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Reporting for your practical test

When attending for your practical test you must produce certain documents and have an appropriately insured and licensed vehicle suitable for the test. Make sure you have these documents available when the examiner calls your name.

Your test vehicle

You must bring an appropriately insured and licensed vehicle which is in a roadworthy condition and is displaying L-plates that are clearly visible from the front and rear. The vehicle should be representative of the type of vehicle for the category of test you are taking.

At the driving test centre

You must bring the following items with you. If you don't, the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) may not carry out the test and you may lose your fee:

  • valid MOT certificate clearly displayed on your vehicle (if applicable)
  • valid tax disc clearly displayed on your vehicle
  • the appropriate theory test pass certificate or confirmation (if you are not exempt)
  • your appointment letter
  • both parts of your photo card driving licence; (check your appointment letter for details, If you don't take both parts of your licence your test may not take place and you may lose your fee)
  • if you have an old-style GB paper licence, you must take your signed driving licence and photographic identification
  • for a motorcycle test please remember to take your motorcycle manoeuvres test pass certificate as well
  • for a motorcycle manoeuvres test and an off-road motorcycle test, you must bring a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) certificate for the relevant test category. Further information relating to CBT can be found at:

If you misplace your licence, you must apply for a replacement from DVA which could take up to 15 days. If this happens, you may have to rearrange your test.

Taking someone with you on your car driving test

The examiner will ask if you want your instructor, or another person, to:

  • go with you on your driving test
  • be there at the end of the test for the result and feedback

The DVA encourages you to take someone with you on your driving test. This will usually be the person who has taught you to drive, but it could be a relative or a friend. They must be over 16 years old and cannot take any part in the test.

The person who goes with you will be able to see how you perform during the test. To get the most benefit from this, it would be sensible to ask your instructor to go with you. They can then give you advice on how to improve your driving, whether you pass or fail.

If you’d like to take someone with you, make sure that you talk to them about it when you’re preparing for your test.

Driver and rider testing in adverse weather – mainly during the months October to April

From time to time, adverse weather can impact on the Agency’s ability to deliver practical driver and rider tests.

Practical driving tests

Practical driving and riding tests are managed locally on a test by test basis, subject to local conditions which are reviewed regularly throughout the day. All attempts will be made to cancel tests in advance; however this is not always possible as local conditions can change quite quickly.

It is normally the 8.50 am and 9.50 am tests that are affected. However, in extreme conditions all tests may be cancelled. Please check with your test centre if your test will be going ahead before arriving at the test centre.

You can get contact details for your local test centre at the link below:

In the event that your driving or riding test is cancelled, another appointment will be arranged automatically at no further cost, but compensation is not payable. You will be contacted with a new appointment date as soon as possible.

Note: Candidates who have their test cancelled will be not be compensated for any pre-test lessons or associated costs.

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