Category: Great Britain

Photo: CDC / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.

Many heart conditions do not stop you learning to drive in Great Britain, and some do not need reporting at all. The car licence rules depend on whether the condition causes symptoms or loss of consciousness. A pacemaker or ICD must be reported. A single simple faint, not while driving, does not need reporting. After a stroke you must not drive for 1 month, and you only tell the DVLA if problems remain after that month.

Fainting and blackouts: which ones count

GOV.UK splits loss of consciousness into types. These are the car (Group 1) rules as of November 2026.

What happened	Tell the DVLA?	Driving
One simple faint with clear warning signs, not while driving	No	May drive
One simple faint while driving	No	Do not drive for 1 month
Two or more simple faints in 24 months, not while driving	No	May drive
Two or more simple faints in 24 months, one while driving	Yes	Not for 3 months after the latest
One unexplained blackout	Yes	Not for 6 months
Two or more unexplained blackouts in 24 months	Yes	Licence revoked for 12 months after the latest
Blackout with seizure signs (such as tongue biting or confusion afterwards)	Yes	6 months, or 12 months if the risk of another is higher

A “simple faint” here means reflex (vasovagal) syncope with a reliable warning, such as feeling hot or light-headed first. Whether your episode fits that description is for your doctor to say.

Heart rhythm devices

Situation	Car licence rule
Pacemaker fitted	Tell the DVLA. Do not drive for 1 week.
Pacemaker box change	1 week off driving; no need to tell the DVLA.
ICD fitted as a precaution (no previous dangerous rhythm)	Tell the DVLA. Do not drive for 1 month.
ICD fitted after a dangerous rhythm (VT or VF)	Tell the DVLA. Do not drive for 6 months.
Appropriate ICD shock for VT or VF	Tell the DVLA. Do not drive for 6 months after the shock.
Arrhythmia that caused or could cause incapacity	Do not drive for at least 4 weeks and until the cause is treated; the DVLA must be told.

Conditions young people are often diagnosed with

• Congenital heart disease: if you have no symptoms, you may drive and need not tell the DVLA. With symptoms such as palpitations or breathlessness, you must not drive and must tell the DVLA.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: no need to tell the DVLA unless symptoms cause incapacity. After a faint linked to it, you must not drive and must tell the DVLA.
• Brugada syndrome: without symptoms, no need to tell the DVLA. After an arrhythmia causing incapacity, a cardiac arrest or an unexplained blackout, you must not drive and must tell the DVLA.
• Long QT syndrome: you must not drive, and must tell the DVLA, if you have a history of fainting or torsades de pointes, or a corrected QT above 500 ms. A specialist assessment comes before relicensing.

Stroke and TIA

• Stroke: do not drive for 1 month. You can start again after that if your doctor is satisfied with your recovery. Tell the DVLA only if there is still a problem, such as weakness or a vision change, after 1 month.
• TIA (mini-stroke): do not drive for 1 month. No need to tell the DVLA. Each further TIA means another month off.

A stroke can affect your visual field, which has its own standard. See sight in one eye or a visual field problem.

Scenario

You had a pacemaker fitted at 15 and are now applying for your provisional licence. Declare the pacemaker on the application. GOV.UK says you will need regular device checks with your specialist. The DVLA decides whether you can have a licence and for how long.

Back to the GB medical conditions and disability guide. Related: epilepsy and learning to drive, fitness to drive and telling the DVLA, sleep apnoea and narcolepsy.

Sources

• DVLA, “Cardiovascular disorders: assessing fitness to drive”, updated 7 November 2025 (gov.uk)
• DVLA, “Neurological disorders: assessing fitness to drive”, updated 7 November 2025 (gov.uk)
• DVLA, “Appendices: assessing fitness to drive” (transient loss of consciousness), updated 7 November 2025 (gov.uk)

Photo: https://kaboompics.com/ / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.

Most learner drivers in Great Britain with anxiety or depression do not need to tell the DVLA. Mild to moderate anxiety or depression is no bar to a car licence. Only severe illness, for example with marked concentration or memory problems, agitation or suicidal thoughts, means you must stop driving and tell the DVLA, and you can usually be relicensed after 3 months of being well and stable.

Car licence rules by condition

From the DVLA’s “Assessing fitness to drive” guidance for Group 1 (car) licences, as of November 2026:

Condition	Tell the DVLA?	When a licence can be considered
Anxiety or depression, mild to moderate	No	You may drive, as long as there are no significant memory or concentration problems, agitation, behavioural disturbance or suicidal thoughts.
Anxiety or depression, severe	Yes; must not drive	After 3 months well and stable, following agreed treatment, with no medicine side effects affecting alertness or concentration.
Acute psychotic episode	Yes; must not drive	After at least 3 months well and stable, with a favourable specialist report.
Schizophrenia	Yes; must not drive during acute illness	After 3 months stable, with a favourable specialist report.
Bipolar disorder, stable	Yes; must not drive during acute illness	After 3 months well and stable, with a favourable specialist report.
Bipolar disorder, unstable (4 or more significant mood episodes in 12 months)	Yes; must not drive	After 6 months well and stable, with a favourable specialist report.
Severe personality disorder	Yes	Licensing depends on whether it is likely to affect driving.

For psychosis, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, a lack of insight that affects safe driving is a bar to a licence. For conditions not listed here, such as eating disorders or PTSD, look up the GOV.UK A to Z (“Check if a health condition affects your driving”) or ask your doctor.

Medicines that can affect driving

The DVLA guidance notes that medicines acting on the brain can affect alertness and concentration, especially when you start them or the dose goes up. Anyone who is affected must not drive. Benzodiazepines such as diazepam are on the drug-driving list with legal blood limits.

• Read the leaflet and ask your pharmacist whether a new medicine can make you drowsy.
• Book lessons for times of day when you feel most alert if your medicine makes you tired.
• The medical defence for prescribed drugs is explained in prescription medicines and driving.

Test nerves are not a notifiable condition

Feeling anxious before lessons or the test is common and is not something you report. The DVLA rules are about a diagnosed condition that affects your ability to drive safely. If nerves are the problem, see how to stay calm on test day.

Scenario

You were treated for depression last year and are now on a stable dose of an antidepressant. If your illness was mild to moderate and you have no side effects that affect your concentration, you do not need to tell the DVLA or declare it on your provisional licence application. If your doctor described it as severe, or you are not sure, ask your doctor before you apply.

Common questions

Do I have to tell my instructor?

There is no rule that you must. Telling them can help them pace lessons, but what you share is your choice.

Can I get support on the test?

Yes. GOV.UK asks you to mention a health condition when you book, and DVSA can make adjustments. See extra support for the theory and driving tests.

Back to the GB medical conditions and disability guide. Related: ADHD, autism and dyslexia, fitness to drive and telling the DVLA, sleep conditions and tiredness.

Sources

• DVLA, “Psychiatric disorders: assessing fitness to drive”, updated 7 November 2025 (gov.uk)
• DVLA, “Appendices: assessing fitness to drive”, updated 7 November 2025 (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Drugs and driving: the law” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Driving test: if you have a disability, health condition or learning difficulty” (gov.uk)

Photo: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.

In Great Britain a diagnosis of ADHD or autism is not a bar to a driving licence, and you only need to tell the DVLA if the condition, or your medicine, affects your ability to drive safely. Dyslexia and dyscalculia never need reporting for a car licence. The one condition in this group that does stop you driving is a severe learning disability.

What GB learners must tell the DVLA

Condition	Car licence rule (as of November 2026)
ADHD	Tell the DVLA only if it affects safe driving, or if medicine or its side effects are likely to.
Autism	Tell the DVLA only if it affects safe driving.
Dyslexia or dyscalculia	No bar to a car licence once you pass the test, and no need to tell the DVLA.
Mild or moderate learning disability	May drive.
Severe learning disability	Must not drive; a licence will be refused.

What “affects safe driving” means for ADHD and autism

The DVLA guidance for doctors lists the areas that matter. You should tell the DVLA if, alone or together, you have significant difficulties with:

• attention and concentration
• memory
• behaviour, and awareness of its impact on others
• emotional regulation
• impulsive decisions
• insight
• anticipating what other people will do
• cognitive flexibility (switching between tasks)
• sensory processing
• motor coordination

If you are unsure whether any of these applies to you, ask your doctor. Once you have passed, the guidance says the DVLA only needs to know if your condition changes or there are concerns about your safe driving.

ADHD medicine and drug-driving law

Amphetamines, including dexamfetamine, are on the GOV.UK list of prescription medicines covered by drug-driving law. You can still drive on them if all of these apply:

• the medicine was prescribed for you
• you take it as your doctor or pharmacist advised, and as the leaflet says
• it does not make you unfit to drive

That medical defence works even if you are over the legal blood limit. It does not cover driving while impaired. Carrying evidence of your prescription can help if the police stop you. The detail is in prescription medicines and medical cannabis.

Getting support on the theory and practical tests

• Theory test: with a reading difficulty such as dyslexia you can ask for extra time and an English voiceover. The process is in extra support for the theory and driving tests.
• Eyesight check: if you have a reading difficulty, you can write down the number plate instead of reading it aloud.
• Independent driving: with a learning difficulty, the examiner can adjust this part, for example by asking you to follow traffic signs instead of a sat nav.
• Say so at booking: GOV.UK asks you to mention a learning difficulty or health condition when you book.

Making lessons work for you

• Ask instructors before booking whether they have taught neurodivergent learners and how they adapt lessons.
• Agree a plan for each lesson in advance, and ask for one new skill at a time.
• Try shorter or more frequent lessons if long ones are tiring.
• Practise the same routes with a supervising driver to build confidence before new ones.
• If sensory overload is an issue, tell your instructor which situations are hardest so you can build up to them.

Common questions

Will I have to tell the DVLA just because I have a diagnosis?

No. The guidance says diagnosis alone is not a bar. It is about how the condition affects your driving.

Which form do I use if I do need to report?

Car licence holders can report online through GOV.UK’s condition checker. First-time applicants answer the health questions on the provisional licence form.

Back to the GB medical conditions and disability guide. Related: anxiety, depression and mental health, theory test languages and support, learning to drive with a disability.

Sources

• DVLA, “Psychiatric disorders: assessing fitness to drive”, updated 7 November 2025 (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Drugs and driving: the law” (gov.uk)
• Department for Transport, “Drug driving guidance for healthcare professionals” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Driving test: if you have a disability, health condition or learning difficulty” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Medical conditions, disabilities and driving” (gov.uk)

Photo: cottonbro studio / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.

Yes, you can learn to drive in Great Britain with type 1 diabetes. If you use insulin you must tell the DVLA, which you do on your provisional licence application, and you must meet its rules on hypo awareness, severe hypos and glucose checks. A car licence on insulin is issued for a limited period (1, 2 or 3 years, or 1 year on the full-awareness route) and then reviewed.

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• Insulin lasting, or expected to last, more than 3 months: tell the DVLA.
• Check your glucose before the first journey and at least every 2 hours while driving.
• No more than one severe hypo while awake in the last 12 months, and the most recent more than 3 months ago (standard route).
• A severe hypo while driving: stop driving and tell the DVLA.

The two routes to a car licence on insulin

The DVLA guidance for doctors sets out two routes for Group 1 (car) licences. A “severe” hypo means one where you needed help from another person.

	Standard route	Full-awareness route
Licence length	1, 2 or 3 years	1 year, with annual review
Hypo awareness	Adequate: you notice symptoms in time to stop the car safely	Full awareness
Severe hypos while awake	Not 2 or more in the last 12 months; most recent more than 3 months ago	None in the last 12 months
Glucose monitoring	As set out below	As below, with a meter that stores 4 weeks of readings
Also required	Regular medical review; eyesight standard met; no disqualifying complications	Regular medical review; understanding of hypo risks; no disqualifying complications

Hypos during established sleep no longer count for licensing, unless there are concerns about recognising low glucose. Which route fits you is for the DVLA and your diabetes team.

Glucose checks while you drive

• When: at the start of the first journey and at least every 2 hours during it. No more than 2 hours should pass between the pre-driving test and the first check on the road.
• CGM or similar sensors: allowed if the device is approved for non-adjunctive use (making decisions without a finger-prick check). You must still carry a finger-prick meter as a backup.
• Alarms: set above 4.0 mmol/L while driving. They support your own awareness; they do not replace it.
• Relying on alarms: if you become dependent on alarms to notice a low, you must stop driving and tell the DVLA.

GOV.UK’s guidance for doctors does not give a separate rule for readings between 4.0 and 5.0 mmol/L. Ask your diabetes team what level they want you to be at before you drive, and check the DVLA leaflet INF294 for insulin users.

When you must stop and tell the DVLA

• You have a severe hypo while driving.
• You lose hypo awareness (no warning symptoms). Driving may resume after a report from your GP or diabetes consultant.
• You have 2 or more severe hypos while awake within 12 months.

Tablets, diet and short-term insulin

Treatment	Car licence rule
Diet only	No need to tell the DVLA.
Metformin, DPP-4 or SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 and other non-insulin injectables	May drive and need not tell the DVLA, provided GOV.UK’s conditions are met.
Sulphonylureas or glinides	May drive without telling the DVLA if you have adequate hypo awareness, no 2 or more severe awake hypos in 12 months, and regular review. Ask your doctor or nurse; form DIAB1 if you do need to report.
Temporary insulin, including gestational diabetes	Tell the DVLA only if it lasts more than 3 months (for gestational diabetes, more than 3 months after the birth) or you have disabling hypos.

On lessons and on test day

• Check your glucose before each lesson, and before the test, as you would before any drive.
• Keep your meter, backup and the supplies your diabetes team recommends within reach in the car.
• If you feel low during a lesson or the test, stop when it is safe and tell your instructor or examiner.
• GOV.UK says to mention a health condition when you book your driving test, so say you have diabetes at booking.

Back to the GB medical conditions and disability guide. Related: fitness to drive and telling the DVLA, pregnancy and learning to drive, driving eyesight rules.

Sources

• DVLA, “Diabetes mellitus: assessing fitness to drive”, updated 7 November 2025 (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Diabetes and driving” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Driving test: if you have a disability, health condition or learning difficulty” (gov.uk)

Photo: RDNE Stock project / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.

In Great Britain you can usually get a provisional car licence with epilepsy once you have been free of seizures while awake for 12 months. Some seizure patterns have their own rules: a first unprovoked seizure can mean 6 months off driving, and seizures that only happen while asleep, or that never affect consciousness, can be licensed once a stable pattern is established. If you have a new seizure, stop driving and tell the DVLA, unless the DVLA has already accepted that your seizures follow one of these permitted patterns and the new one fits it. A different type of seizure can end that concession, so do not decide for yourself that it is covered.

Seizure-free periods for a car licence in GB

These are the Group 1 (car and motorcycle) rules from GOV.UK, as of November 2026. The DVLA’s medical advisers make the final decision on each case.

Your situation	When you can be licensed
Epilepsy, seizures while awake with loss of consciousness	After at least 12 months with no seizure.
First ever unprovoked seizure while awake, with loss of consciousness	After 6 months seizure-free if the DVLA’s medical advisers judge the risk of another to be low. Otherwise after 12 months.
Seizures only while asleep	Possibly, once 12 months or more have passed since the first seizure and the pattern is asleep-only.
Seizures both asleep and awake in the past	Possibly, if your only seizures in the past 3 years happened while asleep.
Seizures that never affect consciousness	Possibly, if you stay fully aware, able to move and in control, the first seizure was 12 months or more ago, and you have never had another type of unprovoked seizure.
Provoked seizure (with a clear cause)	In most cases 6 months after the seizure. The DVLA looks at the cause.

For the asleep-only and awareness rules, GOV.UK says you must stop driving until the DVLA tells you whether you qualify.

Coming off epilepsy medicine

The DVLA guidance says you should not drive while anti-epilepsy medicine is being withdrawn, and for 6 months after the last dose. There is a narrow early-relicensing rule for a seizure that happens within 6 months of, and because of, a change, reduction or withdrawal of medicine that your doctor advised and documented. It does not cover any later seizure after a treatment change. In that case GOV.UK says you can reapply early when all three apply:

• the seizure was more than 6 months ago
• you have been back on your previous medicine for 6 months
• you have had no other seizure in that time

Any change to your treatment is a decision for you and your doctor. These rules only cover what it means for your licence.

Applying for a provisional licence with epilepsy

1. Check you meet the seizure-free period in the table above.
2. Declare epilepsy on the provisional licence application. That is how a first-time applicant tells the DVLA.
3. Expect follow-up. The DVLA may contact your doctor or specialist. GOV.UK names form FEP1 for epilepsy and seizures; licence holders can also report online.
4. Wait for the decision letter before driving. If you have never held a licence, you cannot drive as a learner until your provisional licence arrives.

Scenario: a seizure after you have started lessons

You are 17, have had your provisional licence for four months, and have a seizure while awake. You must stop driving straight away, including lessons, and tell the DVLA. Your licence is likely to be taken away, and you reapply when you meet the seizure-free period that applies to you. Let your instructor know you need to pause lessons; you do not have to share medical details beyond that.

Common questions

Do I need to tell the DVLA about a seizure years ago?

Answer the application’s health questions honestly and let the DVLA assess it. If you are unsure how your history fits the rules, ask your doctor or epilepsy nurse.

What about insurance?

Answer any medical questions your insurer asks honestly. Your provisional licence must be valid for the insurance to mean anything.

Do the rules differ in Northern Ireland?

You report to the DVA instead of the DVLA. See the Northern Ireland guide.

Back to the GB medical conditions and disability guide. Related: fitness to drive and telling the DVLA, heart conditions, fainting and stroke, prescription medicines and driving.

Sources

• DVLA, “Neurological disorders: assessing fitness to drive”, updated 7 November 2025 (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Epilepsy and driving” (gov.uk)
• DVLA, “Appendices: assessing fitness to drive”, updated 7 November 2025 (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Medical conditions, disabilities and driving” (gov.uk)

Photo: cottonbro studio / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.

If you are learning to drive in Great Britain with a health condition or disability, you declare any notifiable condition on your first provisional licence application, and the DVLA then decides whether you can have a licence and on what terms. Plenty of conditions never need reporting for a car licence, including colour blindness, dyslexia, deafness and mild to moderate anxiety. This hub explains how the system works for learners in England, Scotland and Wales and points you to a separate guide for each condition.

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• Notifiable condition: GOV.UK defines it as anything that could affect your ability to drive safely.
• First licence: the health questions are on the application form, so you do not contact the DVLA separately.
• Penalty: a fine of up to £1,000 if you do not tell the DVLA about a condition that might affect safe driving, and possible prosecution if you have an accident.
• Northern Ireland: you tell the DVA, not the DVLA. See the Northern Ireland guide.

Do you need to tell the DVLA? Car learners at a glance

These are the headline rules for a car licence (Group 1) from the DVLA’s “Assessing fitness to drive” guidance. Each linked guide gives the detail and the exceptions.

Condition	Car licence rule	Full guide
Epilepsy or any seizure	Stop driving and tell the DVLA. Usually 12 months seizure-free; shorter or different rules for some seizure types.	Epilepsy
Diabetes treated with insulin	Tell the DVLA if insulin lasts, or will last, more than 3 months.	Type 1 diabetes
ADHD or autism	Tell the DVLA only if it affects safe driving.	ADHD, autism, dyslexia
Dyslexia or dyscalculia	No need to tell the DVLA.	ADHD, autism, dyslexia
Mild to moderate anxiety or depression	No need to tell the DVLA. Severe illness is different.	Mental health
Pacemaker or ICD	Tell the DVLA, and do not drive for a set period after it is fitted.	Heart, fainting, stroke
One simple faint, not while driving	No need to tell the DVLA.	Heart, fainting, stroke
Moderate or severe sleep apnoea with sleepiness	Do not drive, and tell the DVLA.	Sleep conditions
Sight in one eye	Tell the DVLA only if you do not meet the eyesight standard.	One eye and visual field
Colour blindness	No need to tell the DVLA.	One eye and visual field
Deafness	No need to tell the DVLA for a car licence.	Deaf learners

If you are unsure whether your condition affects your driving, ask your doctor. The table is a summary of the rules, not medical advice.

How declaring a condition works when you apply

1. Look up the condition in the GOV.UK A to Z (“Check if a health condition affects your driving”).
2. Answer the health questions honestly on your provisional licence application. That counts as telling the DVLA.
3. The DVLA may ask for more. It can contact your doctor or consultant, arrange an examination, or ask you to take a driving assessment, an eyesight test or a driving test.
4. Expect it to take longer than a standard application if your case is referred to a doctor. GOV.UK does not publish a fixed timescale, so apply well before you want to start lessons.
5. You get the decision by letter.

If a condition starts or gets worse after your provisional licence arrives, you report it yourself. Car licence holders can report online when they look up the condition on GOV.UK, or send the paper form for that condition.

What the DVLA can decide

• You need a new licence (for example, one showing a condition).
• You can have a shorter licence, for 1, 2, 3 or 5 years, so your health is reviewed.
• You must adapt your car by fitting special controls. These appear as codes on your licence: see UK licence codes.
• You must stop driving and give up your licence.

In England and Wales you can appeal a decision through your local magistrates’ court within 6 months. In Scotland, check the appeal route on GOV.UK.

Can you drive while the DVLA is deciding?

Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 can let some drivers keep driving while an application is with the DVLA. The DVLA leaflet INF188/6 says you must meet all of these:

• you meet the medical standards, and no doctor or healthcare professional has told you not to drive
• you have held a valid licence (a GB provisional licence counts) and you only drive vehicles you were entitled to on it and have applied for again
• the DVLA received your correct and complete application within the last 12 months
• your last licence was not revoked or refused for medical reasons
• you are not disqualified by a court

Two points matter for learners. First, if you have never held any licence, section 88 does not apply: you cannot drive as a learner until your first provisional licence arrives. Second, while the DVLA is carrying out medical enquiries it cannot tell you whether section 88 covers you. The leaflet says you and your doctor are best placed to decide.

Disability, adapted cars and test day

• The age-16 route for higher-rate PIP mobility, DVSA test adjustments, Motability help and testing in your own adapted car: learning to drive with a disability in GB.
• Pedal, hand and seat adaptations: driving with limb differences, short stature or from a wheelchair.
• Theory test extra time, voiceover and BSL: extra support for the theory and driving tests and theory test languages and support.
• Parking: Blue Badge for new drivers.
• Medicines and drug-driving limits: prescription medicines and medical cannabis.
• Pregnancy, seat belts and test timing: pregnancy and learning to drive.

Eyesight

Every learner must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres and meet the 6/12 acuity standard, with glasses or contact lenses if needed. The rules and the test-day check are in driving eyesight rules. For one eye or a visual field problem, see learning to drive with sight in one eye. Bioptic telescopes are not accepted in GB: see bioptic telescopes in the UK and Ireland.

Want to practise the eyesight check? Our sister site Driving Eyesight Test has a free 20-metre number plate practice on drivingeyesighttest.com. It is a practice screen, not an eye test.

The full set of GB guides

• Fitness to drive: medical conditions, tiredness and telling the DVLA
• Epilepsy and learning to drive
• Type 1 diabetes and learning to drive
• ADHD, autism and dyslexia
• Anxiety, depression and mental health
• Heart conditions, fainting and stroke
• Sleep apnoea, narcolepsy and tiredness
• Prescription medicines and medical cannabis
• Sight in one eye or a visual field problem
• Deaf learner drivers
• Blue Badge for new drivers
• Licence codes for medical conditions and adapted cars
• Limb differences, short stature and wheelchair users
• Bioptic telescopes in the UK and Ireland
• Pregnancy and learning to drive
• Learning to drive with a disability

Back to the main guide to learning to drive in Great Britain.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Medical conditions, disabilities and driving” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Medical conditions, disabilities and driving: what happens after you tell DVLA” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Medical conditions, disabilities and driving: what DVLA will decide” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Health conditions and driving” (gov.uk)
• DVLA, “Assessing fitness to drive: a guide for medical professionals”, updated 7 November 2025 (gov.uk)
• DVLA, “INF188/6: Can I drive while my application is with DVLA?”, updated August 2023 (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Driving eyesight rules” (gov.uk)

Photo: Michał Robak / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.

Pass rates are worth checking before you book, but as one input into two decisions: which test centre to book, and which date you can realistically be ready by. DVSA publishes the car driving test pass rate for every test centre in Great Britain, free, on GOV.UK. The centre tables (DRT122A to DRT122E) were last updated on 25 June 2026 with data to March 2026, and they are now published once a year. This guide shows how to use them, alongside waiting-time data and the 2026 booking rules, to pick a centre and date that give you the best chance of passing.

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• Where: GOV.UK, “Driving test and theory test data: cars”, published by DVSA.
• Centre pass rates: tables DRT122A to DRT122E, updated 25 June 2026, data to March 2026.
• Since April 2025, all data by test centre is published annually rather than quarterly.
• Waiting times by centre: table DRT122F, updated monthly on the second Wednesday (last update 14 October 2026, data to September 2026).
• Covers Great Britain only. Northern Ireland tests are run by DVA and are not in these tables.
• Since 9 June 2026 you can only move a booked test to one of the 3 nearest centres, or back to the centre you first booked at.

The tables you need

Search GOV.UK for “Driving test and theory test data: cars”. The page lists spreadsheets you can download. The ones that matter for choosing a centre and date:

Table	What it shows	Last updated	How often
DRT122A	Car driving test pass rates by gender and month, per test centre	25 June 2026	Annual
DRT122B	Cancellation reasons, per test centre	25 June 2026	Annual
DRT122C	First-attempt pass rates by gender, including zero-fault passes, per test centre	25 June 2026	Annual
DRT122D	Pass rates for 17 to 25 year olds by age and year, per test centre	25 June 2026	Annual
DRT122E	Automatic car test pass rates by gender, per test centre	25 June 2026	Annual
DRT122F	Waiting times and availability, per test centre, January 2019 to date	14 October 2026	Monthly
DRT112A	Car theory test pass rates by gender and month, per theory test centre	17 July 2026	Annual

National figures for Great Britain, including the top 10 faults (DRT121F) and the number of attempts (DRT121D), are on the same page. The top 10 faults table is worth reading as a revision list in its own right. Before 2025 the Department for Transport published this data; it now all comes from DVSA.

Picking a centre: five checks before you trust a pass rate

A pass rate is the share of tests conducted at that centre that ended in a pass. Check these before reading anything into it.

1. How many tests sit behind it. A small centre with a few hundred tests a year can swing several points from one year to the next by chance. Compare centres on the yearly total, not one month.
2. Who is taking tests there. A centre near a college town may test lots of 17 year olds on a first attempt. Another may test more people on a third or fourth try. Use DRT122C (first attempts) and DRT122D (17 to 25 year olds) to compare like with like.
3. Manual or automatic. Automatic tests are split out in DRT122E. If you are taking an automatic test, look there rather than at the overall figure.
4. Several years, not one. A real difference shows up year after year. A one-off jump usually does not.
5. Your local knowledge. Independent driving takes you on the roads around the centre. A centre where you have never practised means unfamiliar junctions, roundabouts and speed limit changes on the day.

Picking a date: use waiting times, not hope

DRT122F tells you how long the wait is at each centre. Use it to work backwards from the date you will genuinely be ready. A centre with a slightly higher rate but a much longer wait may leave you waiting weeks, losing sharpness or paying for extra practice to stay at standard. Book a date you expect to be ready by, then confirm with a full mock driving test nearer the time. Not sure when that is? See how many lessons before you’re ready to pass.

Worked example

Two centres near you are 15 miles apart. Centre A shows a higher overall pass rate than Centre B. Before switching your plans:

• Open DRT122C. If first-attempt rates for your gender are close, much of the overall gap comes from who tests there, not how hard the test is.
• Open DRT122D and find your age. Again, look for the gap that is left.
• Open DRT122F. If Centre A has the longer wait, your earliest test there may be weeks later than at Centre B.
• Ask yourself which centre’s area you have actually practised in.

Most of the time the honest answer is: book the centre whose roads you know, at a date you will be ready by.

Why the “easiest test centre” is mostly a myth

• Same test everywhere. Every car test in Great Britain follows the same DVSA format and marking: the same manoeuvres, the same independent driving section and the same fault categories. See driving test faults.
• The candidates differ, not the standard. A centre’s figure reflects who tests there: age, attempt number, manual or automatic, how ready people are.
• Readiness matters far more. Whether you are consistently driving to test standard affects your result far more than which centre you pick.

Book carefully: the 2026 rules lock in your first choice

• From 31 March 2026 you get 2 changes to a booked test. Changing the date, time or centre each counts, though changing several at once counts as one.
• From 12 May 2026 only the learner can book, change or cancel their own test.
• From 9 June 2026 you can only move your test to one of the 3 test centres nearest to where it is booked, or back to the centre you first booked at on that booking.

DVSA’s advice is to book only at a test centre you intend to use. You cannot book a distant “high pass rate” centre and hop around later. GOV.UK has a “Check which driving test centres you can move your test to” list for every centre. Full detail: driving test booking rules 2026 and finding an earlier test legally.

Northern Ireland

DVA runs driving tests in Northern Ireland, so its centres do not appear in the DVSA tables. The Department for Infrastructure publishes monthly DVA statistics on the number of tests conducted. Check its website for any centre-level figures. Booking in Northern Ireland: booking the DVA practical driving test.

Common questions

Which driving test centre has the highest pass rate?

It changes from year to year, and the overall figure says more about who tests there than how hard the test is. Download DRT122A and DRT122C from GOV.UK and compare centres near you on first attempts.

When are pass rates by centre updated?

Once a year. The latest centre tables came out on 25 June 2026, covering tests to March 2026. Waiting-time data by centre is updated monthly.

Can I book a test far away because it has a better pass rate?

You can book any centre, but since 9 June 2026 you can only move that test to the 3 nearest centres to it, or back to where you first booked. You would also be tested on roads you do not know.

Are pass rates lower in cities?

Do not assume it. Compare actual centres in the tables, and remember that busy roads also mean more chances to practise the situations the test throws at you.

Do automatic tests have different pass rates?

DVSA publishes automatic pass rates separately for each centre (DRT122E). Compare like with like. Weighing up the choice: automatic or manual.

Is there pass rate data for the theory test by centre?

Yes, table DRT112A, updated 17 July 2026 with data to March 2026. The theory test is the same everywhere, so centre differences come down to who sits it.

Looking for lessons or an instructor? Our sister site Compare Driving Instructors covers lesson prices and choosing an instructor.

Back to the main guide: Learning to Drive in Great Britain. Failed and choosing where to rebook? Read failed your driving test: what next.

Sources

• DVSA, “Driving test and theory test data: cars” (gov.uk)
• DVSA, “Driving test, theory test and driving instructor data: tables index” (gov.uk)
• DVSA, “Changes to driving test booking rules in 2026” (gov.uk)
• DVSA, “Check which driving test centres you can move your test to” (gov.uk)
• Department for Infrastructure, “Driver and Vehicle Agency Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics” (infrastructure-ni.gov.uk)

Photo: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.

In England, Scotland and Wales the car theory test is available in English or Welsh only, plus British Sign Language (BSL) for deaf candidates. There are no foreign-language voiceovers or interpreters: DVSA ended them in 2014. This page sets out what language and support options you do get in Great Britain, and how to ask for them when you book.

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• Languages: English or Welsh, on screen and through headphones.
• BSL: an on-screen BSL video, or your own BSL interpreter at no extra fee.
• Foreign-language voiceovers and spoken-language interpreters: not allowed since 7 April 2014.
• Reading support (extra time, a reader, rewording): needs proof and DVSA’s agreement.
• Ask for support when you book. The test costs £23 whatever support you get.

What languages can you take the theory test in?

Option	Available in GB?	Notes
English	Yes	Standard test
Welsh	Yes	The booking service is also available in Welsh
Audio through headphones	Yes, English or Welsh	Ask when you book
BSL video on screen	Yes	Shown next to the questions and answers
Polish, Arabic, Urdu or any other language	No	Not on screen, not as audio, not through an interpreter

Why are there no other languages?

In April 2014 the government stopped the car and motorcycle theory test voiceovers in 19 foreign languages and banned interpreters on theory and practical tests. It gave road safety and fraud as the reasons: drivers need to read road signs and understand the rules, and more than 1,300 theory test passes had been revoked since 2008 after investigations into fraudulent interpreters. BSL was kept.

Is Northern Ireland different?

Yes. DVA runs Northern Ireland’s theory test and still offers voiceovers in several languages, including Arabic, Polish and Portuguese. See the DVA theory test in Northern Ireland. You can only book there with a Northern Ireland provisional licence. Ireland’s test has its own options too: Irish theory test languages and supports.

BSL and support for deaf or hard of hearing candidates

• BSL video: a signed video plays on screen next to each question and its answers.
• BSL interpreter: you can bring one. Tell DVSA when you book. No extra fee.
• Lip speaker: you can have one with you, also with no extra fee. Tell DVSA when you book.
• Hearing loop: you can use a listening aid.
• Booking in BSL: since 19 May 2025 the online booking service has a BSL translation option. Turn BSL on at the start of booking to get signed videos of the text.

For the practical test, you can also take a BSL interpreter, who must be at least 16 and can be your instructor. You pay their fee but can apply for a refund afterwards. The examiner gives you written notes and uses hand signals for directions.

Help with reading: headphones, extra time, a reader

No proof needed

• Headphones: hear the questions and answers read out in English or Welsh. You can listen to them as many times as you need.

Proof needed, and DVSA must agree

• Extra time on the multiple-choice questions.
• A reader and recorder: a member of test centre staff reads the screen to you and records your answers.
• Rewording: a member of staff rewords questions so they are easier to understand. They can change sentence order and everyday words, but not the technical terms you need to know. You still choose every answer yourself.

DVSA picks the support that fits your needs when you book and tells you what to do next.

What counts as proof?

An email, letter or report from any of these:

• a teacher or other educational professional
• a doctor or medical professional
• an occupational therapist
• an online dyslexia screening product

You will be told how to send it when you book. The booking service lets you upload evidence online.

How to ask for support: step by step

1. Reading difficulty or deafness: say so during online booking at GOV.UK and choose the options offered. Extra time can be requested online.
2. Another disability or health condition: contact DVSA before you book to talk through what you need.
3. Have your evidence ready if you are asking for extra time, a reader or rewording.
4. Contact DVSA theory customer services by email, phone (0300 200 1122, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm), webchat or WhatsApp message if you need help booking.

Full details of all DVSA adjustments, including the practical test: extra support for the car theory and driving tests.

If English is not your first language

There is no translated test, so plan your revision around English (or Welsh) wording:

• Learn the key terms first: give way, overtake, junction, dual carriageway, stopping distance, hazard. These are the words the rewording option cannot change.
• The hazard perception part uses video clips, so reading is less of an issue there. See the hazard perception test.
• Practise with timed mock tests until the question style feels familiar. See a 4 week theory revision plan.
• Arrived in the UK recently? Read learning to drive in the UK as an international student.

Common questions

Can I take the theory test in Polish or Urdu in England?

No. In Great Britain the test is only in English or Welsh, with BSL for deaf candidates.

Can I bring a translator to the theory test?

Not for a spoken language. Interpreters were banned in 2014. A BSL interpreter is allowed.

Can I take the theory test in Welsh in England?

Welsh is offered as a test language in GB and the booking service is available in Welsh. Choose it when you book.

Does extra support cost more?

GOV.UK says there is no extra fee for a BSL interpreter or lip speaker. The car theory test costs £23 as of November 2026.

How much extra time do I get?

GOV.UK does not set a figure on its support page. DVSA decides what you need when you book.

Do I need a dyslexia diagnosis to get extra time?

No formal diagnosis is listed. A letter from a teacher, doctor or occupational therapist, or a result from an online dyslexia screening product, can be accepted.

Can I use headphones without proof?

Yes. Ask for them when you book.

Back to the main guide: Learning to Drive in Great Britain. Related: booking your theory test, the theory test guide and learning to drive with a disability.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Theory test: cars: If you have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Book your theory test” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Foreign language driving tests end” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Driving test: cars: If you have a disability, health condition or learning difficulty” (gov.uk)
• DVSA Despatch blog, “Making our theory test booking service more accessible” (despatch.blog.gov.uk)

Photo: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.

This plan is for learners in England, Scotland and Wales who want to pass the car theory test first time. It takes four weeks at about 30 to 45 minutes a day, and it uses only the official DVSA revision sources. To pass you need 43 out of 50 on the multiple-choice part and 44 out of 75 on hazard perception, both in the same sitting.

Key facts about the GB car theory test

• Multiple choice: 50 questions in 57 minutes. Pass mark 43.
• Three of the questions are about a short, silent video clip (the case study). You can watch it as many times as you like.
• Hazard perception: 14 video clips. Up to 5 points for each developing hazard, and one clip has 2 hazards. Pass mark 44 out of 75.
• You get a break of up to 3 minutes between the two parts.
• You must pass both parts in the same test. If you fail one, you sit the whole test again.
• Fee: £23 (as of November 2026). You need a provisional licence to book.
• You can only take the test in English, Welsh or British Sign Language.

What are the official revision sources?

GOV.UK says the multiple-choice questions are based on three books. Everything in the plan below comes back to these.

Source	What it is for
The Highway Code	The rules. Many questions test a specific rule, such as stopping distances or who has priority.
Know your traffic signs	Every sign and road marking, including less common ones.
Driving: the essential skills	How to drive well: observation, speed, hazards, vehicle control.
Official DVSA Theory Test kit (PC, Mac or app)	Revision questions with explanations, plus hazard perception practice.
Official DVSA Theory Test for Car Drivers (book)	The revision question bank in print.
Traffic sign flashcards	128 cards for drilling signs.
Official guide to hazard perception, or the Official DVSA Hazard Perception app	Practice clips and an explanation of how scoring works.
Free practice test on GOV.UK	A free mock of the multiple-choice part and 3 free hazard perception clips.

The free practice questions are not used in the real test, but they cover the same topics. You do not need every product. The Highway Code, Know your traffic signs and one official question bank (book or app) cover the multiple-choice part. Add one hazard perception source for the clips.

Before you start: book the test for the end of week 4

A date gives the plan a deadline. Book online with your provisional licence number, an email address and a card. You must have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least 185 days in the last 12 months. See booking your theory test: fees, ID and rescheduling for changing the date if you fall behind.

The 4 week theory test revision plan

The 14 DVSA topic areas are grouped so that related rules are learned together. Each week has the same rhythm: learn the topics from the books on weekdays, then answer question-bank questions on those topics, then review every question you got wrong.

Week 1: you, the car and the basics

• Alertness and Attitude: mirrors, distractions, tiredness, courtesy, tailgating.
• Safety and your vehicle: tyres, warning lights, brakes, emissions.
• Documents: licence, insurance, MOT, vehicle tax, V5C.
• Vehicle loading: roof racks, towing basics, passengers.
• Start 10 signs a day with the flashcards or Know your traffic signs, and keep going every day until the test.

Week 2: rules and signs

• Rules of the road: speed limits, parking, junctions, lanes, crossings.
• Road and traffic signs: shapes and colours first, then the road sign guides for warning, regulatory, direction and motorway signs and road markings.
• Safety margins: stopping distances, the two second rule, wet and icy roads. Learn the stopping distance figures from the Highway Code table rather than a rule of thumb.
• Do your first hazard perception clips (the 3 free GOV.UK clips are enough to start) so you understand how scoring feels.

Week 3: other road users and hazards

• Hazard awareness: anticipating, reading the road, effects of alcohol and drugs.
• Vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, motorcyclists, learners and older drivers. Read the hierarchy of road users rules H1 to H3.
• Other types of vehicle: lorries, buses, trams, slow vehicles.
• Vehicle handling: weather, hills, skids, night driving.
• Hazard perception: 5 to 10 clips a day from now on.

Week 4: motorways, emergencies and full mocks

• Motorway rules: joining, lanes, signals, hard shoulder, smart motorways. Learners can only drive on motorways with an approved instructor in a dual-controlled car, but the theory test still covers the rules.
• Incidents, accidents and emergencies: breakdowns, tunnels, what to do at a crash.
• Full timed mock tests (routine below) every other day.
• Last two days: wrong-answer review and hazard clips only. No new topics.

How to run a mock test that tells you something

1. Sit 50 questions in one go with a 57 minute timer, phone in another room.
2. Follow it with a set of hazard perception clips, as in the real test.
3. Mark it. Write down every wrong answer with its topic.
4. Look each one up in the Highway Code or the essential skills book, not just the answer key. Knowing why stops you repeating the mistake when the question is worded differently.
5. Re-test those topics the next day.

Mock score (out of 50)	What it means
Below 43	Below the pass mark. Go back to the topics where you dropped marks.
43 to 45	A pass, but with no margin for nerves. Keep going.
46 or more, several times running	A good sign you are ready, if your hazard perception is solid too.

The 46+ line is a planning guide, not an official figure. The official pass mark is 43.

Hazard perception practice: what actually earns points

• You score for a developing hazard: something that would make you take action, such as slowing down or changing direction. The earlier you click once it starts to develop, the more points (up to 5).
• Clicking and getting it wrong does not lose points. Clicking continuously or in a pattern scores zero for that clip.
• A sensible habit: click when you first notice a possible hazard, then click again as it develops.
• You get one attempt at each clip and cannot review it.

Read hazard perception scoring explained and the hazard perception test guide before week 2.

Test day timing

When	What to do
Night before	Put your photocard licence by the door. No licence, no test, and no refund. A paper licence needs a valid passport with it.
15 minutes before	You must be at the centre. If you are late, the test is cancelled and you lose the fee.
Check-in	Belongings go in a locker or clear box. Phones, smart watches and fitness trackers must be switched off. Staff check your face against your ID and may check pockets, sleeves and ears.
Start	You get instructions and a practice question before the 57 minutes start.
Between parts	Up to 3 minutes’ break, then a short tutorial before the 14 hazard clips.
End	You get your result at the centre. Pass and you get a certificate number valid for 2 years.

Pacing: 57 minutes for 50 questions is just over a minute each. Answer what you know, flag the rest, and come back.

If you fail

You get a letter showing which parts you did not score enough on. You must book and take the whole test again, even if you passed one part, and you must wait at least 3 working days. Use the letter to rebuild your plan: rerun the weeks for the weak topics.

Common questions

How long should I revise for the theory test?

There is no official minimum. Four weeks of short daily sessions suits most learners. If you are consistently scoring 46 or more on timed mocks and passing hazard clips, you can book sooner.

Are the real theory test questions the same as the practice questions?

No. GOV.UK says the practice questions are not used in the real test, but they are based on the same topics. Learn the rule behind each answer, not the wording.

Do I need to buy the official app?

No. The free GOV.UK practice test and the Highway Code, which is free online, cover a lot. The paid official kit adds a large question bank and many more hazard clips.

Can I take the theory test in another language?

In Great Britain, only English, Welsh or British Sign Language. Some materials are translated by approved organisations. See theory test languages and support in GB and extra support for reading difficulties and disability.

How long does my theory pass last?

2 years. Pass your practical test within that time or you sit the theory test again. See the car theory test in numbers.

How do the case study questions work?

Three questions are about one short silent video, such as driving through a town centre. See theory test case study questions.

Back to the step by step guide to learning to drive in Great Britain, or start with the theory test topic pages and practice questions.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Theory test: cars: revision and practice” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Theory test: cars: multiple-choice questions” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Theory test: cars: hazard perception test” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Theory test: cars: pass mark and test result” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Theory test: cars: what to take to your test” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Theory test: cars: when you arrive at the test centre” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Book your theory test” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Take a practice theory test” (gov.uk)

Photo: Adrien Olichon / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.

The most reliable way to know you are ready to pass is to sit the test before the test. A mock driving test is a full practice run of the Great Britain car test: about 35 minutes of driving, marked the way a DVSA examiner marks it, with the supervisor saying nothing except directions. Your result tells you whether to keep your test date, and exactly which faults to fix first. This guide is for learners in England, Scotland and Wales and the instructors, parents or friends running the mock.

Build your mock around the real test

Copy this structure so your mock feels the same as test day:

Part	What happens on the real test	How to copy it in a mock
Eyesight check	Read a number plate from 20 metres (20.5 metres for an old-style plate). Failing ends the test.	Pick a parked car, pace 20 metres, read the plate first
“Tell me” question	One vehicle safety question before you drive	Ask one from the show me, tell me list
General driving	Varied roads and traffic, but not motorways	Mix town, faster roads, junctions and roundabouts
Independent driving	20 to 35 minutes following a sat nav set by the examiner, or traffic signs	Set a sat nav to a destination, or say “follow signs to…”
“Show me” question	One vehicle safety task while driving	For example, ask for the rear windscreen heater to be switched on
Reversing exercise	One of: parallel park; bay park (drive in and reverse out, or reverse in and drive out); pull up on the right, reverse about 2 car lengths and rejoin traffic	Choose one without warning
Pulling over and away	A normal stop at the side of the road, pulling out from behind a parked vehicle, and a hill start	Ask for each at least once
Emergency stop	You might be asked to do one	Only in a safe, quiet place, after warning the learner of the signal you will use

Total driving time is about 35 minutes. Plan a route of roughly that length that starts and ends at the same place.

Mark it like an examiner: the three fault types

Fault	DVSA definition	Effect
Driving fault (minor)	Not potentially dangerous, but if you keep making the same fault it could become a serious fault	You can pass with up to 15
Serious fault (major)	Something potentially dangerous	One means a fail
Dangerous fault (major)	Actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property	One means a fail

To pass the real test you need no more than 15 driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults. More on how examiners judge them: driving test faults explained.

Running the mock, step by step

1. Agree the rules first. The supervisor gives directions only: no hints, no “watch out”, no comments until the end. The learner drives as if alone.
2. Prepare a marking sheet. List the skill areas below down one side, with three columns: driving, serious, dangerous. Tally faults as they happen.
3. Start like the real test. Eyesight check, then the “tell me” question at the car.
4. Drive the route. Include a stretch of independent driving, one reversing exercise and the pull-up exercises.
5. Do not rescue unless you must. If you have to step in, use dual controls or speak up to keep everyone safe, and mark it as a serious or dangerous fault.
6. If the learner goes the wrong way, just give new directions. On the real test, the examiner will not give a fault for taking a wrong turning.
7. Debrief after parking. Count the faults, then talk through the two or three most important ones.

What goes on the marking sheet

• Controls: accelerator, clutch, gears, footbrake, parking brake, steering
• Moving off: safely and under control
• Use of mirrors before signalling, changing direction and changing speed
• Signals: necessary, correct and timed
• Response to signs, road markings, traffic lights and other road users
• Speed: appropriate for conditions and within limits
• Following distance
• Progress: not too slow or hesitant
• Junctions: approach, observation and turning
• Judgement: overtaking, meeting and crossing traffic
• Positioning and lane discipline
• Pedestrian crossings
• Normal stops and awareness and planning
• Reversing exercise: control and observation

These headings are a practical checklist, not an official DVSA list. Your instructor may use their own.

Roads your mock route should cover

You do not need to know the exact test routes. Test centres use a variety of roads, so cover the types instead:

• busy town centre streets, including one-way streets
• roundabouts of different sizes, including mini and double roundabouts
• residential roads with parked cars
• faster roads such as dual carriageways or national speed limit roads
• a hill for the hill start
• pedestrian crossings and traffic lights

Reading your result: keep the date or move it?

Mock result	What it suggests	Next step
Any serious or dangerous fault	Not test-ready yet	Practise that skill, then repeat the mock. If the test is close, consider moving it while you still have enough notice
No majors but many driving faults in one area	A habit is forming	Fix that area before it turns into a serious fault
A few scattered driving faults, no majors	Close to test standard	Do another mock on a different route to confirm
Passes two mocks in a row	Likely ready	Keep the date and keep the routine up until test day

Changing a practical test with under 10 full working days’ notice means losing the fee, so run your first mock early enough to act on it. The most common reasons for failing the real test are worth checking against your marking sheet: top reasons people fail the driving test.

Common questions

How long is a mock driving test?

Aim for about 35 minutes of driving, the same as the real test, plus time for the eyesight check and questions.

How many mock tests should I do before my test?

There is no set number. Many learners do one when they first feel ready and another in the last week or two before the test.

Can a parent or friend run a mock test?

Yes, if they meet the rules for supervising a learner, and the car is insured for you and displays L plates. See supervising a learner driver.

Will the examiner stop the test if I make a serious fault?

GOV.UK says the examiner will only stop your test if they think your driving is a danger to other road users. Otherwise you finish the test even after a serious fault.

Can I use my own sat nav in independent driving?

No, on the real test the examiner provides and sets up the sat nav.

Should my instructor sit in on the real test?

You can ask for someone to sit in. They must be over 16 and cannot take any part in the test, but their notes can help you work on any faults if you need to retake.

Related guides

• The car driving test in GB and NI
• Driving test manoeuvres explained
• Independent driving and sat nav
• Dealing with test nerves

Looking for lessons or an instructor? Our sister site Compare Driving Instructors covers lesson prices and choosing an instructor.

Back to the full guide to learning to drive in Great Britain.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Driving test: what happens during the test” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Driving test faults and your result” (gov.uk)
• GOV.UK, “Driving eyesight rules” (gov.uk)