Licence and Test Information.

Before you can begin your driving lessons you must make sure you have a valid UK or Northern Ireland provisional driving licence. 

Before you can be issued with a full driving licence you must pass 2 tests, a theory and hazard perception test and a practical driving test.

Theory and Hazard Perception:This test is split into two sections. In the theory section you will be given a series of multiple choice questions. You will have 57 minutes to complete this section and must answer at least 43 out of 50 questions correctly to pass the test. The hazard perception test will last for 20 minutes. In that time you will see a series of 14 video clips, each with at least one hazard, one of the clips will have two hazards. Everytime you see a hazard or potential hazard you will have to click the computer mouse, you will score between 0 and 5 for each hazard and must score a total of 44 out of 75 to pass the test. You must pass both parts of this test in the same sitting, if you fail one, you will have to re-sit both.

Practical Driving Test:There are currently 3 sections to your practical driving test. Firstly you will be asked to do an eyesight test, you must be able to read a normal vehicle number plate from a distance of 20.5 metres (67.5 feet) if you can not read the number plate you will fail your test and you will not be asked to drive. The next section is the Vehicle Safety Checks, You will be asked to answer 2 questions relating to vehicle safety, the questions fall into 3 categories: Can you identify..., Tell me how you would check..., and Show me how you would check... You will be given 1 minor fault for each question you get wrong. You will then be asked to drive for 35-40 minutes. During this time you will be asked to perform 1 reversing exercise, this could be reversing around a corner, turning the car around on the road, parallel parking or bay parking, you may also be asked to do an emergency stop.  For the most part of the test the examiner will give you individual directions as to where you are going as you approach junctions, however, for about 10 minutes you will be asked to drive independently.  This means you will either be asked to follow road signs, given a series of directions, or a combination of both.  If at any point you forget where you are going you can simply ask the examiner for confirmation, if you go the wrong way you will not be faulted for it as long as you drive correctly, it will then be up to the examiner to get you back on route.  The independent driving section of the test is for you to show the examiner that you can drive safely while reading signs and planning your road ahead.  To pass your driving test you must complete it with no serious or dangerous driving faults and less than 16 minor faults.  

For further information on tests go to Useful Links and select the DSA website.