The Driving Test
When you have passed the Theory test you can apply for your practical
driving test.
Always consult with your driving instructor (or Coopers driving school)
about
when to apply for your test, and make sure that your instructor will be
available
for when you would like the test.
To be test standard, you should be able to drive your car safely and
smoothly with minimum instruction, with full awareness of other road users
and consideration for
the road, weather and traffic conditions. You should also be competent
with each of the slow manoeuvres.
To book your practical test you call the Driving Standards Agency on
08700 101372 or apply online at www.dsa.gov.uk. The current fee is £48.50.
You will need your driving licence and theory test pass certificate to
hand, plus a method of payment.
Arriving at the test centre
The car you use for the driving test must be fitted with an additional
passenger mirror, headrests, L-plates, Tax, and the appropriate Insurance.
The vehicle also needs to be clean and in good working condition capable
of normal performance for that type of vehicle. We guarantee that all
Coopers driving school cars are fit for
the driving test.
Documents to take with you:
1. Your signed provisional driving licence.
2. Your theory test pass certificate.
3. An acceptable document which includes your photograph and signature.
4. The new photo driving licence with counter part.
* Item 3 can be any of the following:
A passport, photo-bearing version of cheque or credit card, work-place
identity card,
student or trades union membership card, card used to buy railway tickets,
or a school bus pass.
If none of these are available, you must provide a photograph of yourself
which has
been certified by an acceptable person, who can be an Approved Driving
Instructor or Motorcycle Instructor, an MP, a Justice of the Peace, a
minister of religion, a lawyer, a doctor, a teacher, a local councillor,
a bank officer, a civil servant, a police
officer or a commissioned officer in Her Majesty's armed forces.
Arrive with your driving instructor at the test centre in plenty of time
and try to relax. The test centre is located in warnden, worcester, but
tests at other test centres can be arranged at your request.
Once the examiner has checked your identification, your driving instructor
will wait
in the test centre whilst you show the examiner to your instructor's car.
The examineer will conduct the show me tell me part of the test and ask
you 5 simple questions about your car. If you have learned with Coopers
Driving School, you will be well prepared for this during your lessons,
and should be able to answer these with ease. Make sure you are familiar
with opening and closing the car bonnet.
The examiner will now get in the front passenger's seat, and explain
briefly how the
test works. You'll be asked to start the car and given directions of where
to drive.
You have about 40 minutes in the car; that time includes two of the three
possible
slow manoeuvres: turn in the road, reversing round a corner, or reverse
parking, and you may be required to do an emergency stop. The reverse
bay-parking manoeuvre may take place off-road at the test centre. During
the test it is also likely
that you will be asked to demonstrate a hill-start and an angled start.
The rest of the time is taken up with general driving.
In worcester, there are 5 routes that you may be taken on. If you do
make a wrong
turning during the driving test, then it is the examiner's responsibility
to get you back on to the rest. Don't worry taking a wrong will not usually
cause you to fail your driving test.
Some minor driving faults are permitted during the test. These are errors
that do not
in themselves create an actual or potential danger to other road users
and you are
allowed up to 15 of these. You will fail the test should you make a serious
or
dangerous error.
At the end of the test the examiner will tell you whether you have passed
or failed.
If you pass, your driving licence will be needed for the examiner to fill
in the pass certificate. You need to send this to DVLA with your provisional
licence, and you
will receive your full licence in a few days' time. You can drive on your
own in the
meantime providing you keep a record of your Driver Number.
Coopers driving school offer pass plus courses, once you have passed
your test you
should consider discussing this with your driving instructor.
Good Luck!!
The Coopers Driving School Team.
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