Almost every learner driver wants to know how long their practical driving test will take because after all, it can be quite grilling and most will want it over as quickly as possible. I mean, who wants to be under constant stress for so long? Having said that, maintaining your nerves and keeping calm will make time feel much quicker. The average driving test in the UK is around 40-50 minutes however the final number could still be higher or lower. Below, you will learn about the many factors that determine your test time.

Factors that can change the duration of driving tests in the UK

The driving test is a mandatory requirement for anyone who wishes to get a licence for driving a motor vehicle. It is designed to test a person's knowledge of traffic rules and road safety rules. A driver must complete a theory and practical exam. Many factors may alter the length of your driving test. In this blog post, we have listed some reasons that may make your driving test to be shorter or longer than expected.

The complexity of driving task

The more difficult it is, the longer time it will take for the driving test in the UK. The examiners may increase the time in case the driving task is complicated (i.e. when reversing around an obstruction or when they put on additional traffic signs If the examiner decides to give more driving tasks, it can take longer than usual.

The type of vehicle

The driving test in the UK is different for those who drive a car and those who drive a motorcycle. It can take longer should the examiner choose to observe how well you manage a larger vehicle (HGV/bus/truck). If they find something that needs special attention, a person may need extra time to show what he or she should do.

The vehicle's size

In case the car is bigger, it will take you longer to complete your test. It also goes for the opposite situation - when your vehicle is smaller than average, the examiner may speed up your test because they can notice everything that takes place in a shorter period.

The age of a candidate

People, who are young and inexperienced may need additional time as they may face problems with driving. The fact is that it takes some time for them to understand the traffic rules and be able to work with other road users, especially those who are more experienced than them.

When the applicant is younger than 25 years old, it usually takes more time for driving tests in the UK because they are less experienced and need more time for building skills required during driving lessons.

The place of test

If a testing driver has no experience at all, he/she will need additional time and attention during driving tests in the UK, so it might be better to give this person a driving test in an easy location where there are fewer distractions.

On the other hand, if a place of testing is complex with different road users, the examiner will need more time to assess all these factors influencing on driving skills of a driver.

The weather condition

If the weather conditions are bad (for example, it's raining), the process of the test might become more difficult than usual. It goes even worse if there is snow or ice on the road. The duration of the test may increase as the examiner will have to pay attention to weather conditions and consider them when assessing a candidate. The examiner may give you longer or shorter tests if it's raining, windy, snowy or dark outside. Therefore we recommend practising your skills regularly in different weather conditions.

The examiner himself

The examiner is also a factor that influences driving test duration. If he/she is not fully prepared for a test, if they have to work with someone who isn't going to cooperate or other factors can influence the decision-making process, the time taken may increase as well. The examiner's experience also has an impact on how much time should be spent during the driving test. For example, if the examiner is new and has no experience in assessing the driving skills of a person, they might need more time for this process.

The experience of a person being tested

People with experience, for example, those who have been driving already for 5 years or more often need shorter tests because they have a better understanding of many things that affect their driving. The thing is that they are more experienced not only on the road but also when giving driving lessons.

Accidents

If a person being tested has been in an accident, the duration of the driving test might increase. This is because the examiner will need to stay alert and consider everything.

Roadworks

Sometimes roadworks may be held along the route of testing. The thing is that the examiner cannot avoid them, so it might affect the time taken for the driving test in the UK.

The time of the day

If it is rush hour, the traffic might cause additional problems and make the test more difficult and it may end up taking more time.

Traffic

The time taken for driving tests in the UK may increase if there is additional traffic around. The reason for this is that examiner will need to pay attention to all the factors influencing the road environment and consider them while assessing a driver.

On the other hand, if you are not experienced or do not know how to act properly in certain situations, you can take some time to figure out what is the best solution.