Edinburgh is a demanding place to take a driving test. Hills, busy roundabouts, bus lanes, 20 mph streets and fast dual carriageways can all turn up in one 40-minute drive. The good news is that the test rewards preparation, not luck. These nine tips are the ones that make the most difference.
1. Know what the test involves
The car test lasts around 40 minutes. It starts with an eyesight check and vehicle safety questions, known as ‘show me, tell me’. You then drive on a mix of roads, carry out one reversing manoeuvre, and spend about 20 minutes driving independently by following a sat nav or road signs. You may also be asked to do an emergency stop.
You pass if you make no serious or dangerous faults and no more than 15 driving faults.
2. Choose the right test centre
Edinburgh has two practical test centres: Currie in the south-west and Musselburgh in the east. Pick the one nearest to where you have been having lessons, so the kinds of road feel familiar. Our guide to the Edinburgh driving test centres has both addresses and explains which areas each one suits.
3. Do not try to memorise routes
DVSA does not publish its test routes, and examiners vary them. Learning one route by heart teaches you one road. Learning to read junctions, signs and road markings teaches you every road. Practise the types of road around your test centre rather than a fixed loop.
4. Fix the faults that fail most people
Year after year, DVSA’s list of the most common reasons for failing is led by the same few:
- Not making effective observations at junctions
- Not using mirrors correctly when changing direction
- Not moving off safely
- Incorrect positioning when turning right at junctions
- Not responding correctly to traffic lights, signs and road markings
None of these is about gears or car control. They are all about observation and planning, so that is where your practice should go.
5. Get comfortable with Edinburgh’s roads
- Hill starts and downhill junctions
- Multi-lane roundabouts, and choosing your lane early
- Bus lanes and their operating times
- 20 mph zones, where it is easy to creep over the limit
- Dual carriageways, and joining them at the right speed
6. Practise independent driving
About half the test is independent driving. Ask your instructor to run lessons using a sat nav and using road signs, so that following directions feels normal. Taking a wrong turn is not a fault in itself. What matters is that you do it safely.
7. Prepare the day before
- Check you have your provisional licence
- Plan your journey to the test centre and aim to arrive about ten minutes early
- Get a proper night’s sleep
- Eat something beforehand; nerves are worse on an empty stomach
8. Manage your nerves on the day
Everyone is nervous. Breathe slowly before you start, and talk yourself through what you see if it helps. If you make a mistake, let it go. Many people pass with several driving faults, and candidates often assume they have failed when they have not. Keep driving well until the engine is off.
9. Take the test when you are ready
The most reliable way to pass is to be driving at test standard consistently before test day. A failed test means another fee and another wait. Your instructor will tell you honestly when you are ready. If you have a date coming up and need to get there quickly, an intensive driving course can help.
Need help preparing?
We teach in automatic cars on the Edinburgh roads you will meet on your test. Contact us to book a lesson, or see our prices.
Related reading: How many driving lessons do you need?
