Author: Compare Driving Instructors

A rule that applies to the passenger seat too

Learner drivers, and the people who supervise them, often assume the handheld phone ban is about the person with their hands on the wheel. In Great Britain, the regulation also reaches supervisors. This article summarises regulation 110 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, which legislation.gov.uk shows as extending to England, Wales and Scotland, and the GOV.UK guidance “Using a phone, sat nav or other device when driving”. The GOV.UK page does not state its geographical coverage, and Northern Ireland is outside the scope of this article. It is general information, not legal advice.

What the regulation prohibits

Regulation 110 forbids drivers from using a hand-held mobile phone or similar device while driving on a road. Legislation.gov.uk shows that it also prevents supervisors of provisional licence holders from using such devices while supervising. A device counts as hand-held if it is, or must be, held at some point while being used, wording added by a 2022 amendment. The regulation covers phones and devices capable of transmitting and receiving data, whether or not those capabilities are enabled, and excludes two-way radios.

The regulation defines “using” broadly, through a list of activities that includes illuminating the screen, checking notifications, unlocking the device, making calls, sending or receiving content, recording, drafting text, accessing stored data, using applications and browsing the internet. In practice, that covers far more than calls and texts.

What GOV.UK says

GOV.UK says a driver must not use a device in their hand for any reason, whether online or offline. Prohibited uses include texting, making calls, taking photos or videos and browsing the web. It says the law applies even when the driver is stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic or supervising a learner driver. That wording matters for anyone accompanying a learner.

Hands-free use is permitted where the device is operated through a Bluetooth headset, voice commands, a dashboard holder or a windscreen mount, provided it does not obstruct the driver’s view of the road. The GOV.UK page also says a driver can get 3 penalty points if they do not have a full view of the road and traffic ahead or proper control of the vehicle.

Full control and the view of the road

The GOV.UK guidance adds a separate duty. Hands-free devices must not block the driver’s view of the road and traffic ahead, and a driver must stay in full control of the vehicle at all times. It says the police can stop a driver they think is not in control because they are distracted, and that the driver can be prosecuted. This means a device used hands-free can still be a problem if it distracts the driver or obstructs the windscreen.

The exceptions

Hand-held use is permitted only in limited circumstances. Regulation 110 lists emergency calls to 112 or 999 when it is unsafe to stop, remote-controlled parking, contactless payments when the vehicle is stationary, added in 2022, and communications by emergency services using approved networks, added in 2024. GOV.UK summarises the exceptions for drivers as emergency calls when it is unsafe to stop, being safely parked, contactless payments at drive-throughs and remote vehicle parking.

Because the drive-through payment exception applies only when the vehicle is stationary, and a supervised learner is still subject to the same regulation, the simplest approach for a lesson or practice drive is to set navigation and music before starting.

Penalties

GOV.UK says the standard penalty for illegal use of a device is six penalty points and a £200 fine. If the case goes to court, it says a driver may be banned and the maximum fine is £1,000, or £2,500 for drivers of lorries and buses. Because these amounts are set by government, the GOV.UK page is the reference for the current figures.

For drivers who passed their test in the last two years, GOV.UK says they will also lose their licence. That follows from the six-point threshold for new drivers, which the drink-driving article on this site and the New Drivers Act article explain in more detail. A learner is therefore building a record from the first day: penalty points on a provisional licence carry over to the full licence.

Practical points for learners and supervisors

A learner should not touch their phone while driving, and a supervising driver should not use one in the passenger seat while supervising, according to regulation 110. Both should put phones away or use a hands-free arrangement that meets the GOV.UK conditions, and agree beforehand who handles directions.

The bottom line

In Great Britain, holding and using a phone or other data-capable device while driving is illegal for any reason, and regulation 110 extends the prohibition to supervisors of provisional licence holders. Exceptions are narrow, penalties include six points and a £200 fine at the fixed-penalty stage, and a new driver risks losing their licence. Set up navigation before the journey and use hands-free options that leave the road view clear.

Sources

• legislation.gov.uk, “The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, regulation 110”
• GOV.UK, “Using a phone, sat nav or other device when driving”

A renewal that resets every three years

Most drivers renew their photocard every ten years. At 70, the rules change. GOV.UK says that once a driver reaches 70, they must renew their licence every three years. This article summarises the GOV.UK page “Renew your driving licence if you’re 70 or over”. It applies to residents of Great Britain, and the page says there is a different service in Northern Ireland, which is outside the scope of this article. It is general information, not medical or legal advice.

When to renew and what it costs

GOV.UK says the renewal service is for people who are 70 or over, or who will be 70 in the next 90 days. It says the driver can renew online with DVLA for free. To use the online service, the licence must have expired or be about to expire within 90 days.

A driver must sign in to use the service, and may be told on signing in that they need to prove their identity, which GOV.UK says usually involves photo ID such as a passport or driving licence. The licence photo can be changed at the same time as renewing.

Conditions for using the online service

The page lists the conditions for the online service. The applicant must have a British licence that has expired or will expire within 90 days, must be a resident of Great Britain, must meet the minimum eyesight requirement and must not be prevented from driving for any reason. The page refers to separate guidance on eyesight and medical conditions rather than setting out the details itself.

The online service cannot be used to renew a C1 entitlement for medium-sized vehicles or a D1 entitlement for minibuses. GOV.UK says those entitlements must be renewed by post.

Renewing by post

GOV.UK says a driver can apply by post using the D46P application form. DVLA sends this form automatically 90 days before the driver’s 70th birthday or before the licence expires. If the driver has not received the D46P, the page says the D1 application for a driving licence form can be used instead, and can be picked up at most Post Offices.

The page says the new licence should arrive in three weeks, but may take longer if medical or personal details need to be checked. Drivers who need a licence for identification or for work should allow for this.

Driving while DVLA has the licence

GOV.UK says a driver can continue driving while the licence is being renewed if they meet a list of conditions. They must have the support of their doctor to continue driving, must have had a valid licence, must only drive under the conditions of the previous licence, and the application must be less than a year old. The last licence must not have been revoked or refused for medical reasons, the driver must not currently be disqualified, and they must not have been disqualified as a high-risk offender on or after 1 June 2013. The page points to further guidance headed “Can I drive while my application is with DVLA?” for more information.

This is a narrow allowance, and it depends on the doctor’s support. A driver who is unsure whether it applies should read the linked guidance or contact DVLA before assuming that they may drive.

Checking the eyesight requirement first

Because the eligibility conditions include the minimum eyesight requirement, drivers approaching 70 may want to check their vision before applying. GOV.UK’s renewal page points to separate eyesight guidance, and this site’s article on DVLA eyesight rules explains the number plate test and when a vision problem affects a licence. GOV.UK also describes a postal application using the D46P form, which is the route it gives for C1 and D1 entitlements.

After applying

DVLA sends a confirmation email once the application has been made. GOV.UK says the applicant might be asked to take part in research by email, and that they can opt out. That is a small point but useful for anyone worried about unexpected emails after applying.

Confidence and practice

The renewal process described on GOV.UK is administrative: it turns on the licence details, the eyesight requirement and any medical matters, not on a practical assessment. Some older drivers nevertheless choose to take refresher lessons to build confidence, for example after a break from driving. This site covers refresher lessons separately, including how to compare instructors and prices.

The bottom line

From the age of 70, drivers in Great Britain must renew their licence every three years, and GOV.UK says the online renewal is free. The online route requires a driver to meet the minimum eyesight requirement and not be prevented from driving, and it cannot be used for C1 or D1 entitlements. The licence should arrive in about three weeks, longer if checks are needed, and a driver may continue driving in the meantime only if the listed conditions are met, including the support of their doctor.

Sources

• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, GOV.UK, “Renew your driving licence if you’re 70 or over”

One country, two limits

A learner who passes their test in Glasgow and then drives to Newcastle is subject to two different drink-drive limits on the same journey. GOV.UK says the limits in Scotland are different to the rest of the UK. This article summarises the GOV.UK pages on the drink-drive limit, drink-driving penalties, penalty points and the new-driver rule. The limits are stated for the whole UK, with a separate figure for Scotland. Penalty points and disqualification rules on GOV.UK are generally for Great Britain, and the pages note that endorsement codes and processes in Northern Ireland are different. It is general information, not legal advice.

The limits

GOV.UK gives the limits in three forms. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood and 107 milligrams per 100 millilitres of urine. In Scotland it is 22 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood and 67 milligrams per 100 millilitres of urine.

GOV.UK stresses that it is impossible to say exactly how many drinks this equals, because it is different for each person. It says the effect of alcohol depends on weight, age, sex and metabolism, on the type and amount of alcohol, on what has been eaten recently and on stress levels. For a new driver, the practical message is that the Scottish figure is lower, and that the safest position is not to drive after drinking.

Penalties

GOV.UK sets out the penalties that magistrates may impose, depending on the offence. For driving or attempting to drive while above the limit or unfit through drink, it says a person may get six months’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine and a ban of at least one year, or three years if convicted twice in 10 years. For refusing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine, the same maximum penalties are listed. For being in charge of a vehicle while above the limit or unfit through drink, it lists three months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to £2,500 and a possible ban. For causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink, it lists life imprisonment, an unlimited fine, a ban of at least five years and an extended driving test before the licence is returned.

GOV.UK adds that a person banned for 12 months or more may be able to reduce the ban by taking a drink-drive rehabilitation scheme course, which is at the court’s discretion. It also says that a conviction increases car insurance costs significantly, that an employer will see the conviction on the licence of someone who drives for work, and that it may cause trouble travelling to countries such as the United States.

Penalty points and how long they last

The GOV.UK penalty points page lists the offence codes. Driving or attempting to drive with an alcohol level above the limit carries code DR10 and 3 to 11 penalty points. Driving while unfit through drink, and failing to supply a specimen, carry the same range. Being in charge of a vehicle while above the limit or unfit carries 10 points. The page says that codes DR10 to DR61 must stay on a driving record for 11 years from the date of conviction, and that the DR40 to DR70 codes stay for four years from the date of the offence or the conviction where a disqualification is imposed.

The same page says a person can be disqualified if they build up 12 or more penalty points within three years.

What this means for a new driver

GOV.UK says that a licence will be revoked, meaning cancelled, if the holder gets six or more penalty points within two years of passing their test. Because the range for driving over the limit is 3 to 11 points, a single conviction can reach that threshold, so a newly qualified driver may lose the licence as well as face a ban. The GOV.UK page also says that penalty points on a provisional licence carry over to the full licence, and that the licence is cancelled if further points take the total to six or more within two years.

For learners, the same points logic applies to provisional licences. Points earned during the learner period can therefore count towards the six-point limit once the licence is full. The New Drivers Act is covered in more detail in a separate article on this site.

Getting a licence back

GOV.UK says the actual penalty is for the magistrates who hear the case and depends on the offence. It says a driver banned by any UK court because of drink-driving cannot drive anywhere in the UK, and that a driver convicted of causing death while under the influence will not automatically get the licence back if considered a high-risk offender. It also says a driver whose licence is taken away because of drink-driving will have fees to pay to get it back, and that details are on a separate GOV.UK page.

The bottom line

The drink-drive limits are lower in Scotland than in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and drivers cannot rely on a drink count to stay under either. Penalties include imprisonment, unlimited fines, a ban of at least a year for driving over the limit, and 3 to 11 penalty points, which stay on the record for 11 years. For a driver within two years of passing their test, six points revokes the licence.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “The drink drive limit”
• GOV.UK, “Drink-driving penalties”
• GOV.UK, “Penalty points (endorsements)”

A rule that catches learners out

Long waits for driving tests have created a market of people and apps that promise earlier slots. Some learners assume that an instructor or a third-party service can book on their behalf. According to GOV.UK, they cannot. This article summarises two GOV.UK pages from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA): “Book your driving test” and “Report driving test resellers, cancellation finders or booking services”, the latter last updated in July 2026. The rules described apply to England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has a different booking service and is outside the scope of this article. It is general information, not legal advice.

Who may book a car test

GOV.UK states that a learner must book their own driving test, and must also change, swap or cancel it themselves. It says the learner’s driving instructor is not allowed to do this for them, and that it is against the law to book a car driving test for someone else. The DVSA page on resellers repeats the point: it is against the law for anyone other than a learner driver to book a car driving test.

A lesson package that promises to book the test for the learner is therefore at odds with the official rule for car tests. A learner can still ask an instructor for advice on when they are ready, and the booking page allows a learner to enter their instructor’s personal reference number to check availability, which is a separate function.

What resellers, apps and websites may not do

The DVSA page lists what people, websites and apps are not allowed to do. They may not sell driving test appointments, a practice known as reselling. They may not search the driving test booking service using bots. They may not book car driving tests on behalf of other people. They may not use someone’s details to book other types of driving tests, such as motorcycle, lorry or bus tests, without their permission.

The DVSA page title names cancellation finders and booking services alongside resellers as activity that can be reported, and searching the booking service with bots is on the prohibited list. GOV.UK describes the official route for cancellations instead: earlier appointments, sometimes called cancellation appointments, are added whenever another learner changes or cancels their test, at any time during the week, and there is no waiting list or cancellation list.

How the official system releases slots

The GOV.UK booking page says new driving test appointments are added 24 weeks in advance and released at 6am every Monday. Learners are put in a queue when they start booking and are told how long the wait will be. The service is available from 6am to 11:40pm. These operating details are set by DVSA and can change, so the booking page is the reference.

To book, a learner needs a UK driving licence number and a credit or debit card. The learner must have passed the theory test before booking, with exceptions for certain upgrade tests, such as automatic to manual. Someone booking must have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least 185 days in the 12 months before the test day, and can check the cost before starting. A car test can be moved only to a nearby centre if the learner needs to change where they take it.

Reporting activity to DVSA

DVSA invites people to report resellers, cancellation finders and booking services through an online form. It says reports can cover people, social media accounts, websites and apps, and that it helps to include website addresses, usernames or links, app names or app-store listings and screenshots. The reporter can give their name and contact details, but does not have to, and DVSA says information given is kept private and confidential.

The page also asks people not to contact suspected resellers, join their groups or engage with the services for the purpose of making a report, and to pass on only information they already have.

DVSA says it uses reports alongside other information to identify patterns of activity linked to misuse of the booking service. Action can include working with social media platforms to remove accounts, app store providers to remove apps, website hosting providers to remove websites, other government departments and agencies, and the police where criminal activity may have taken place. It says it cannot give feedback on individual reports.

Practical advice for learners

Read together, the two pages lead to a few points. Book only through the official GOV.UK service, and do it personally. Treat an offer to sell a test slot as prohibited activity, not as a shortcut. Do not hand licence details to an app or website that promises to find cancellations, because the DVSA page lists bot-based searching as not allowed. If an instructor offers to arrange the test, the official page says they may not, and a package that depends on it is worth questioning when comparing instructors.

A learner who is struggling to find a slot can use the official service to check for earlier appointments, change the test centre to a nearby one, or contact DVSA driving test booking support, whose contact details are on the booking page, for help with problems accessing the service.

The bottom line

In England, Wales and Scotland, only the learner may book their car driving test, and it is against the law for anyone else to do it. Reselling appointments, using bots to search the booking service and booking on behalf of others are all listed by DVSA as not allowed, and reports can be made online. Learners should use the official service and be cautious about any instructor or service that says it can secure a test slot for them.

Sources

• Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, GOV.UK, “Book your driving test”
• Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, GOV.UK, “Report driving test resellers, cancellation finders or booking services”

Knowing the format removes half the fear

Test-day nerves are partly fear of the unknown. GOV.UK sets out exactly what happens, and knowing it helps. This article summarises the DVSA guidance on what happens during the car driving test in Great Britain. Northern Ireland tests are run by a different agency and are not covered. It describes the standard test; adjustments are available for candidates who need them, covered in our guide on extra support.

The four parts

According to GOV.UK, there are four parts: an eyesight check, ‘show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions, general driving ability including independent driving, and reversing. The test is the same for manual and automatic cars. You will drive for around 35 minutes, or around 65 minutes if you are taking an extended test because you have been banned from driving.

Part one: the eyesight check

You read a number plate from 20 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate, or 20.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style plate. New-style plates start with two letters followed by two numbers, such as AB51 ABC. If you fail the eyesight check you fail the driving test, and the test ends. GOV.UK says candidates with reading difficulties can write the plate down instead of reading it aloud.

Part two: show me, tell me

You will be asked two vehicle safety questions. The ‘tell me’ question comes at the start, before you start driving, and the ‘show me’ question comes while you are driving. Practice questions are available through GOV.UK, and our guide on the topic explains how instructors teach them.

Part three: general driving and independent driving

You will drive in various road and traffic conditions, but not on motorways. You will drive independently for 20 to 35 minutes, following either directions from a sat nav, traffic signs, or a combination of both, and the examiner will tell you which. The examiner sets up the sat nav for you, and you cannot use your own. If you cannot see a traffic sign, for example because it is covered by trees, the examiner will give you directions until you can see the next one. If you take a wrong turning, you will not be given a fault for that, and the examiner will help you back on the route.

When you are not following a sat nav or signs, the examiner will give you turn-by-turn directions. Driving test routes are not published, so you cannot check them beforehand. You will also be asked to pull over and pull away, including a normal stop at the side of the road, pulling out from behind a parked vehicle and a hill start, and you might be asked to carry out an emergency stop.

Part four: reversing

The examiner will ask you to do one of three exercises: parallel park at the side of the road; park in a bay, either driving in and reversing out or reversing in and driving out, with the examiner telling you which; or pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around two car lengths and rejoin the traffic.

Mistakes, observers and who can be present

GOV.UK says you can carry on if you make a mistake, and it might not affect your result if it is not serious. The examiner will stop the test only if they think your driving is a danger to other road users. Your examiner’s supervisor might sit in to watch the examiner’s performance, and if you refuse your test can be cancelled and you will have to book and pay again.

The examiner will also ask if you want someone to sit in the back during the test, or to be with you for the result and feedback. This will usually be your driving instructor, but you can take a relative or friend, who cannot take any part in the test, must be over 16 and must follow the rules about observing tests.

Using this to prepare

Ask your instructor to practise independent driving with a sat nav and with traffic signs, since you will not know which you will get. Practise a wrong turning recovery calmly rather than panicking, since the guidance says it does not itself earn a fault. Rehearse all three reversing options. Learn how your instructor’s mock tests compare with this format, and check the current fee and booking rules on GOV.UK, as those change. The examples are only a guide, and nothing here replaces the national standard for driving cars, which GOV.UK says lists everything you must be able to do to pass.

The bottom line

The car test has four parts: an eyesight check, two show me, tell me questions, general driving with 20 to 35 minutes of independent driving following a sat nav or signs, and one reversing exercise. It lasts about 35 minutes, the examiner sets up the sat nav, and a wrong turn does not itself earn a fault. Practise both independent-driving methods and all three reversing exercises before your test.

Sources

• GOV.UK (DVSA), “Driving test: cars, What happens during the test”
• GOV.UK (DVSA), “Driving test: cars, If you have a disability, health condition or learning difficulty”
• GOV.UK (DVSA), “Driving test: cars, Booking your test”

Practice with family is common, and regulated

Many learners supplement professional lessons with practice in a parent’s or friend’s car, and that is legal, but only if the supervisor and the car meet certain conditions. This article summarises GOV.UK’s guidance for learner drivers. It generally applies in Great Britain, and it notes the differences for Northern Ireland where it says so. It is a summary; check the current guidance.

Who can supervise

GOV.UK says anyone you practise with without paying them must be over 21, qualified to drive the type of vehicle you are learning in, and must have held their full driving licence for three years. It gives an example: someone supervising you in a manual car must hold a manual car licence. The three years counts a full licence from the UK, the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

You can be fined up to £1,000 and get up to six penalty points on your provisional licence if you drive without the right supervision. It is also illegal for your friend or family member to use a mobile phone while supervising you.

Where you can drive

The general rules say you must have a provisional driving licence for Great Britain or Northern Ireland, must be supervised when learning to drive a car, and the car must display L plates. You can drive at any time, day and night. On motorways, GOV.UK says you can only drive on them if you are in England, Scotland or Wales, with an approved driving instructor, in a car fitted with dual controls. When practising with family or friends, it is illegal for you to drive on the motorway.

Speed limits differ. In England, Scotland and Wales, the speed limits with L plates are the same as after you have passed your test. In Northern Ireland the speed limit is 45 miles per hour while learning to drive a car.

Insurance

GOV.UK says you need your own insurance as a learner driver if you are practising in a car you own, and your family member or friend will usually be covered on it. If you are practising in someone else’s car, you need to either make sure you are covered by the owner’s policy as a learner driver, or take out your own policy covering you as a learner driver in that car. It notes some insurers require the person supervising you to be over 25. The penalty for driving without insurance can be an unlimited fine, a driving ban and up to eight penalty points.

In practice, tell the insurer who will supervise and check whether their age or experience matters, since the policy wording may go beyond the legal minimum.

L plates, D plates and P plates

You must put an L plate on the front and back of your vehicle so they can be seen easily. In Wales, you can use a D plate instead. Plates must have a red L or D on a white background and be the right size. You can get up to six penalty points if you do not display an L plate or if it is not the right size. You should take L plates off when the car is not being used by a learner.

After you pass, you can display green probationary P plates, but you do not have to, and you can leave them on for as long as you like. In Northern Ireland you must use R plates, restricted driver plates, for one year after you pass your test.

Recording practice

GOV.UK says you can download a form to record any practice you do without your driving instructor. That is useful for showing your instructor what you have covered and where you feel unsure, and it can help them target lessons.

What this means for supervisors

Before agreeing to supervise, check you meet the age, licence and three-year conditions, that you hold the right licence category for the car, and that the insurance covers a learner and your supervision. Do not use your phone. Agree a plan with the learner’s instructor about what to practise, since motorway driving is not permitted in this setting and skills like hill starts may be best introduced professionally first. These points are practical suggestions, not GOV.UK requirements.

The bottom line

A person supervising a learner without payment must be over 21, hold the right licence category and have held a full licence for three years, and the learner’s car must display L plates (D plates are an option in Wales), be insured for learners and stay off motorways unless the learner is with an approved instructor in a dual-control car. Penalties include fines of up to £1,000 and penalty points. Northern Ireland differs on speed limits and R plates.

Sources

• GOV.UK, “Driving lessons and learning to drive, Practising with family or friends”
• GOV.UK, “Driving lessons and learning to drive, Using ‘L’ and ‘P’ plates”
• GOV.UK, “Driving lessons and learning to drive (overview)”

Why the car matters as much as the driving

Most learners take their test in their instructor’s car, but GOV.UK says you can use your own car if it meets certain rules, and that the test will be cancelled and you will have to pay again if it does not. This article summarises the DVSA vehicle rules on GOV.UK for the car driving test in Great Britain. It also draws on the page about what to bring to the test. Northern Ireland is not covered.

Basic requirements

Your car must not have warning lights on showing safety issues, such as the airbag warning light. It must have no tyre damage and meet the legal tread depth, and it must not have a space-saver spare tyre fitted. It must be roadworthy, and fitted with an extra interior rear-view mirror for the examiner, plus a passenger seatbelt and a passenger head restraint for the examiner, with slip-on types not allowed.

The car must be able to reach at least 62 mph and have an officially fitted mph speedometer, not just an extra display or a smartphone app. It must display L plates on the front and rear, or D plates in Wales, and have four wheels with a maximum authorised mass of 3,500 kg or less. Dual controls are not required in your own car.

Tax, insurance and MOT

The car must be taxed, have a current MOT if it is over three years old, and be insured for a driving test, which GOV.UK says to check with your insurer. GOV.UK’s wording is specifically insured for a driving test, so ask your insurance company to confirm that your policy covers that.

Cleanliness, smoking and cameras

GOV.UK says you should tidy your car before the test, removing rubbish and unnecessary items from the dashboard, footwells, door pockets, cup holders and seats. The car must be smoke-free, meaning you cannot smoke in it just before or during the test. On cameras, you can use a camera fitted for insurance purposes as long as it faces outside the car and does not film the inside, and does not record audio from inside the car.

Driver aids: what you can and cannot use

You can use a car with an electronic parking brake, hill-start assist, cruise control, speed limiters, parking sensors and cameras, lane assist, blind spot monitoring and traffic sign recognition. If your car has self-parking, Tesla autopilot or your own sat nav, you cannot use them during the test. For independent driving, the examiner sets up the sat nav for you if you are following one, so your own device is not used.

You can take the test in a manual car, or an automatic or semi-automatic car, but GOV.UK warns that if you take your test in a semi-automatic car you will only be able to drive automatic and semi-automatic cars once you have passed.

Windows, hire cars and cars you cannot use

Windscreens and front side windows must follow the rules for tinted vehicle windows. There are no rules for rear windows, but the test may be cancelled if they are too dark for the examiner to see clearly. A hire car can be used if it has dual controls and meets all the other rules.

Some cars cannot be used because they do not give the examiner all-round vision. GOV.UK lists any panel van, meaning cars without rear seats or rear side windows, and several specific models at the time it was checked, including certain convertibles and two-door models. It says there might be other cars you cannot use, because not every model has been tested, and advises asking your test centre about a particular vehicle, especially convertibles and coupes. Some cars with recall-related safety faults cannot be used without proof that they are safe. Always check the current list rather than relying on a copy.

What else to bring

You must bring your UK driving licence and your theory test pass certificate if you have it, though you do not need a replacement certificate if you have lost it, because the examiner will check you have passed. You must be recognisable from your licence photo. If you do not have a photocard licence, bring a valid passport and your paper licence, and with a Northern Ireland licence bring the photocard and paper counterpart. If you lose your licence before the test, a replacement could take up to 15 days, so rearrange if it will not arrive in time. Your test will be cancelled without a refund if you do not bring the right things.

Should you use your own car?

Using your own car can help if you have done most of your practice in it, but it adds risk: a rule you overlooked can cost you the test fee. Compare your car against the list, and ask your instructor or test centre if anything is unclear. If your instructor’s car is fully compliant and you have practised in it, that may be the lower-risk route. The choice is personal and the guidance does not recommend either.

The bottom line

You may take the driving test in your own car in Great Britain only if it meets DVSA’s rules on warning lights, tyres, mirrors, seatbelts, speed, L or D plates, tax, MOT and insurance, and does not rely on banned features or a model that cannot be used. Check with the test centre before you go, because a non-compliant car means a cancelled test and a new fee.

Sources

• GOV.UK (DVSA), “Driving test: cars, Using your own car for your test”
• GOV.UK (DVSA), “Driving test: cars, What to take to your test”

The standard is the same, the route can differ

Learners with a reading difficulty, hearing impairment or disability can get support on both the theory and practical tests, and it needs to be requested at the right time. This article summarises the GOV.UK guidance for the car tests run by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in Great Britain. GOV.UK says that you still have to drive to the same standard to pass, but the examiner can make adjustments for your situation. Northern Ireland is not covered.

Tell DVSA when you book

The theory test guidance says that when you book, you should say if you have a reading difficulty, a disability or a health condition. The driving test guidance gives the same instruction for a disability, health condition or learning difficulty. Leaving it until the day is risky, because some support needs proof or arrangements in advance.

Theory test: reading difficulties

If you have reading difficulties you can ask to hear the test through headphones when you book, in English or Welsh, and you can listen to the questions and possible answers as many times as you need. Other support needs proof that you have reading difficulties, which GOV.UK says can be an email, letter or report from a teacher or other educational professional, a doctor or medical professional, an occupational therapist, or an online dyslexia screening product. You are told how to send it when you book.

With proof, you can get extra time for the multiple choice part, a member of test centre staff to read out the instructions and questions and record your answers, or someone to reword the questions. The rewording rules are specific: the person cannot change the technical language you need to know, but they can change the order of the sentence and other non-technical words and phrases, and you still answer each question yourself. If DVSA agrees you need extra support, it selects the best type when you book and tells you what to do next.

Theory test: deaf or hearing-impaired candidates

If you are deaf or have a hearing impairment, you can take the theory test in British Sign Language, with a BSL video on the screen next to the questions and answers. You can also take a BSL interpreter with you, and you should tell DVSA when you book; you are not charged an extra fee. You can arrange for a lip speaker to be with you at no extra fee, or use a hearing loop. For any other disability or health condition, GOV.UK says to contact DVSA to discuss it before you book.

Practical driving test: what examiners can adapt

For the practical test, GOV.UK says that if you have a disability you will have time with the examiner at the start to talk about your disability and any adaptations fitted to your car, and they might agree to give you more time for instructions and directions. If you are deaf or hearing-impaired, the examiner will use written notes at the start to explain what will happen, will look at you so you can lip read, and will usually give directions as hand signals, which are explained before the test starts.

You can take a BSL interpreter with you, who must be at least 16 years old, and your driving instructor can be your interpreter. You arrange the interpreter yourself and pay any fees, though you can claim the cost back after your test. GOV.UK says you can take a driving test at any stage of pregnancy, but you must be able and willing to do an emergency stop.

Reading and learning difficulties on the practical test

If you have reading difficulties, you can write down the number plate at the eyesight check at the start instead of reading it aloud. If you have learning difficulties, the examiner will make adjustments for the independent driving part, and might ask whether you would prefer to follow traffic signs instead of directions from a sat nav. The guidance is explicit that the pass standard does not change, only how instructions are given.

That distinction is important to explain to nervous candidates. Support does not mean an easier test. It means removing barriers unrelated to driving ability, such as difficulty reading a question or hearing an instruction.

Practical steps for learners and instructors

Gather documentation early, since proof for reading difficulties can come from several sources. Book the theory test and mention support at the same time. Tell your instructor what has been arranged so lessons can rehearse the same conditions, such as following directions given by hand signals. If you need a BSL interpreter for the practical test, arrange one in good time because you are responsible for organising and paying them. Contact DVSA for anything not listed here.

The bottom line

DVSA offers support on both tests in Great Britain, including voiceover, extra time, readers, reworded questions, BSL video, interpreters, lip speakers and examiner adjustments, but it must generally be requested when you book and sometimes needs proof. The test standard does not change. Say what you need at booking, keep your evidence ready and brief your instructor.

Sources

• GOV.UK (DVSA), “Theory test: cars, If you have a reading difficulty, disability or health condition”
• GOV.UK (DVSA), “Driving test: cars, If you have a disability, health condition or learning difficulty”

Marked on faults, not points

Learners often think the driving test is scored like an exam, but it works differently: the examiner records faults, and your result depends on how many, and of what kind. This article summarises GOV.UK guidance on the car driving test run by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in Great Britain. Northern Ireland’s tests are run by a different agency and are not covered here.

The three types of fault

GOV.UK says there are three types of fault. A dangerous fault involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property. A serious fault is something potentially dangerous. A driving fault is not potentially dangerous, but if you keep making the same fault it could become a serious fault. Driving faults are sometimes called minors, and serious and dangerous faults are sometimes called majors.

The pass mark

You pass if you make no more than 15 driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults. The rule is therefore two-part. Fifteen minors is not a target and it does not mean any pattern is acceptable, because repeating the same minor can be upgraded to a serious fault, according to the guidance. A single serious or dangerous fault is enough to fail, even if you have no minors at all.

The guidance on what happens during the test adds context. You can carry on if you make a mistake, and it might not affect your result if it is not serious. The examiner will only stop your test if they think your driving is a danger to other road users. The one part of the test that ends it immediately is the eyesight check: you fail the test if you fail the check, and the test ends. The examiner will not give you a fault for taking a wrong turning during independent driving, and will help you get back on the route.

If you pass

When you pass, the examiner tells you what faults you made, if any, and gives you a pass certificate. They will also ask whether you want your full licence sent to you automatically, in which case you hand over your provisional licence. If you prefer not to, you must apply for your full driving licence within two years of passing. You can start driving straight away and do not need to wait for the full licence to arrive, although you should contact DVLA if the licence has not arrived three weeks after you applied.

GOV.UK separately notes that you must have an insurance policy that allows you to drive without supervision from the moment you pass.

If you do not pass

The examiner will tell you what faults you made. You have to book another test and pay again, and you have to choose a date at least 10 working days away. There is no minimum number of lessons you must have done before booking, and GOV.UK says to take the test only when you can do everything in the national standard without instruction. Feedback on the faults is the most useful thing to take away, and you can ask your instructor to plan lessons around each type of fault recorded.

Appealing a result

Appeals are narrower than many learners expect. GOV.UK says you can appeal your driving test if you can prove that your examiner did not follow the law. You can complain to DVSA, and if DVSA agrees with your complaint, your test result cannot be changed but you might get a refund or a free retest. If DVSA does not agree, you may be able to appeal to a court instead.

There are two warnings. First, a successful appeal does not change the result, only potentially the money or retest. Second, you might have to pay significant legal costs if your court appeal is unsuccessful. The time limits differ by nation: you need to appeal within six months of your driving test in England and Wales, or within 21 days of your test in Scotland. A disagreement with the examiner’s judgment about how you drove is not, on its face, the same as proving they did not follow the law.

How to use this in lessons

Ask your instructor how they categorise mistakes during lessons, and whether they record repeated minors, since repetition is the route by which a minor can become a serious fault. Use mock tests to look at patterns rather than just the total. And remember that eyesight, the show me, tell me questions, general driving, and reversing are all part of the same result: the pass mark applies to the whole test.

Costs, waiting times and booking rules are covered in our other guides, and GOV.UK’s figures for fees change, so check the current page rather than relying on any number quoted in an old article.

The bottom line

In Great Britain you pass the car driving test with no more than 15 driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults, and repeating a minor can turn it into a serious fault. If you fail, you rebook at least 10 working days ahead. Appeals require proof that the examiner did not follow the law, do not change the result, and carry time limits of six months in England and Wales and 21 days in Scotland.

Sources

• GOV.UK (DVSA), “Driving test: cars, Driving test faults and your result”
• GOV.UK (DVSA), “Driving test: cars, What happens during the test”
• GOV.UK (DVSA), “Driving test: cars, Booking your test”

Standard car insurance stops covering you the moment you start charging someone for driving lessons – that’s the part most learners never think about, but it’s the single insurance detail that separates a legitimately operating driving instructor from someone breaking the law every time they take a paying pupil out.

The one cover that actually is a legal requirement

Ordinary car insurance, even a comprehensive policy, is built around social, domestic and commuting use, or business use in a general sense – not around carrying a fare-paying passenger for a service. Instructors need “hire and reward” cover specifically, because they are, in insurance terms, carrying people (and being paid) in a way standard policies simply don’t contemplate. The underlying legal obligation comes from Section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which makes it an offence to use a vehicle on a road unless there is “in force in relation to the use of the vehicle by that person” a policy that actually complies with the Act – meaning the cover has to match the specific use the vehicle is actually being put to. A policy that only covers social and commuting use doesn’t comply once that same vehicle is being used to deliver paid instruction, which is exactly why hire and reward cover sits alongside the DVSA-side requirements (ADI registration, DBS checks, the qualifying exams) as something genuinely required by law, not just a sensible add-on.

Why a standard policy genuinely doesn’t cover it

It’s worth being clear why this matters practically, not just legally: if an instructor without hire and reward cover were involved in an incident while giving a paid lesson, a standard motor insurer would be entitled to treat the policy as invalid for that use, potentially leaving the instructor personally liable and the pupil without the protection they’d reasonably expect to be in place. Specialist driving instructor insurance policies are built specifically to include hire and reward cover as standard, alongside cover for dual controls fitted to the vehicle, which a general motor policy also wouldn’t automatically extend to.

Public liability: not legally mandatory, but a different kind of risk

Separately from hire and reward motor cover, public liability insurance protects against claims from a pupil, a parent, or a member of the public for injury or property damage connected to the instructor’s business – and unlike hire and reward cover, it isn’t a specific legal requirement enforced by DVSA. That doesn’t make it optional in any practical sense: a claim arising from an incident during a lesson, or even from something as mundane as a pupil tripping over equipment at a meeting point, could be financially serious without it. Instructor-specific insurance products commonly bundle a public liability limit – commonly around £1 million for a typical single-instructor, single-pupil-at-a-time setup, with higher limits available where the nature of the business is considered higher risk.

Why a “normal” car policy plus a public liability add-on isn’t the same thing

It’s a genuine trap to assume that adding a generic public liability policy on top of a standard car insurance policy replicates what a specialist instructor policy provides. The hire and reward gap on the motor side isn’t something a separate liability policy fixes – it’s specifically a motor insurance issue, and it needs to be addressed through the vehicle policy itself, not bolted on afterward through an unrelated product.

What to actually check before starting to teach

Before taking on a first paying pupil, a new or newly self-employed instructor should confirm their motor policy explicitly includes hire and reward cover for driving tuition (not just general business use), that dual controls are specifically covered if fitted, and separately consider a public liability limit appropriate to how the business actually operates – one-to-one lessons, group sessions, or any additional services offered alongside standard tuition.

Why part-time and newly qualified instructors are most at risk of this gap

Instructors just starting out, or teaching part-time alongside another job, sometimes assume their existing personal car insurance can simply be “upgraded” informally, or that a small amount of occasional paid teaching doesn’t meet the threshold that triggers the hire and reward requirement. There’s no such exemption for occasional or part-time paid instruction – the requirement is triggered by charging for the use of the vehicle to give lessons at all, not by how many hours a week that happens, which makes this a genuine risk specifically for instructors easing into the profession gradually rather than starting full-time from day one.

What to check when switching between franchise and independent working

An instructor moving from a franchise arrangement (where insurance is sometimes bundled into the franchise fee) to working fully independently needs to specifically confirm that hire and reward cover is arranged in their own name and doesn’t lapse in the transition – franchise-provided cover typically ends when the franchise relationship does, and there’s no automatic continuity onto a personal policy unless it’s actively arranged. Treating insurance as something to sort out in the first week of independent working, rather than something guaranteed to carry over, avoids an accidental gap right at the point a new business is starting to take on pupils.

The bottom line

Hire and reward cover is the one insurance requirement genuinely mandated by law for anyone giving paid driving lessons, and a standard car insurance policy does not provide it automatically. Public liability cover sits alongside it as a strongly recommended, if not legally compulsory, second layer – treating the two as interchangeable, or assuming either one covers what the other is actually for, is where instructors most often end up under-protected.

Sources

• Legislation.gov.uk, “Road Traffic Act 1988, Section 143: Users of motor vehicles to be insured or secured against third-party risks” – legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/143