How the UK driving test is marked (2026)

Your examiner marks every mistake as one of three types: a driving fault, a serious fault or a dangerous fault. You pass the car test with no more than 15 driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults. Here’s what that means, checked against GOV.UK and DVSA’s examiner guidance.

An independent guide, not official DVSA material. Written by a DVSA-approved driving instructor, Mike Dunnaway. Rules can change, so check the GOV.UK links.

The three types of fault

GOV.UK sets out three types of fault (GOV.UK: driving test faults and your result):

Driving fault (a “minor”): not potentially dangerous. But if you keep making the same one, it could become a serious fault.
Serious fault (a “major”): something potentially dangerous.
Dangerous fault (also a “major”): actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property.

The pass mark

You pass if you make no more than 15 driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults. So 15 minors is a pass, 16 is a fail, and one serious or dangerous fault fails you on its own.

A mistake doesn’t end the test. GOV.UK says you can carry on, it might not affect your result if it’s not serious, and the examiner will only stop the test if they think your driving is a danger to other road users (GOV.UK: what happens during the test). If the examiner had to tell you to do something or take control of the car to avoid an incident, your result shows “examiner took action (ETA)” (GOV.UK: understanding your car driving test result).

The DL25 and the digital report

The DL25 is the driving test report, often called the marking sheet. Examiners now record results digitally on a tablet and only use the paper DL25 if there’s a problem with the tablet. Driving instructors can download it to run mock tests (GOV.UK: driving test marking sheet). After your test, you get an email showing the driving, serious and dangerous faults you made.

What the examiner is looking at

The report is split into areas. DVSA’s examiner guidance lists them, with examples of what counts as a fault (DVSA examiner guidance (DT1)):

Control: accelerator, clutch, gears, footbrake, parking brake and steering. Coasting and hitting the kerb count here.
Move off: safely (effective observation first) and under control, including at an angle and on a hill.
Use of mirrors: well before signalling, changing direction and changing speed.
Signals: necessary, correct (and cancelled), and properly timed.
Junctions: approach speed, observation before emerging, position for turning left and right, and not cutting corners.
Judgement: overtaking, meeting oncoming traffic, and turning right across traffic.
Positioning, clearance from parked cars, following distance, use of speed and progress (driving too slowly or hesitating when it’s safe to go is a fault too).
Response to signs and signals: traffic signs, road markings, traffic lights, people directing traffic, and other road users. Plus pedestrian crossings and awareness and planning.

Eco-safe driving is noted but isn’t part of the pass or fail decision. A wrong turning isn’t a fault either (GOV.UK: what happens during the test).

Before you drive: eyesight and vehicle checks

You must read a number plate from 20 metres (20.5 metres for an old-style plate). Fail that and the test ends. You’ll then get two “show me, tell me” questions: “tell me” before you drive and “show me” while you’re driving. One or both wrong is one driving fault (GOV.UK: show me, tell me questions).

The manoeuvre

You’ll do one of these (GOV.UK: what happens during the test):

parallel park at the side of the road
park in a bay, either driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out (the examiner tells you which)
pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic

Each manoeuvre is marked for control (use of the controls and accuracy) and observation (effective all-round observation). Common faults include repositioning a lot, touching the kerb and relying only on the mirrors (GOV.UK: understanding your car driving test result).

The emergency stop

Not everyone gets one. DVSA’s examiner guidance says the emergency stop is done in 1 in every 7 car tests (DVSA examiner guidance (DT1)). It used to be 1 in 3; DVSA made the change permanent from 24 November 2025 (DVSA Despatch blog, 19 Nov 2025). If you get one, you’re marked on how quickly you react to the signal and on stopping safely, under control, without locking the wheels.

The rest of the drive

You drive for around 35 minutes, the same test for manual and automatic, but not on motorways. Part of it is independent driving, following a sat nav, traffic signs or both. You’ll also pull over and pull away, including a normal stop, pulling out from behind a parked vehicle and a hill start (GOV.UK: what happens during the test).

Questions

How many minors can you get and still pass?

GOV.UK says you pass if you make no more than 15 driving faults (minors) and no serious or dangerous faults (majors). So 15 driving faults is a pass; 16 is a fail.

Can one mistake fail my driving test?

Yes. A single serious fault (something potentially dangerous) or a single dangerous fault (actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property) means you do not pass, however few driving faults you have.

Is there always an emergency stop?

No. DVSA’s examiner guidance says the emergency stop is carried out in 1 in every 7 car tests. It was 1 in 3 until DVSA changed it from 24 November 2025.

Do I get a fault for taking a wrong turning?

No. GOV.UK says the examiner will not give you a fault for taking a wrong turning, and will help you get back on the route.

What if I get a show me, tell me question wrong?

GOV.UK says you get one driving fault if you get one or both of the vehicle safety questions wrong.

An independent guide, not official DVSA material. Not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Checked against GOV.UK on 1 November 2026.