or debit card then they must be present at the time of the call.

Internet bookings are made at the following address:
www.dsa.gov.uk/tests/index.htm

• At the appointment time the examiner will introduce themselves to you and ask to see the following documents.
• Your signed provisional licence.
• Theory test pass certificate
• An acceptable document containing your photograph (same as you required for the theory test).
• He or she will then ask you to sign a declaration regarding the insurance of the car that is to be used on the test.

Many pupils prefer me or a friend to accompany them during the drive. I welcome the opportunity to sit in the car during the test - you may feel the benefit from having someone you know in the car with you and should you fail I will be able to see what has gone wrong, listen to what the examiner says about your mistakes and will then be able to plan to make sure it doesn't happen again. But remember it is your day - you decide if you want someone to accompany you and if you do it is you who must ask the examiner for them to come along.

The examiner will then lead you outside and on the way to the car check that your eyesight meets the required standard by asking you to read a car number plate. Once you get to the car they will ask you to get into the car and get yourself prepared and they will conduct a quick check around the car to see that it meets the legal requirements for a vehicle being used on a driving assessment.
Once they get in they will give you a short brief on how the drive will be conducted - and ask you start the car and move off when you are ready.

The drive itself will only last about 35 - 40 mins, the route will if possible include single and dual carriageways with a variety of speed limits and differing types of area such as housing estates and driving in busy traffic areas.
You will be required to complete a reverse parking exercise - this is often done at the beginning or end of the test in the test centre car park where you will be asked to reverse into a parking bay.
Whilst you are driving on the test route the examiner will ask you to find a safe place to stop at the side of the road - perhaps several times, this is to check that you can recognise where it is safe and legal to stop and if you can move off after stopping close to a leading vehicle.
You will be asked to perform 2 slow moving manoeuvres from the reverse left or right and the turn in the road and one in every 3 candidates will be asked to perform an emergency stop.

Throughout the drive the examiner is only looking for what I will have been looking for in the lessons leading up to the your assessment, a safe and competent drive with you showing anticipation and then planning for and dealing with the hazards that you will come across. You are not expected to drive perfectly - in fact you will pass providing you make no more than 15 minor errors! But if you make one serious or dangerous error you will fail no matter how few minor errors have been noted.
A serious or dangerous error is one that creates a potential or actual danger for other road users and I will be identifying these as a normal part of your training leading up the test.

When you arrive back at the test centre you will be asked to switch off the engine and the examiner will tell you straight away whether you passed for failed.
If you fail the examiner will give you a report showing the errors you made.
If you've passed the examiner will fill out a pass certificate which needs to be sent to the DVLA along with your provisional licence before your full licence can be issued - you can still drive while you wait for your full licence but you need to keep a copy of your driver number in case you are required to produce your driving documents whilst the licence is in the post.