Independent Driving and Sat Nav on Your Test

Independent driving checks whether you can make your own decisions safely without being told where to turn. It takes up about 20 minutes of the driving test.

How it works

On most tests you follow directions from a sat nav provided and set up by the examiner. You don't need to bring your own. On some tests you follow traffic signs instead. Either way, the examiner may help if you're unsure.

Going the wrong way isn't a fault

If you take a wrong turn, it doesn't matter, as long as you do it safely. The examiner will help you get back on route. What matters is that you don't make a sudden, unsafe change to follow the directions.

Tips

• Glance at the sat nav briefly, like you'd check a mirror. Never stare at it.
• Listen to the voice directions so your eyes stay on the road.
• Read lane markings and signs early. They often confirm what the sat nav is telling you.
• If you can't hear or understand a direction, ask the examiner to repeat it.

Practise it before your test

During later lessons, we use a sat nav on unfamiliar routes so it feels completely normal by test day. It's also how most people drive once they've passed, so it's a skill worth having.

Read more about the full test format.