Your driving test report (DL25) explained, section by section

Before the drive starts, you read the number plate of a parked car. The plate is 20 metres away for new style plates, or 20.5 metres for old style plates, and you have 3 chances to read it correctly.

Result: If you cannot read it, you fail and the test does not continue.

You show and explain basic safety checks on the car, such as fluid levels, lights, tyres and clearing the windscreen. One question is asked while you are driving.

Common reasons for a fault

• answering a tell me question incorrectly
• losing control of the car while doing the show me task on the move

Driving fault: answering a tell me question incorrectly, or a minor loss of control during the show me task

Serious fault: a serious loss of control during the show me task on the road

Dangerous fault: a real and hazardous loss of control during the show me task that means the examiner has to act to avoid a collision

You pull up safely on the right hand side of the road, reverse about two car lengths, then rejoin the traffic. You keep effective all round observation throughout.

Common reasons for a fault

• poor co-ordination of the controls
• scrubbing the kerb or mounting the pavement
• not checking blind spots or relying only on the mirrors
• misjudging the speed of oncoming or passing traffic

Driving fault: clearly scrubbing the kerb

Serious fault: a wheel clearly mounting the pavement

Dangerous fault: mounting the pavement so the examiner has to act to prevent damage

You reverse into a parking bay or park behind another car at the side of the road, with accurate control and effective all round observation.

Common reasons for a fault

• unnecessary shunting backwards and forwards
• finishing at an angle, too far from the kerb or across two bays
• getting too close to the other car
• not checking your blind spot, or looking but not reacting

Driving fault: needing to reposition to correct a loss of control or accuracy

Serious fault: excessive repositioning, or finishing outside the bay

Dangerous fault: a loss of control that causes actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property

You drive forwards into a parking bay, then reverse out, with accurate control and effective all round observation for other road users and pedestrians.

Common reasons for a fault

• ending up straddling two bays
• shunting forwards and backwards unnecessarily
• not checking your blind spot
• looking but not reacting to other vehicles or pedestrians

Driving fault: finishing with one or two wheels on the bay line

Serious fault: finishing with one or two wheels fully in the next bay

Dangerous fault: a loss of control that means the examiner has to act to stop you hitting a vehicle in the next bay

You stop the car promptly and safely when the examiner gives the signal, staying in full control and without locking the wheels.

Common reasons for a fault

• reacting slowly to the signal
• using the handbrake before the car has stopped
• losing control and skidding
• taking your hands off the steering wheel

Driving fault: the wheels lock and skid briefly, but you regain control well

Serious fault: very harsh braking that locks the wheels and skids the car, with little or no attempt to regain control

Dangerous fault: a loss of control during the stop that causes actual danger

Smooth, accurate use of the accelerator, clutch, gears, footbrake, parking brake and steering, plus the other controls such as wipers and lights.

Common reasons for a fault

• harsh or uncontrolled use of the accelerator or footbrake
• stalling because the clutch is not pressed in time
• selecting the wrong gear
• not using the parking brake when needed, so the car rolls back

Driving fault: harsh use of the footbrake, or the car rolling back a short distance on a hill

Serious fault: the same control fault repeated habitually through the drive

Dangerous fault: a control fault that means the examiner has to act to prevent actual danger

You move away safely and under control, on the level, on a hill and at an angle from behind a parked car.

Common reasons for a fault

• not checking your blind spot, or checking it at the wrong time
• moving off into the path of traffic
• stalling, or moving off with the handbrake on
• rolling back or starting in too high a gear

Driving fault: stalling while moving away, with no other road user affected

Serious fault: moving off into the path of traffic, or repeatedly stalling

Dangerous fault: rolling back uphill after a stall with a vehicle behind, causing actual danger

You make full use of all the mirrors and follow the mirror, signal, manoeuvre routine before signalling, changing direction and changing speed.

Common reasons for a fault

• not using the door mirrors when they are essential
• checking the mirrors but not acting on what you see
• pulling up or speeding up with no mirror check
• checking the mirrors too late

Driving fault: not checking the mirrors before signalling, with no other road user affected

Serious fault: repeatedly not checking the mirrors before signalling throughout the drive

Dangerous fault: not checking the mirrors before signalling right, so a vehicle behind has to abandon an overtake

Signals must be necessary, correct and well timed, so other road users know what you are going to do.

Common reasons for a fault

• leaving out a signal that was needed
• signalling the wrong way, or leaving a signal on
• signalling too early, too late or after starting the turn
• beckoning pedestrians or flashing your lights to let others go

Driving fault: leaving a signal on after a roundabout, with no effect on anyone

Serious fault: leaving out an essential signal for a change of direction

Dangerous fault: beckoning a pedestrian to cross so an oncoming vehicle has to brake hard

You approach at the right speed, take effective observation before emerging, and position correctly to turn left or right.

Common reasons for a fault

• approaching too fast or too slowly
• emerging without effective observation
• cutting corners when turning right
• taking the wrong position before turning

Driving fault: misjudging an approaching vehicle without affecting anyone

Serious fault: emerging into the path of other vehicles

Dangerous fault: a lack of observation that causes actual danger

You overtake only when it is safe, deal with oncoming traffic on narrow roads, and turn across traffic without forcing others to slow down.

Common reasons for a fault

• cutting in too soon after overtaking
• overtaking in a hazardous place
• driving on when you should give way to oncoming traffic
• turning across an approaching vehicle so it has to slow

Driving fault: reacting late to approaching vehicles

Serious fault: driving forward when you should give way, putting others at risk

Dangerous fault: an unsafe overtake that means the examiner has to act

You keep a sensible position in your lane, follow lane markings, keep a safe following distance and use a suitable speed.

Common reasons for a fault

• driving too close to the kerb or too far out
• straddling lanes or staying in the right hand lane on a dual carriageway
• cutting across lanes on roundabouts
• following too closely

Driving fault: staying in the right hand lane of a dual carriageway when the left lane is free

Serious fault: habitually driving too close to the edge of the road

Dangerous fault: a position so far out of place that the examiner has to act

You drive at a speed that suits the road and traffic, and you go when it is safe instead of waiting unnecessarily. Speed limits are a maximum, not a target.

Common reasons for a fault

• driving well below the limit for no reason
• holding up following traffic
• stopping unnecessarily at junctions
• not going when it is safe to do so

Driving fault: driving at 20mph in a 30mph area for no reason

Serious fault: driving well below the limit on a dual carriageway, affecting following traffic

Dangerous fault: driving so slowly that others are encouraged to take risks

You react correctly to traffic signs, road markings, traffic lights, people controlling traffic and signals from other road users.

Common reasons for a fault

• not obeying a stop, no entry or keep left sign
• driving in a bus lane during its hours
• crossing solid white lines unnecessarily
• stopping in a yellow box junction when the exit is not clear

Driving fault: reacting late to a clearly visible lower speed limit

Serious fault: heading into a road past a clearly visible no entry sign

Dangerous fault: a response that causes actual danger to other road users

If the examiner has to step in, either by speaking or by using the dual controls, because your driving became dangerous, it is recorded on the report as examiner took action.

You plan ahead, choose suitable gears, avoid harsh braking and over revving, and consider switching the engine off during long stops. It is shown on your report but does not affect whether you pass.

Up to 15 driving faults, often called minors, as long as you have no serious or dangerous faults.

Your examiner tells you the faults you made at the end of the test, and the email you receive afterwards shows the driving, serious and dangerous faults recorded.

No. Fuel efficient driving is assessed and shown on your report, but it does not affect whether you pass.

You have 3 chances to read the number plate correctly. If you cannot, you fail and the test does not continue.