The Chelmsford Driving Test Centre.

The Chelmsford Driving Test Centre is at Synergy Centre, 4 Hoffmanns Way, Chelmsford, CM1 1GU.  If needed tests can also be taken at Brentwood or Hornchurch.  

Please see below for what to expect on your practical driving test. 

About The Practical Driving Test.

On arrival at the test centre you will go and wait in the waiting room for your examiner.  Your examiner will come out and call your name and check your licence and appointment paperwork.  He will then get you to sign the test sheet to confirm your address and insurance and he will ask if you would like your instructor or observer present on test and/or at the test debrief.  He will then ask you to lead him or her to the car. 

The Practical Driving Test involves 3 parts. 

Eyesight test, Vehicle Safety Questions, The Drive.

Eyesight Test.

You will be asked to read the number plate of a stationary vehicle from 67ft (20.5m) or 66ft (20m) in the case of it being a new-style plate. As your Instructor I will test your eyesight on your first lesson. If you need to wear glasses please wear them at all times during lessons and test.

Vehicle Safety Questions (Show Me Tell Me).

You will be asked two questions, one show me and one tell me on vehicle safety.  Failure to answer one or both correctly will result in a minor fault being recorded on your test sheet.  You can download all the questions on a PDF from the directgov website.  As your instructor I will also take you through these question relating to our car in our lesson prior to test.

The Drive.

You will drive the car for around 35 to 40 minutes on test routes that offer a range of road and traffic conditions.  For 10 minutes of the test you will be asked to drive independantly, either by following traffic signs or a series of verbal directions or a combination of both.  Throughout the test you will be asked to do several 'controlled stops' to test your ability to move off and stop safely.  Within this drive you will be asked to perform 1 reversing manoeuvre out of 'Turn In The Road', 'Reverse Round A Corner', 'Parellel Parking' and 'Bay Parking' if the test centre has bays.  You may also be asked to perform 'The Emergency Stop'.  You are allowed to commit up to 15 driving (minor) faults during the test, but no serious or dangerous faults. Repeated instances of the same driving fault would be classed as an habitual problem and be declared a serious fault. If you commit even one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the test.  At the end of the test the examiner will give you the result and offer a debrief. 

Are You Ready?

As your instructor throughout your lessons I will prepare you to have the ability to pass first time.  As a responsible adi I am only allowed to present pupils who are ready for test.  Failure to do this is detrimental to my reputation and also more costly to you as tests and extra driving lessons are not cheap.  Please be guided by my professional opinion on test readiness.  My training goal is to produce safe drivers for life and to produce first time results.