Book A Test / Your Test Day

Information for your practical test day

Always ensure you get a good night sleep prior to your test!!

Warm up lesson:

Look smart and neat, but do wear something comfortable. You don’t want to be distracted by shoes that pinch or a jacket with tight underarms.

Your test fee includes a one hour lesson prior to your test. Your instructor will use this lesson to do a final practice. You will also be aware of any new roadwork’s, obstructions etc and will feel more prepared to deal with them.

The practical driving test:

Your practical driving test will take the following format:

You will drive to the test centre with your instructor, and park the car in a suitable bay. You and your instructor will go into the test centre just before your test is due to commence. Once the examiner comes out and calls your name, you go and meet him/her and have your documents checked. You are also required to sign an insurance declaration at this point, stating that the car you are using for your test is insured.

On completion of the paperwork, the examiner will ask you to make your way out to the car, on the way out you will be required to do an eyesight test. The DVANI stipulates that:

“It is a criminal offence to drive a motor vehicle if you cannot read a standard number plate (with glasses or corrective lenses if necessary) in good daylight from 20.5m (67 feet) or 20m (65 feet) where narrower characters 50 mm wide) are displayed. If you need glasses or corrective lenses to do this, you must wear them every time you drive.”

Following your eyesight test you will be asked two questions from the “Show me tell me” list prior to the practical driving phase. Within the driving phase you are required to successfully complete an Emergency Stop and one reversing manoeuvre. Further to these, you will also be assessed on your general and independent driving. Independent driving was introduced to the driving test in NI on 27 June 2011, it lasts for eight to ten minutes and involves following a series of directions given by the examiner.

In total you are only permitted a maximum of fifteen minor driving faults to pass. If one fault is deemed by the examiner to be “Serious” or “Dangerous” this will result in a fail.

In total the test lasts approx forty five minutes. You will be told if you have passed, or failed directly on completion of the driving phase.

Top 10 Reasons For Failing Your Practical Car Driving Test

1. Junctions Observation
2. Left Reverse – Control
3. Steering
4. Mirror Changing direction
5. Reverse Parking – Control
6. Gears
7. Moving Away Safely
8. Left Reverse – Observation
9. Move Away Under Control
10. Normal Driving

Please note that any information shown on this site is subject to alteration and is subject to review on a periodic basis. The top 10 takes into consideration serious and dangerous faults. All information shown on this site is accurate at the time of publication.
Date of publication - May 06 (issue 1)

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