DRIVING TEST

Driving Test

Do you want to pass your driving test in Bristol as quickly and easily as possible? Then look no further as No L's is the Bristol Driving School for you!  Get it right first time.

Pre-briefing at the start of the test from 4th December 2017

The test will last about 38 to 40 minutes and will include about 20 minutes of independent driving and various roads and traffic conditions. I will ask you to complete one manoeuvre and we may carry out an emergency stop. The sort of things you’ve been practising with your instructor or accompanying driver.

Independent driving

The examiner will ask your pupil to pull over before starting the independent driving part of the test. At this point, the examiner will select and start the route, if it’s using a sat nav. (Here’s the instruction that examiners will give when using a sat nav).

Shortly I’d like you to drive for some distance independently. I’d like you to follow a series of directions from the sat nav please. Continue to follow the sat nav until I tell you otherwise. Drive on when you’re ready.

Remember, 1 in 5 tests will be following traffic signs, and not directions from a sat nav. The instruction given for these will be as follows.
Shortly, I’d like you to drive for some distance independently. I’d like you to follow the traffic signs for [location] please. Continue to follow the signs until I tell you otherwise. Drive on when you’re ready.

Pull up on the right and reverse

Here’s the instruction that examiners will give to your pupil while they’re driving (they won’t pull over first to give the instruction).Pull up on the right when it is safe to do so, please.

I’d now like you to reverse back for about 2 car lengths, keeping reasonably close to the kerb.

If another vehicle pulls up behind the car and stops your pupil from reversing back, the manoeuvre won’t be completed. The examiner will ask your pupil to drive on, and another exercise will be carried out later in the test.If a vehicle pulls up in front, the exercise will continue.

Parking in a bay

The examiner will ask your pupil to park in a bay. They’ll ask them to either:

• reverse in and drive out (only in a driving test centre car park)
• drive in and reverse out (in any car park – including a driving test centre car park)

Here’s the instruction they’ll give to drive forward into a parking bay.

• I’d like you to drive forward into a convenient parking bay finishing within the lines, either to the left or the right (if the car park allows it).
• Now, I’d like you to reverse out either to the left or the right (if the car park allows it).
  

Your pupil doesn’t need to park in a bay where there are vehicles in adjacent bays.
Your pupil can’t drive through a first parking bay, and then park in a bay directly in front of that. When they reverse out, they can’t go into any bays behind them.

1. Changes to the Practical Driving Test Format

Extended Independent Driving (Full Duration): Independent driving can now run for the entire test rather than just a 20-minute section. Learners follow either a sat nav or road signs for most or all of the route.

More Rural & High-Speed Roads: Routes place a stronger emphasis on higher-speed single-carriageway and rural roads to better prepare drivers for hazard management and speed selection. 

Fewer Planned Pull-Ups: The examiner asks you to pull up on the left up to 3 times (reduced from 4) to improve route flow. 

Fewer Emergency Stops: Emergency stops are conducted far less frequently across random tests (lowered to around 1 in 7 tests).

Reversing Manoeuvres (Unchanged): You are still required to carry out one standard reversing/parking manoeuvre (parallel park, bay park, or pulling up on the right and reversing).

2. Changes to Driving Test Booking Rules

To prevent test-reselling bots and reduce cancellation backlogs, strict anti-abuse booking measures apply: 

Self-Booking Only: Instructors and third-party apps are prohibited from booking, swapping, or managing tests on your behalf. All bookings must be made directly by the candidate on GOV.UK. 

Maximum of 2 Booking Changes: You can only reschedule, change the time, or move your test location twice per booking. Any further changes require canceling and rebooking. 

Location Move Restrictions: When switching test locations, you are restricted to choosing your original test centre or one of the 3 nearest test centres.

10 Working Days Cancellation Notice: To retain your fee when rescheduling or canceling, you must give at least 10 full working days' notice (up from 3 days).