The ADI Part 2 driving test is carried out at a test centre by an examiner from the DVSA (Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency). It lasts around one hour and you will need to provide a suitable vehicle for the test. The car you bring must:
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- be taxed, and insured for a driving test (you should check with your insurance company)
- be covered by a current MOT if necessary, and be fully roadworthy
- have no warning lights illuminated on the dashboard
- show a working speedometer in MPH
- have no tyre defects and you cannot use a space-saver tyre
- be free from signs of smoke – your examiner will not conduct the test if you have recently been smoking in the car
Unsuitable Vehicles for Test
Some vehicles are not suitable for a driving test owing to a lack of all-round vision. These are currently:
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- BMW Mini convertible
- Ford KA convertible
- Smart Fortwo (2-door)
- Toyota iQ
- VW Beetle convertible
There are also some cars which cannot be used owing to manufacturers recalls; you should check the DVSA website to see an up to date list.
You can also contact them here:
customerservices@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 200 1122
Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
Other Requirements & Restrictions
Your car must have a working seatbelt for the examiner and a fixed or adjustable head restraint. You must also provide a rear view mirror for the examiner to use.
If you have a dash-cam you can use this during the test; however it must only record images outside the car and must not record audio.
A hire car is acceptable providing it has dual-controls. You cannot use a standard hire car for the test.
What to Take
You must take your photocard driving licence with you. If you have an old style paper licence, you must take this in addition to a valid passport. If you don’t have a passport then you should exchange your licence for a photocard one.
Eyesight
The examiner will check your eyesight to begin with; you must be able to read a car number plate at:
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- 26.5 metres
- 27.5 metres if it’s an old style number plate with larger figures
You will fail the test if you cannot read the number plate.
Show Me Tell Me
You will be asked five questions on vehicle safety and maintenance. Three of these will be before the drive, in addition to two more whilst on the road. You can download a list of the questions here >>>
The Drive
The drive will last around one hour. The test route will cover a variety of roads including those where the national speed limit applies. Because of this the vehicle you drive must be capable of reaching at least 62mph.
There will a period of independent driving, where you must follow either a sat nav or a series of traffic signs for around 20 minutes.
At various points you will demonstrate your ability to carry out 2 of the set manoeuvres. These are:
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- parallel parking at the side of the road
- reversing into a parking bay
- driving forward into a parking bay and reversing out
- pulling up on the right-hand side of the road, reversing for around 2 car lengths, before rejoining the traffic
You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop, although this is not done on every test, only in 1 in 3.
Test Result
To pass the test, you must make no serious or dangerous errors. In addition to this you must commit no more than 6 ‘driving faults’; these are faults worthy of recording but which are not in themselves serious.
If you pass, then you have 2 choices, to either:
If you’re not successful, your examiner will explain why you have not passed. You are allowed 3 attempts to pass the part 2. However, if you’re not successful on the 3rd attempt you must wait 2 years before you can start the application process again.
Book Your Test
When you’re ready to book your test, contact the DVSA:
customerservices@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 200 1122
Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
Click here to book online