Welcome to Mitchell's Automatic Driving School

Here you can find out all about the Practical Driving Test.

The driving test is straightforward and has been designed to see if you:

  • can drive safely
  • know The Highway Code and can demonstrate this through your driving

What will the test include?

  • The test will include an eyesight check (if you fail this, your test will not continue).
  • After the eyesight test you will be asked two vehicle safety check questions.
  • You will then be examined on your general driving and on one reversing exercises.

Reporting for your practical test
You must bring the following items with you. If you do not, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) may refuse to carry out the test and you may lose your fee.

  • both parts of your photo card licence. If you do not take both parts of your licence your test will not take place and you will lose your fee
  • if you have an old-style paper licence, you must take your signed driver licence and a valid passport
  • the appropriate theory test pass certificate (or confirmation) if you are not exempt

Vehicle safety questions
Candidates will be asked two questions, one 'show me' and one 'tell me'. One or both questions answered incorrectly will result in one driving fault being recorded.
These are basic safety checks that a driver should carry out to ensure the vehicle is safe for use. Although some checks may involve the candidate in opening the bonnet to identify where fluid levels would be checked, pupils will not be asked to touch a hot engine or physically check fluid levels. Show me Tell Me Questions and Answers

What happens during the test?
The driving part of your test will last about 40 minutes. Throughout the test your examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving, including when you are carrying out the set exercises.
The examiner gives directions throughout the test. But during the independent drive, the candidate will have to follow traffic signs or a short series of verbal directions, or a combination of both. To help candidates understand where they are going when following verbal directions, the examiner will show a diagram. Candidates can also ask for a reminder as they drive.
Throughout the test you should drive in the way your instructor has taught you. If you make a mistake, don't worry about it, it might be a less serious driving fault and may not affect your result. The examiner will be looking for an overall safe standard of driving.
You can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure). However, if you commit one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test. If at any time your examiner considers you to be a danger to other road users your test will be stopped.
You are allowed to take someone with you on the test, this person must be over 16 years old and cannot take any part in the test.

During the test, the examiner will ask you to carry out set exercises.
You will be asked to carry out 1 reversing manouvures chosen from:

  • Reversing around a corner
  • Turning in the road
  • Reverse parking
  • You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop exercise.

After the practical test
When the driving test is over, the examiner will tell you whether you passed or failed. You can request feedback on your test from the examiner, who will then go through your performance during the test.

If you pass...
If you pass and have a photocard driving licence issued after 1 March 2004 the examiner will ask you if you want your full driving licence issued to you automatically.
If you want to use this service, the examiner will take your old licence off you, scan the details and send them electronically to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will then be given a pass certificate to prove you passed your test. DVLA will then send you your new full licence by post within four weeks of you passing your practical test. If you pass your test but do not want to use this automatic service, or have a licence issued before 1 March 2004, you will be given a pass certificate by the examiner. On the back of the pass certificate it tells you what you need to do next. This involves sending your licence and appropriate fee to DVLA who will then check your application and issue you with a new full licence.

If you don't pass...
If you dont pass the test you should ask the examiner for some feedback to help prepare yourself for your next test. Your driving report form will also show you where you made any mistakes. You can take another practical test 10 working days after your car or motorcycle test.

Driving test standards
All examiners are trained to carry out the test to the same standard, they do not have pass or fail quotas. So as long as you demonstrate the standard required you will pass your driving test.


Our Services


  • Lesson Prices

    Automatic driving lessons prices including Fast Pass and great begginer offers. read more.

  • Driving Courses

    Mitchells Automatic Driving School offers a wide and varied range of driving lessons from weekly lessons to Fast Pass courses and reresher lesssons. read more.

  • Areas Covered

    Automatic driving lessons in the Tameside, Stockport, Oldham, Saddleworth areas. read more.

  • Testimonials

    We have a great reputation with our students for offering a first class service and teaching to a very high driving standard. What our Students Say.