Independent driving and sat nav
Independent driving is the part of the practical test where you find your own way, following a sat nav, road signs or both. It shows the examiner you can drive safely while making your own decisions, as you will after you pass.
It is also simply real-world driving: reading signs, planning lanes early and staying calm if you take a wrong turn.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can follow sat nav directions while keeping your eyes mainly on the road.
- You can follow direction signs to a named place.
- You can plan lanes and positions early from the information you are given.
- You can recover calmly and safely from a wrong turn.
- You can ask the examiner to repeat a direction if you are unsure.
What you need to know and understand
- During the test you will drive independently for part of the drive, following a sat nav, traffic signs or a combination of both. The examiner tells you which (DVSA).
- Current DVSA guidance says the test involves around 35 minutes of driving, with 20 to 35 minutes of independent driving. Check the latest guidance when you book, as details can change.
- The examiner provides and sets up the sat nav. You cannot use your own.
- If a sign is hidden, for example by trees, the examiner will give directions until you can see the next one.
- You will not get a fault for taking a wrong turning. The examiner will help you get back on the route.
- The examiner can make adjustments if you have learning difficulties, such as following signs instead of a sat nav.
- Driving safely always comes first. A wrong turn is fine; an unsafe late lane change is not.
Following a sat nav safely
On the test the sat nav is fixed in place and already programmed. Listen to the spoken directions and only glance at the screen briefly. If you are not sure, glance again when it is safe, or follow your best judgement and let the route recalculate.
Outside the test, set your destination before you move and mount the device so it does not block your view. You must not hold and use a phone or similar device while driving, even to change a map route, and this includes when you are stopped in traffic (Highway Code rule 149), and you should not let a screen distract you (rule 150).
Following road signs
When asked to follow signs, look for your destination on each direction sign and note which lane or exit it gives. Signs often appear well before junctions, so read them early, then get into position in good time. If you lose sight of your destination on the signs, keep driving safely and the examiner will help.
If you go the wrong way
Taking a wrong turn does not count against you. What does count is how you deal with it. Never swerve across lanes or brake hard to make an exit at the last second.
- Stay in your lane and carry on safely.
- Keep using mirrors and signals as normal.
- Wait for the sat nav to recalculate or for the examiner to give new directions.
- Rejoin the route when it is safe and legal to do so.
Why it is part of the test
Many collisions involving new drivers happen soon after they pass, when they are driving alone and finding their own way. Practising route-finding under supervision builds the habit of planning ahead while keeping full attention on the road.
Common mistakes
- Staring at the sat nav screen. Rely on the voice and look at the road.
- Making a last-second lane change to follow directions. Accept the wrong turn and recover safely.
- Forgetting normal routines because you are focused on the route. Mirrors and signals still matter.
- Being afraid to ask. You can ask the examiner to confirm a direction.
Test yourself: Independent driving and sat nav
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: Driving test: what happens during the test, DVSA guidance (gov.uk); Highway Code rules 149 and 150 (gov.uk); Highway Code: Traffic signs, direction signs (gov.uk). Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with the DVSA.