Our driving test hub helps you prepare for your test so you can feel confident and know what to expect on the day.
Whether it’s your first test or you’re rebooking, our hub brings together helpful information and resources to guide you through every stage. From booking your driving test and understanding what happens on the day, to knowing what to do if you pass or fail.
Before booking your driving test, it can be helpful to have enough driving practice to feel more comfortable and aware on the road. You can practise with a driving instructor, a supervising driver, or a mix of both, whichever helps you build confidence behind the wheel.
If you want to practise privately outside of lessons, you’ll need to be insured on the vehicle you’re using. This could be learner driver insurance, or being added as a named driver. You’ll also need to display L-plates on the car and have a supervising driver with you at all times.
The DVSA recommends an average of 45 hours of driving lessons and 22 hours of private practice before taking the practical test.
Once you’re feeling confident and test ready, you can book your test (as long as you have passed your theory test).
The day before your test, try to get a good night’s sleep and make sure everything is prepared in advance. You’ll need to bring your provisional driving licence, and any glasses or contact lenses if you require them for driving. If you have your theory test certificate, you should take that too.
The practical driving test is split into stages. It starts with an eyesight check, if you are unable to read a number plate from 20 metres away, the test will be cancelled, so it’s worth checking your eyesight beforehand.
You’ll then be asked a set of show me tell me questions followed by the general driving ability and independent driving sections. During independent driving, you’ll be asked to follow road signs or directions from a sat nav. As part of the test, you’ll also need to complete one manoeuvre and you may be asked to perform an emergency stop.
Once the test is over, the examiner will tell you whether you’ve passed or failed and explain any faults. It’s important to listen to their feedback, as it can help you improve your driving going forward.
If you pass, you’ll receive a pass certificate. The examiner will take your provisional licence and begin the process of upgrading it to a full licence, which will be posted to you. At this point, you’re no longer a learner, so if you have learner driver insurance with Collingwood, it will need to be cancelled as soon as possible.
If things don’t go your way, don’t panic. Many drivers don’t pass first time. Take time to reflect on the feedback and focus on the areas that need improvement before rebooking. You can choose a new test date 10 working days after your previous attempt. Some learners find it helpful to use the time between tests to get more practice or complete mock tests.
Whether you pass or fail, provisional licence holders aren’t permitted to drive home after the test. A qualified instructor or supervising driver will need to drive the car instead.
Frequently asked questions about driving tests for learner drivers
If you want to practice driving in your own, a friend’s or a family member’s vehicle as a provisional licence holder, you need valid insurance.
You can either get added as an additional driver to the car owner’s insurance, or get learner driver insurance, which preserves the owner’s No Claims Bonus.
Yes. You will need to take your learner insurance policy documents with you and ensure the car meets the requirements set by the government. You can read the requirements here https://www.gov.uk/driving-test/using-your-own-car
Please note that once you sit your test, your supervising driver must drive you home after the test, regardless of whether you pass or fail. If you pass, remember to contact us to cancel your policy.
It’s illegal to drive without valid insurance in the UK. If you don’t have learner insurance or haven’t been added to the insurance of the owner of the car you are driving; You could get an unlimited fine, up to eight penalty points on your licence, and be banned from driving.
You need to tell us as soon as you have passed your driving test as learner driver insurance only covers you as a learner driver so will need to be cancelled.
Please contact our contact centre on 0345 470 0014 who will be able to help you .
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