Help & Resources
Everything You Need to Know
Guides to the theory test, the practical test, and life as a new driver — so you know exactly what to expect at every stage of your journey.
Stage one
The Theory Test
Before you can take your practical driving test, you must pass the DVSA theory test. It has two parts — multiple choice questions and hazard perception — and both must be passed in the same sitting.
£23
Cost
50
Multiple choice questions
43/50
Pass mark (MC)
44/75
Hazard perception pass mark
Multiple Choice Questions
The first part presents 50 questions drawn from the official DVSA question bank, covering the Highway Code, road signs, vehicle safety, hazard awareness, and eco-friendly driving. You have 57 minutes and need to answer at least 43 correctly to pass this section.
Some questions appear as a short case study — a scenario with five related questions — so reading carefully pays off. There's no penalty for guessing, so always give an answer even if you're unsure.
Hazard Perception
The second part plays 14 video clips filmed from a driver's perspective. Each clip contains at least one developing hazard — a situation that causes you to change speed or direction. One clip has two hazards. You score up to 5 points per hazard based on how quickly you spot it as it develops. You need 44 out of 75 to pass.
Click as soon as you see a hazard developing — not just when it's already obvious. Clicking repeatedly in a pattern without reacting to what you see will score zero for that clip, so respond naturally rather than trying to game the system.
How to Prepare
Use Driving Test Success 4-in-1
The Driving Test Success 4-in-1 kit covers the full question bank and includes 85 hazard perception videos — more than double the 34 in the official DVSA app. It's the revision tool recommended by Kinetic Electric for all learners.
Read the Highway Code cover to cover
Around 30–40% of theory test questions are based directly on the Highway Code. It's free to read online at gov.uk. Pay particular attention to road signs — many learners underestimate how many appear in the test.
Practice hazard perception daily
Hazard perception is a skill that improves with repetition. Aim to practice clips every day in the week before your test rather than cramming them all at once. Focus on spotting things early — a pedestrian near a kerb, a car at a junction.
Book at the right moment
Don't book your theory test too far in advance. Most learners are ready after 2–4 weeks of consistent revision. Booking too early creates pressure; booking too late means gaps in your knowledge aren't addressed in time.
Important: Your theory test certificate is valid for two years. You must pass your practical driving test within that window or you'll need to sit the theory test again. Plan accordingly — practical test waiting times can be several months in busy areas.
Stage two
The Practical Test
The practical driving test lasts around 40 minutes and takes place on real roads with a DVSA examiner in the passenger seat. Here's exactly what to expect.
£62
Weekday cost
£75
Weekend/bank holiday cost
~40 min
Duration
15
Max driving faults to pass
Test Structure
Eyesight check
Before you get in the car, the examiner asks you to read a number plate from 20 metres away. Failing this ends the test immediately. If you wear glasses or contacts, make sure you have them with you.
"Tell me" question
At the start, you're asked one vehicle safety question — for example, how you'd check the tyre pressure or what you'd look for when checking the brakes. This is answered verbally before you set off.
Normal driving (including independent driving)
The bulk of the test is driving on a mix of real roads. At least 20 minutes is independent driving where you follow either a sat-nav or road signs without turn-by-turn instructions from the examiner. Taking a wrong turn doesn't fail you — unsafe driving does.
"Show me" question
During the drive, the examiner asks one in-car safety question — for example, demonstrating how you'd demist the rear windscreen or use the horn. Answering incorrectly is a minor fault.
Manoeuvre
You'll be asked to perform one manoeuvre from: parallel parking, forward or reverse bay parking, or pulling up on the right and reversing. There's also a 1-in-3 chance of being asked to do an emergency stop.
Full guide →Show Me / Tell Me Questions
The examiner picks one “tell me” question before you set off and one “show me” question during the drive. Getting either wrong is a driving fault (minor), not an automatic fail — but you should know them all. Click any question to reveal the answer.
Tell me
Answered verbally before driving — one question per test
Show me
Demonstrated while driving — one question per test
Learning in an electric car? Questions about oil and coolant still appear — answer using the owner's manual and the EV-specific locations shown during lessons.
Full list & DVSA video demonstrationsHow Marking Works
Faults fall into three categories. A single serious or dangerous fault means you fail immediately. Driving faults (minors) are less significant errors — you can accumulate up to 15 and still pass. Once you reach 16, or if the same minor fault is repeated in a way that suggests a pattern, it becomes a serious fault.
Dangerous fault
Caused actual danger to yourself, the examiner, or other road users. Automatic fail.
Serious fault
Potentially dangerous — not safe for the road even without immediate danger. Automatic fail.
Driving fault
A minor error. Up to 15 allowed. 16 or more, or a repeated pattern, becomes serious.
Most Common Reasons for Failing
DVSA data consistently shows the same categories at the top of the fail list. Knowing what examiners watch for helps you focus your practice on what actually matters.
Junctions — observation
Pulling out without adequately checking for approaching traffic, cyclists, or pedestrians. The most common reason for test failure by a significant margin.
Mirrors — changing direction
Not checking mirrors before turning, changing lanes, or pulling out. Examiners expect a clear mirror-signal-manoeuvre routine every time.
Control — steering
Oversteering on bends, mounting kerbs, or poor lane positioning, particularly during manoeuvres and when turning.
Junctions — turning right
Positioning too wide on approach, cutting the corner, or failing to yield to oncoming traffic when turning across it.
Reversing — bay parking
Poor observations during the manoeuvre, ending up at an angle, or crossing bay markings. Take your time — there is no bonus for speed.
Response to signs — traffic lights
Crossing a stop line on amber or not reacting promptly enough to traffic signals.
Booking rules from May 2026: Only the learner driver can book, change or cancel their practical test — instructors and third-party services can no longer do this. Book at gov.uk directly. The official fee is £62 on weekdays and £75 for weekends and bank holidays. You can change your booking a maximum of twice in total.
After you pass
Life as a New Driver
Passing your test is the beginning, not the end. The first two years on the road come with real legal consequences and a steep learning curve — here's what to know.
The New Drivers Act — Six Points and You Start Again
For the first two years after passing your test, you are subject to the New Drivers Act 1995. If you accumulate six or more penalty points during this period — from any combination of offences — your licence is automatically revoked. You don't receive a ban; you lose your licence entirely and must apply for a new provisional licence, pass the theory test again, and pass the practical test again.
This is a significantly harsher consequence than the standard 12-point threshold for experienced drivers. Common causes in new drivers: mobile phone use (6 points, minimum), speeding, and not wearing a seatbelt. All can revoke your licence in a single offence.
Pass Plus — Motorways, Night, and Bad Weather
Pass Plus is an optional six-hour course designed to give new drivers experience of situations the standard test doesn't cover — motorway driving, driving in the dark, rural roads, dual carriageways, town driving in heavier traffic, and driving in adverse weather conditions.
There's no test at the end — it's assessed by the instructor throughout. The main practical benefit is insurance: many insurers offer a discount for Pass Plus holders, and in the first year of driving when premiums are highest, that discount can be meaningful.
New drivers in an electric car are already excluded from one common stressor — stalling in traffic — but motorway and rural driving are still entirely new territory after passing. Pass Plus is genuinely worth considering.
Insurance as a New Driver
Telematics (black box) policies
A telematics policy fits a small device that monitors your speed, braking, cornering, and the times you drive. If you drive well, premiums fall. For new drivers under 25, black box policies are often significantly cheaper than standard policies and encourage good habits from day one.
Named driver vs. fronting
Adding an experienced driver as a named driver on your policy can reduce premiums — but only if they genuinely use the car. Listing someone as the main driver when they're not (fronting) is insurance fraud, can void your policy entirely, and carries a criminal record.
Shop around every year
Insurers rarely reward loyalty. Use a comparison site at every renewal — premiums typically fall each year as your no-claims bonus builds. After two or three years of clean driving, the difference from year one can be significant.
Electric vehicle insurance
EV insurance used to be expensive but has come down as more providers enter the market. Factors that affect premiums include battery cover, charging cable theft, and whether your policy covers public charging infrastructure damage. Always check the small print.
Practical Tips for Early Driving
Keep building experience deliberately
Passing your test means you're safe — not experienced. The first six months matter most. Drive routes you're unfamiliar with. Try motorways with a more experienced passenger early on, before nerves set in. Night driving and wet roads should be practised, not avoided.
Your mobile phone is the biggest risk
Using a hand-held phone while driving carries 6 points and a £200 fine — enough to revoke a new driver's licence. Even hands-free use can distract. Put it on Do Not Disturb and leave it. No call, message, or notification is worth your licence or your life.
Tiredness is underestimated
Drowsy driving causes hundreds of deaths each year in the UK. Unlike alcohol or drugs, there's no test for tiredness. If you feel sleepy, stop somewhere safe and sleep — even 15–20 minutes makes a significant difference. Don't push through it.
Electric cars and range anxiety
Charging anxiety is common for new EV owners. Get into the habit of treating charge levels like fuel — don't let it drop below 20%. Charge overnight when rates are cheapest. Use Zap-Map or the PlugShare app to plan longer journeys around charging stops.
Official sources
Useful Links
Everything you need from official sources — DVSA, GOV.UK, and the Highway Code. Always use the official services to avoid overpaying or using unofficial third parties.
Apply for a provisional licence
You must hold a valid provisional licence before starting lessons. Apply online — you'll need a UK passport or your National Insurance number. Cost: £34.
Book your theory test
The only official way to book your theory test. Cost: £23. Book directly — third-party sites charge a premium for no added benefit.
Book your practical driving test
The only official way to book, change or cancel your practical test. Cost: £62 weekdays, £75 weekends/bank holidays. Since May 2026 only learners can book — not instructors.
The Highway Code (online)
The full Highway Code is free to read at GOV.UK. Essential reading for the theory test and for being a safe driver. Updated regularly — check for the latest edition.
Driving Test Success 4-in-1 revision kit
The theory test revision app recommended by Kinetic Electric. Covers the full question bank plus 85 hazard perception videos — more than double the official DVSA app.
Check your driving licence
View your licence details, check your penalty points, and see what vehicles you are entitled to drive using the DVLA's online service.
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