DSA Registered Professional & Patient Instructors
Driving Licence FAQ
Q: How do I apply for a Provisional Licence in the UK
A: Apply for a provisional licence at this link http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Motoringtransactions/BeforeyouapplyA/DG_10032690
Q: Can I drive in the UK with a Foreign licence or International driving permit?
A: You can use your Foreign licence or International driving permit to drive a car in the UK for up to 12 months from the date of your first entry in the UK, after that you will need to apply for a provisional licence and pass the UK driving test. Leaving the country and returning a few months later, does not add another 12 months to the period you are allowed to drive in the UK with a foreign licence.
Q: Can I obtain a full UK driving licence without passing a test?
A: Here in the UK it is not possible to get a full driving licence without passing a driving test unless you have a full EU licence or a licence from one of the countries that the DVLA will exchange a full licence for.
Q: Do you have to always carry your driving licence when driving a car in the UK?
A: No. As long as you have a valid provisional or full driving licence, you don't need to always carry it. If you are stopped by the police, then you will be given 7 days to produce your licence. It is a good idea though to always have a proof of Identity on you.
Q: How many passengers can I carry with my provisional licence?
A: As many passengers as the car can legally carry, and there are no clauses in your insurance stopping you from doing so. You can also carry passengers during your driving lessons, as long as your driving instructor is happy to allow them. There is no provisional licence law to prevent learner drivers from carrying passengers.
Q: How many points can I have on my licence?
A: If you get more than 6 points on your driving licence including a provisional licence, then your licence will will be revoked!
Driving Test FAQ
Q: Can I book a driving test without my driving instructor?
A: Yes, you don't need a driving instructor to book a driving test, but make sure you have checked with your instructor before, as they may be already booked.
Q: Can I use my private car for the test?
A: Yes, you can use your private car on the driving test, as long as it meets certain criteria.
Q; How many people pass the driving test first time?
A: As many as prepare properly for the test, know what is expected, and don't rely on luck during the test.
Q: Can I pay the driving examiner to pass me during the driving test?
A: No you can't, and don't try it, as you could end up in jail!
Q: Why does one test centre have a better pass rate than another?
A: It depends mainly on the type of pupils using the test centre. For example pupils that can afford professional lessons have a better chance of passing first time.
Q: How much does the driving test cost?
A: £56.50 during the week and £67.00 for weekends or weekday evenings (summer).
Q: Can I book the practical driving test without a theory pass certificate?
A: Yes, If you've lost or misplaced your theory test pass certificate, you can still book the practical driving test, but you will have to call the DSA up, as you won't be able to book the test online via the DSA website.
Q: How long is the practical driving test ?
A: Approximately 40 minutes including the show me-
Q: How soon can I drive my own car after passing the driving test?
A: You can drive straight away, as long as you have insurance cover for the vehicle you are driving. you need to also notify the insurance company that you have passed.
Q: When is the best time to book/take/pass the driving test?
A: While you might have less traffic to deal with if you book your test during the quieter parts of the day, the best time to pass the test is when you are completely confident you have fully prepared for it. Many people fail their driving examination for things like observations, wrong use of speed or failure to obey road signs or markings, so traffic is not just a factor to consider.
Q: Does every test centre do the bay park manoeuvre during the driving test?
A: No they will not do it if they do not have a car park.
Learning to Drive FAQ
Q: How many hours or lessons will I need to pass the driving test?
A: It varies with every individual. The DSA recommended 40 hours professional training and 20 hours private practice.
Q: Can I learn to drive in my own car with a friend or family member?
A: Yes you can, however if you want to have a good chance of passing the driving test, I would advice to learn all of the skills with a driving instructor (ADI, PDI), and then practice in your own car. If you do it the other way round, you will learn some bad habits which an instructor will then take longer to train you out of.
Q: Is the driving age changing to 18?
A: There is no truth in rumours that the driving licence or test age is changing to 18. Although a number of options are being considered, no decision has yet been made. The current driving age is 17, not 18 or 21.
Q: Does the DSA have driving test quotas?
A: No, and the examiner will have to fill out more paperwork to fail someone than to pass them.
If you have a question not answered here or elsewhere in the website, then please send a message, due to the large amount of emails we now get, we can not guarantee we will be able to reply to all queries especially since we get a lot of the same driving test questions.