UK Driving Test Faults: Minors, Majors & Top 10 Fails
To pass your practical driving test in England, Scotland, or Wales, you must commit no serious or dangerous faults and no more than 15 driving faults. Understand how examiners score your test and how to safeguard against the most common mistakes.
Practise Real Examiner Routes in the App
Most serious faults happen at unfamiliar multi-lane roundabouts and blind junctions. The Driving Routes UK app gives you hands-free turn-by-turn guidance on your local test circuits.
The Three Tiers of Driving Test Faults
Driving Fault (Minor)
A mistake that does not pose immediate potential or actual danger to other road users. However, if you commit the same driving fault 3 or more times (e.g. repeated mirror omissions), the examiner will escalate it to a Serious Fault.
Serious Fault (Major)
A mistake that was potentially dangerous or a critical breach of the Highway Code (e.g. failing to check a blind spot, turning right across oncoming traffic, or rolling back on a hill start).
Dangerous Fault
A mistake that caused actual danger to yourself, the examiner, or other road users (e.g. the examiner had to grab the steering wheel or dual brake, or another car had to brake violently to avoid a collision).
Top 10 Reasons Candidates Fail in Great Britain
Nearly 85% of all driving test failures in the UK result from these 10 core categories.
Junctions (Observations)
Failing to look properly before emerging from a side road or T-junction into the main road, forcing another car to slow down.
Mirrors (Change of Direction)
Not checking the appropriate exterior door mirror before signaling, turning left, turning right, or changing lanes on a roundabout.
Control (Steering)
Letting the steering wheel spin out of control, crossing onto the wrong side of the road when turning, or mounting the kerb.
Junctions (Turning Right)
Cutting corners when turning right into a side road, or positioning too far left and blocking following vehicles.
Move Off (Safely)
Moving off from the side of the road without checking the right shoulder blind spot, pulling out in front of an approaching vehicle or cyclist.
Response to Signs (Traffic Lights)
Failing to stop at an amber light when it was safe to do so, or waiting unnecessarily at a green light.
Move Off (Control)
Stalling repeatedly in high-pressure situations or rolling backwards on an incline when trying to move off.
Positioning (Normal Driving)
Hugging the centre line too closely or drifting towards parked cars and cycle lanes.
Response to Signs (Road Markings)
Disregarding stop lines, stopping over the advanced stop line for cyclists, or driving in bus lanes during operational hours.
Reverse Park (Control & Observation)
Mounting the kerb with speed, ending up crooked outside the bay, or failing to look around continuously while reversing.
How to Read Your DVSA Driving Test Report (DL25)
At the end of your test, the examiner will explain your result and send an electronic driving test report directly to your email address. Here is how it is structured:
Pass Result (Green Certificate)
You will receive your pass certificate number immediately. Your full driving licence is automatically requested from the DVLA unless you wish to keep your provisional photocard.
Fail Result (Fault Breakdown)
The email itemises every specific driving fault (Df), serious fault (S), and dangerous fault (D). You must wait at least 10 working days before taking another practical test.