Driving test manoeuvres
There are four, and the examiner picks one on the day. Watch each one in 4K from the driver’s seat, with a short explanation and the steps below it, plus the two that are no longer tested.
Driving test manoeuvres, explained
There are four manoeuvres and the examiner sets one on the day: the parallel park, reverse bay park, forward bay park, and pulling up on the right. Each video shows the manoeuvre the way it is asked, with a short explanation and the steps below. The two that left the test in 2017, the turn in the road and reverse around a corner, are here too.
Parallel park
Reverse bay park
Forward bay park
Pull up on the right
Emergency stop
Turn in the road
Reverse around a corner
Reverse into a space behind a parked car and finish close to the kerb.
Pull up on the left before that car, then reverse in behind it and park reasonably close to the kerb.
- Pull alongsideLevel with the parked car.
- Reverse inSteering toward the kerb.
- Straighten upHalf a metre from the kerb.
- Check all aroundGive way to passing traffic.
- Clipping or mounting the kerb
- Finishing too far from the kerb
- Not enough all-round observation
Reverse into a marked bay, then drive out forward. The usual pick where the centre has a car park.
Drive into the car park and reverse into a bay of your choice, then drive out forward when you are ready.
- Line upA bay or two before yours.
- Reverse inLook all around as you go.
- Centre the carInside the white lines.
- Check againThen drive out forward.
- Ending up across the bay lines
- Skipping the over-the-shoulder check
- Not straightening up at the end
Drive forward into a bay, then reverse out to leave.
Drive forward into a bay of your choice, then reverse out and continue when it is safe.
- Approach wideEnough to swing in cleanly.
- Drive inCentred between the lines.
- Stop fullyInside the bay.
- Reverse outLook over both shoulders.
- Parking over the bay lines
- Weak observation reversing back out
- Misjudging the turn-in point
Cross to the right kerb, stop, reverse about two car lengths, then rejoin the traffic.
Find a safe place to pull up on the right, reverse back about two car lengths, then move off and rejoin the traffic.
- Check it is safeCross to the right kerb.
- Reverse backAbout two car lengths.
- Keep watchingNow facing oncoming traffic.
- Rejoin the leftWhen a safe gap appears.
- Crossing over without checking oncoming traffic
- Reversing more than two car lengths
- Poor observation before moving off again
A controlled stop on the examiner’s signal, asked in roughly one test in three. Not a parking manoeuvre, and you are warned first.
Shortly I will ask you to stop as in an emergency. When I raise my hand and say stop, stop as quickly and safely as you can.
- Get the brief firstTold before you drive on.
- Watch for the signalA raised hand and "stop".
- Brake firmlyProgressively, no skid.
- Check aroundThen move off safely.
- Reacting too slowly to the signal
- Skidding or locking the wheels
- Not checking all round before driving on
Turn the car to face the opposite way using forward and reverse, without touching the kerb. Once called the three-point turn.
I’d like you to turn the car around to face the other way using the forward and reverse gears. Try not to touch the kerb.
- Pick a quiet spotRoom to move on both sides.
- Move forwardFull lock to the far kerb.
- Reverse backSteering the opposite way.
- Edge forwardStraighten up the other way.
- Mounting the kerb
- Not looking round before each move
- Letting the car roll toward the kerb
Reverse from the main road into a side road around a left corner, staying close to the kerb.
Drive past the side road on the left and stop, then reverse around the corner into it, keeping reasonably close to the kerb.
- Drive pastStop just past the junction.
- Reverse slowlyLooking around as you go.
- Follow the kerbRound into the side road.
- Straighten upCheck around, well inside.
- Swinging wide or clipping the kerb
- Not enough observation for traffic
- Reversing too quickly
Which manoeuvre you get depends on your test centre. Test centres where you can park usually involve more parking manoeuvres. Find your test centre
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Last reviewed June 2026 against the current DVSA test format. Test content is set by the DVSA and can change.