Practical driving test for automatic car drivers
Taking the driving test with an automatic car is much the same as with a manual car, but easier. Practical car tests are conducted by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) at their driving test centres.
Your driving test will last for around 40 minutes and includes :
Driving eyesight check
At the start of your test you’ll do an eyesight check. With glass or contact lenses if you need them, you’ll be asked to read a number plate from a distance of at least 20 metres. This is a legal requirement as a driver, so if you fail to do this the test will end here.
Show Me Tell Me questions
These questions relate to vehicle safety, basic maintenance and how to use the controls safely as a driver. You’ll be asked a tell me question before the drive, and a show me during the drive. Find the full set of questions here.
Main driving section
During the main driving sections you’ll be driving on a different types of roads with clear directions from your examiner given in good time. On your drive you’ll be asked to do a reversing maneouvre which could be :
- Bay park reversing
- Bay park forward
- Parallel park
- Pull up on the right side of the road then reverse in a straight line.
One in three driving tests also include an emergency stop exercise, so you could be asked to do one of these.
Independent driving also takes place on these tests. Here, you could either be asked to follow a series of road signs to a certain destination, or follow sat nav directions.
What you need to do to pass your driving test
To pass your driving test you must not make :
- More than 15 minor driving faults
- Any serious faults
- Any dangerous faults
At the end of your driving test the you’ll get your result from the DVSA driving examiner. With good proper automatic driving tuition and ideal preparation, this should be a positive one.