The duration of your practical driving test for a class C licence will be not more
than 35 minutes, but you should allow at least one hour in total so that any
administrative activities may be undertaken.
When you arrive for your practical driving test, you will be informed about how
the test will be conducted.
Turn off your mobile phone as soon as you arrive at
the testing centre and leave it off for the duration of the test.
Additional information
You will be expected to perform the driving tasks according to the road rules.
1. At no time during your test will you be asked to perform any driving tasks that
are illegal or unsafe.
2. If your vehicle is fitted with blind spot mirrors, you must still look over your
shoulder to make sure there are no vehicles in the blind spot.
3. Once your practical driving test has begun, the driving examiner cannot answer
any questions that may influence your driving performance.
4. As you drive, the driving examiner may make notes about how well you
complete each task; dont assume you have made a mistake.
It is the driving
examiners job to assess your ability to drive safely, but they are also there
to help, so dont feel intimidated or nervous.
The Practical Driving Test
When you undertake your practical driving test for a car licence you will be assessed on a number of tasks.
Pre-Drive Check
The pre-drive check asks you to locate and explain the operation of a range
of vehicle controls including wipers, washers, demister, air conditioner,
seat adjustment, hazard lights, mirrors and headlights.
Driving Tasks
In your practical driving test, the driving examiner will check that you perform
1. Stopping - use of the vehicles parking or foot brake when stopped. 2. Giving way - slow down or stop and give way to vehicles or pedestrians
so they do not have to slow down, stop or take action to avoid your vehicle.
This also applies to reversing your vehicle. 3. Signs, signals and road markings - obey all traffic signs, signals and road
markings, including any warning and guide signs.
Moving off, changing direction or lane changing - follow this sequence: 1. look in mirrors 2. indicate your intention 3. check the vehicles blind spot by turning your head 4. check traffic, your road position and speed 5. when beginning to move, check for changed traffic conditions.
6. Clutch, control the clutch so that there is a smooth take-up of power
to the drive wheels and smooth gear changing; no clutch coasting. 7. Gears, demonstrate the correct use of gears appropriate for speed,
vehicle and driving conditions. 8. Braking, drive to avoid harsh or abrupt movement by slowing the vehicle
smoothly and progressively. The parking brake is used when the vehicle
is stationary. 9. Speed, do not exceed the speed limit and drive at a speed that suits the
road and traffic conditions. 10. Observation and scanning, be on guard, always looking for traffic hazards
and possible problems. Look left, right, ahead and behind when approaching
a hazard, then use a driving system to deal with it in time. 11. Mirrors, check rear vision mirrors, including both side mirrors, frequently. 12. Following vehicles, in good conditions, travel at least two seconds behind
the vehicle in front of you. Double this gap in poor conditions . 13. Marked lanes, keep within lane markings. Change lanes only after signalling
and if it is safe to do so. 14. Road position, keep as far left as safe and practical when driving on a road
without marked lanes. 15. signalling and indicators, give other road users sufficient warning of what
you intend to do.
16. Steering, always keep control of the steering wheel, Never:
a. put your hands inside the rim of the wheel
b. remove your hands or let the wheel 'go free'
c. hold the wheel with your arms crossed or so that the movement
of the wheel is restricted
d. operate the wheel with one hand unnecessarily
(for example one arm resting on the door)
e. palm the wheel with one hand
f. operate the wheel with the vehicle stationary ('dry' steering).
17. manoeuvres (classes C or CA) - perform two of the listed manoeuvres
(at least one with a reversing component):
a. reverse parking - park the vehicle parallel to and within 45cm of the kerb.
You can have one attempt with a maximum of two reverse and one forward movements
b. reverse - steer a steady course (in an approximately straight line),
starting and finishing within 50cm of the kerb.
The observation should be predominantly by turning your head and looking through the rear window.
c. turn around - within the width of a street, turn the car around with
a minimum number of forward and reverse movements. Do not turn
the wheel when the vehicle is stopped.
d. U-turn - give way to all other vehicles and pedestrians and have a clear
view of all approaching traffic.
e. hill start - position the car parallel to and within 50cm of the kerb
and move off without rolling backwards
f. gear-changing in automatic vehicles - if you are driving an automatic
The Driving Test,
The duration of your practical driving test for a class C licence will be not more than 35 minutes, but you should allow at least one hour in total so that any administrative activities may be undertaken.
When you arrive for your practical driving test, you will be informed about how the test will be conducted.
Turn off your mobile phone as soon as you arrive at the testing centre and leave it off for the duration of the test.
Additional information
You will be expected to perform the driving tasks according to the road rules.
1. At no time during your test will you be asked to perform any driving tasks that are illegal or unsafe.
2. If your vehicle is fitted with blind spot mirrors, you must still look over your shoulder to make sure there are no vehicles in the blind spot.
3. Once your practical driving test has begun, the driving examiner cannot answer any questions that may influence your driving performance.
4. As you drive, the driving examiner may make notes about how well you complete each task; dont assume you have made a mistake.
It is the driving examiners job to assess your ability to drive safely, but they are also there to help, so dont feel intimidated or nervous.
The Practical Driving Test
When you undertake your practical driving test for a car licence you will be assessed on a number of tasks.
Pre-Drive Check
The pre-drive check asks you to locate and explain the operation of a range of vehicle controls including wipers, washers, demister, air conditioner, seat adjustment, hazard lights, mirrors and headlights.
Driving Tasks
In your practical driving test, the driving examiner will check that you perform
1. Stopping - use of the vehicles parking or foot brake when stopped.
2. Giving way - slow down or stop and give way to vehicles or pedestrians so they do not have to slow down, stop or take action to avoid your vehicle. This also applies to reversing your vehicle.
3. Signs, signals and road markings - obey all traffic signs, signals and road markings, including any warning and guide signs.
Moving off, changing direction or lane changing - follow this sequence:
1. look in mirrors
2. indicate your intention
3. check the vehicles blind spot by turning your head
4. check traffic, your road position and speed
5. when beginning to move, check for changed traffic conditions.
6. Clutch, control the clutch so that there is a smooth take-up of power to the drive wheels and smooth gear changing; no clutch coasting.
7. Gears, demonstrate the correct use of gears appropriate for speed, vehicle and driving conditions.
8. Braking, drive to avoid harsh or abrupt movement by slowing the vehicle smoothly and progressively. The parking brake is used when the vehicle is stationary.
9. Speed, do not exceed the speed limit and drive at a speed that suits the road and traffic conditions.
10. Observation and scanning, be on guard, always looking for traffic hazards and possible problems. Look left, right, ahead and behind when approaching a hazard, then use a driving system to deal with it in time.
11. Mirrors, check rear vision mirrors, including both side mirrors, frequently.
12. Following vehicles, in good conditions, travel at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front of you. Double this gap in poor conditions .
13. Marked lanes, keep within lane markings. Change lanes only after signalling and if it is safe to do so.
14. Road position, keep as far left as safe and practical when driving on a road without marked lanes.
15. signalling and indicators, give other road users sufficient warning of what you intend to do.
16. Steering, always keep control of the steering wheel, Never:
a. put your hands inside the rim of the wheel
b. remove your hands or let the wheel 'go free'
c. hold the wheel with your arms crossed or so that the movement of the wheel is restricted
d. operate the wheel with one hand unnecessarily (for example one arm resting on the door)
e. palm the wheel with one hand
f. operate the wheel with the vehicle stationary ('dry' steering).
17. manoeuvres (classes C or CA) - perform two of the listed manoeuvres (at least one with a reversing component):
a. reverse parking - park the vehicle parallel to and within 45cm of the kerb. You can have one attempt with a maximum of two reverse and one forward movements
b. reverse - steer a steady course (in an approximately straight line), starting and finishing within 50cm of the kerb.
The observation should be predominantly by turning your head and looking through the rear window.
c. turn around - within the width of a street, turn the car around with a minimum number of forward and reverse movements. Do not turn the wheel when the vehicle is stopped.
d. U-turn - give way to all other vehicles and pedestrians and have a clear view of all approaching traffic.
e. hill start - position the car parallel to and within 50cm of the kerb and move off without rolling backwards
f. gear-changing in automatic vehicles - if you are driving an automatic