Driving practical test vehicle requirement

Minimum test vehicle requirements for a car and trailer test

The minimum test vehicle standards for a car also apply to a car and trailer test, with additional requirements for the trailer. Vehicles that do not meet the minimum test vehicle requirements are not suitable for the purpose of taking a driving test, and your test may be cancelled with loss of fee.

Test vehicle requirements for a car practical test and car and trailer test Category B - cars and vans.

Cars or vans presented for test must be:

• A four wheeled vehicle of no more than 3500 kilograms (kg) maximum authorized mass (MAM)
• Capable of a speed of at least 100 kilometers per hour (km/h) or 62.5 miles per hour (mph)

The car or van must also be fitted with:

• A seatbelt for the examiner
• A passenger head restraint, this need not be adjustable but must be fitted as an integral part of the seat - 'slip on' type head restraints are not permitted
  
• An interior mirror for the examiner's use
• L-plates displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle but not interfering with the driver's or examiner's view
• A speedometer that measures speed in miles per hour and kilometers per hour

The vehicle must be legal and roadworthy and have no warning lights showing i.e. the airbag warning light.

Convertible vehicles

The Ford KA convertible and Mini convertible due to the lack of all-round vision for the examiner are not suitable vehicles for a Driving practical test vehicle requirement.

Category B1

A motor powered tricycle or quadricycle must have an unladen weight of not more than 550 kg and be capable of at least 60 km/h (37.25 mph).

Category B + E - car and trailer

Cars or vans presented for test must be a category B vehicle towing a suitably braked, unladen trailer of at least one tonne MAM . The examiner may ask for evidence of the trailer MAM, for example the manufacturer's plate. All vehicle combinations must operate on appropriate brakes and utilize a coupling arrangement suitable for the weight.

Please Note about Driving practical test vehicle requirement:

Irrespective of the date vehicles were first registered, from 1 April 2006 externally mounted, nearside and offside mirrors for use by the examiner or any person supervising the test must be fitted.


In the case of a category B+E vehicle first used on or after the 1 October 2003 the following additional standards will apply:


The cargo compartment of the trailer must consist of a closed box body which is at least as wide and as high as the towing vehicle; the closed box body may also be slightly less wide than the towing vehicle provided that the view to the rear is only possible by use of the external rear-view mirrors of the towing vehicle.

Source - Driving Standard Agency

DSA driving practical test show me tell me- Part 2

"Show me" type question is to demonstrate your knowledge about the asked question by the examiner. "Tell me" is verbal type of a question. Though answering incorrectly for 2-3 questions does not fail you in the driving practical exam, there will be 1 minor fault.

Throughout the driving practical test, your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving, including when you are carrying out the set exercises. You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure). However, if you commit one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test.

Part one of this article included few driving practical test show me tell me questions. Here are some of the other Show me tell me questions and answers which might help you for your practical test. Learn all the show me tell me questions and pass your driving test in first attempt.

1) Power Steering:
Q: Show me / explain how you would check that the power assisted steering is working before starting a journey.

A: If the steering becomes heavy the system may not be working properly. Before starting a journey two checks can be made. With the wheel turned slightly, maintained while the engine is started, you notice a slight movement in the wheel as the system begins to operate. Alternatively turning the steering wheel just after moving off will give an instant indication the power steering is functioning ok.

2) Headlights and taillights :
Q: Show me how you would check that the headlights and tail lights are working.

A: Turn on ignition (if necessary), operate switch for lights, and walk round the vehicle.

3) Parking/handbrake:
Q : Show me how you would check the parking brake for excessive wear.

A: Demonstrate by applying the handbrake and when it is fully applied it secures itself, and is not at the end of the working travel.

4) Tyre tread depth:
Q: Tell me how you would check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and their general condition is safe to use on the road.

A: No cuts or bulges, 1.6mm of tread depth across the central 3/4 of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire circumference.

5) Direction indicators:
Q. Show me how you would check that the direction indicators are working.

A. Apply indicators or hazard warning lights and check all indicators.

6) Horn:
Q. Show me how you would check that the horn is working (off road only).

A. Turn on ignition (if necessary). Operate horn.

Research undertaken by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) suggests that drivers who pass first time are the best prepared. Take your driving lessons with the best driving schools and learn all the aspect of driving as learner driver.

123driving.co.uk gives you the complete set of show me tell me safety questions and answers which could be asked in your practical driving test. These flash demos which depict the practical view of the questions. Just by looking at the flash demo, you can get to know the show me tell me answers and car parts which help you to learn the parts of car and their functionality as well as for your driving test.

DSA driving practical test show me tell me- Part 1

Once you have passed the driving theory test you can then apply to take your practical driving test. The driving part of your test will last about 40 minutes. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving, including when you are carrying out the set exercises. Show me tell me questions are one of the part of your driving practical test.

These questions in the DSA practical test aim at checking your knowledge about the car safety and maintenance. In this "show me tell me"/"tell me show me" section, you are required to show the examiner how to check the brakes, fluid levels, lights, direction indicators etc. "Show me" type question is to demonstrate your knowledge about the asked question by the examiner. "Tell me" is verbal type of a question. Though answering incorrectly for 2-3 questions does not fail you in the driving practical exam, there will be 1 minor fault. 16 or more minor driving faults, or one serious or one dangerous fault will result in a test failure.

Below are some of the Show me tell me questions which may be asked in your practical exams :

1) Engine coolant:

Q : Open the bonnet, identify where you would check the engine coolant level and tell me how you would check that the engine has the correct level.

A : Identify high / low level markings on header tank (where fitted) or radiator filler cap, and describe how to top up to correct level.



2) Engine oil:

Q : Open the bonnet, identify where you would check the engine oil level and tell me how you would check that the engine has sufficient oil.
A : Identify dipstick / oil level indicator, describe how you would check the oil level against the minimum / maximum markers.



3) Windscreen washer fluid:

Q: Identify where the windscreen washer reservoir is and tell me how you would check the windscreen washer level.

A: Identify reservoir and check level. Check your car's manual to see how to do this.



4) Brake lights:

Q: Tell me how you would check that the brake lights are working on this car.
A: Operate brake pedal, make use of any reflections in windows, garage doors etc, or ask someone to help.



5) Brakes:
Q: Tell me how you would check that the brakes are working before starting a journey.
A: Brakes should not feel spongy or slack. Brakes should be tested as you set off. Vehicle should not pull to one side.




6) Tyre Pressures:
Q : Tell me where you would find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked.
A : Manufacturer’s guide, use a reliable pressure gauge, check and adjust pressures when tyres are cold, don’t forget spare tyre, remember to refit value caps.




All examiners are trained to carry out the test to the same standard, they do not have pass or fail quotas. So as long as you demonstrate the standard required you will pass your driving test.

Get the good driving instructor and learn all the rules and regulations required for your practical test with all the show me tell me questions and pass your driving test accordingly.

123driving.co.uk provides you with all the information of driving course and related driving activities. It also provides free driving lesson booking service for students looking for local driving instructors, ADI, schools within your local area.

Reasons for failure in driving practical test

Most of the people fail driving test each year, though DSA publishes the reasons why learner drivers fail in practical theory test still many of us don’t pay much attention to it.

However, you can avoid this by taking enough driving lessons and practice from your driving instructor. You should always give the test when your instructor feels you are well prepared. Do not ever give the test, just to gain experience. Following are the areas where is more likely to fall short of the DSA standards.

• Reversing around a corner incorrectly.
• Problems with parking
• Driving too slowly
• Hesitation causing delay, usually by not pulling out promptly at junctions
• Not making effective observations and poor judgment when emerging out of side roads
• Failure to make effective use of mirrors
• Incorrect road position, usually on bends, and poor lane discipline on roundabouts
• Failure to move away correctly from stationary positions
• Poor steering control, such as when making left or right turns.

Motorcyclist Driving faults in practical test :

• Failure to perform a 'u' turn correctly;
• Inadequate control at slow speed;
• Incorrect or inadequate hand-signals.
• The list of faults highlighted above is by no means exhaustive.     

 You should, as indicated previously, study carefully the Rules of the Road and get as much practice as possible, in all types of traffic situations, in preparation for your driving test.