If you’re re-learning to drive after a break or re-learning in order to re-sit your test, knowing about changes to the driving test can mean pass or fail. The UK practical driving test has evolved to better simulate driving on the public roads—and that means there are a few things you just have to know about before heading out onto the road.
Let’s break it down step by step: what’s new, why you’ll care, and how best to get ready as soon as possible for test day.
1. Sat Navs Are a Part of the Test
Since 2017, driving and following instructions from a sat nav is one of the tests, lasting about 20 minutes. But there’s a hidden agenda—no learner will be. Others will have to take instruction from road signs instead.
Why this matters
It’s not kit. It’s your skill at driving independently and dealing with real-life driving scenarios, like overtaking lanes and coping with unfamiliar roads, without distraction.
What to expect
- The sat nav is fitted by the examiner (you will not be required to use it).
- The sat nav to be used is a TomTom Start 52.
- Don’t panic if you do make a mistake and find yourself going the wrong way—just recover safely.
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2. More Realistic Reversal Manoeuvres
Reverse-around-the-corner days are a relic of the past. The DVSA redesigned reversing practice to make it more representative of day-to-day, real-world driving. Below is what you might be assessed on:
- Parallel parking off the road.
- Returning into a bay, entering a bay and departing a bay.
- Remaining on the road, reversing short and then going with the stream the correct way.
These are the sort of things you can exercise in everyday life—perhaps outside a store, or navigating around in congested car parks.
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3. Independent Driving Has Been Extended
It was 10 minutes of independent driving. It’s 20 now.
- If so, then:
- You’ll either:
- Continue along a series of road signs, or
- Complete.
This transition is an invitation to students to be making choices—because when you’re driving for real, no one is going to tell you what you have to do next.
Prepare yourself for real-world driving in a pace-based flex drive program. Go check out your local driving school and become independent in driving with confidence.
4. Questions of Driving Safety Now Have “Show Me” Along the Road
You will still have a “tell me” question on safety prior to the test. But you will now respond to a “show me” question while driving, too.
Examples of “show me” questions:
- Show me how to wash and clean the windscreen.
- Show me how to use the demister controls.
- Show me how to open and close the side window.
What that really adds up to is a sense of realization that you’re not only putting check marks beside things on a checklist—you do have the capacity of driving the truck safely down the highway.
Learn how to drive under real conditions and pass your test stress-free. All you have to do is just ask your driving instructor where you put L plates on a vehicle or where you put learner plates on a vehicle so that you are online and confident on your test.
5. Practice under Real Driving Conditions, e.g., Snow and Rain
Practical tests of driving nowadays lay more emphasis on handling adverse weather and road conditions as and when required.
Why it matters
Practice in winter, and prepare to be tested or questioned on how you would handle visibility conditions of bad light, slippery roads, or fog. You would also be asked how you would handle hazards like flooding or icy patches.
It won’t be a blizzard that you’d drive in, but is something where you’d have to prepare beforehand in raining or snowing.
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Long Lasting Thoughts: Set the Trend
Test drive is not an education on how to cheat you, but how to instruct you efficiently and safely for proper on-road driving. With these adjustments, the DVSA will give you a closer picture of the actual decisions you make when driving on a day-to-day basis. Keep your mind sharp, keep it up to date, and get proper training that endows you with proficiency, not book smarts.
Want to pass stress-free? Join a top driving academy near me, test drive flex options, and take your speedy pass driving test with ease. From A to Z, from risk assessment to what causes a tyre blowout to occur, we bring you there.