Which manoeuvre will I be asked to do on the driving test?

You will be asked to perform one manoeuvre during your practical driving test. The examiner chooses which one — you won't know in advance. The four possible manoeuvres are: parallel park, bay parking (drive in / reverse out), bay parking (reverse in / drive out), and pull up on the right and reverse. Practise all four before your test.

Is the three-point turn still on the driving test?

No — the three-point turn (also called a turn in the road) was removed from the UK practical driving test in December 2017 when the test was updated. It was replaced by the pull up on the right and reverse manoeuvre. You should still know how to do a turn in the road for general driving, but it will not be assessed on your test.

How are manoeuvres marked on the driving test?

Manoeuvres are assessed for accuracy, control, and observation. Common faults include: not checking blind spots, mounting the kerb, failing to make adequate all-round observations, and poor control speed. A single serious fault on a manoeuvre — such as mounting the kerb hard or failing to check for pedestrians — will fail the test.

Can I redo a manoeuvre if I go wrong?

Yes — you can correct your position during a manoeuvre using forward and backward movements as needed. Examiners do not expect perfection, but they do expect safe observation and reasonable accuracy. Taking extra moves to reposition correctly is better than rushing and mounting the kerb.

What is the most common manoeuvre on the driving test?

Bay parking is the most frequently assessed manoeuvre. Both variants (drive in/reverse out and reverse in/drive out) are common because most test centre car parks have bays. Practise both directions thoroughly. The pull up on the right is the most recently added and many learners have less practice with it.

What manoeuvres are on the UK driving test?

You will be asked to perform one of four possible manoeuvres: parallel parking, pulling up on the right, forward bay parking, or reverse bay parking. You won't know which one until the examiner asks.

Is a manoeuvre a serious fault on the driving test?

A manoeuvre only becomes a serious or dangerous fault if you endanger another road user or fail to show adequate control of the vehicle. Minor errors during a manoeuvre count as driver faults.

Do I have to do a bay park on the driving test?

Bay parking is one of four possible manoeuvres, so you might be asked to do it. You could be asked to drive forward into a bay and reverse out, or reverse into a bay.

How many manoeuvres are on the driving test?

You will only be asked to perform one manoeuvre during your test, chosen by the examiner from the four options. You will also be asked to do an emergency stop on around one in three tests.

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Driving Test Manoeuvres

You will be asked to perform one manoeuvre on your test. There are four possibilities — here is exactly what each involves and how to do it well.

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The 4 driving test manoeuvres

Practise all four — you cannot predict which one the examiner will choose.

Parallel park

Pull up alongside a parked car, then reverse into the space behind it so you end up parallel to and close to the kerb.

Check mirrors and blind spot before moving
Use reference points — rear car door level with the car ahead's bumper
Turn sharply right once you're clear, then sharply left to straighten
Aim to park within 2 car lengths and close to the kerb

Bay parking (drive in, reverse out)

Drive forward into a marked bay, then reverse out when directed, checking all around before and during the manoeuvre.

Choose your bay early and position to the side before turning in
Look ahead and into the bay as you drive in
Reverse out slowly with frequent all-round observations
Check for pedestrians at the rear — they appear quickly

Bay parking (reverse in, drive out)

Reverse into a marked bay, then drive out forward when directed.

Pick reference points — bay lines relative to your mirrors
Approach slowly and check all round before and throughout
Straighten up before you reach the back of the bay
Drive out forward with full observations

Pull up on the right and reverse

Pull up on the right-hand side of the road (facing traffic), then reverse back around 2 car lengths, then rejoin traffic.

Signal right, check mirrors and blind spot before moving across
Keep very close to the right kerb
Reverse back safely — check all mirrors and over your shoulder
Rejoining: signal, check mirrors and blind spot, wait for a safe gap

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about driving test manoeuvres.

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