Key points
- You do one reversing exercise: a parallel park, a bay park (forwards or in reverse) or pulling up on the right and reversing about 2 car lengths. The examiner chooses.
- Examiners are told to use the exercises evenly and at random, so practise all of them.
- Examiners mark control and all-round observation, plus accuracy where you finish. Parking outside the bay is unacceptable.
- Examiner guidance says about one test in seven includes an emergency stop. Every test includes a controlled stop at the side of the road.
On the UK car test you do one reversing exercise, chosen by the examiner. It will be a parallel park at the side of the road, a bay park (driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out), or pulling up on the right-hand side of the road, reversing about two car lengths and rejoining the traffic.[1] Some tests also include an emergency stop.[1] What the examiner is checking in each case is the same: that you keep the car under control, look all around, and finish safely and accurately.[4]
How the examiner picks your manoeuvre
By law the test includes two set exercises. One is a controlled stop, which happens on every test. The other is one reversing manoeuvre, picked at random.[3] Examiners are told to spread the manoeuvres evenly and avoid patterns by time of day or route, so you can't predict which one you'll get.[3] On car tests, the manoeuvre can come up during the independent driving section.[3]
| Manoeuvre | Where it's usually done | Key points from examiner guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Reverse bay park | Test centre car park, at the start or end of the test[2] | You choose the bay and how to do it. You must finish inside a bay[2] |
| Forward bay park | A car park along the route[2] | Drive into any bay, then reverse out to the left or right[2] |
| Parallel park (reverse park on the road) | A road on the route, alongside a parked car[2] | Within about two car lengths[2] |
| Pull up on the right and reverse | A main road with light to medium traffic[2] | Reverse about two car lengths, then rejoin[1][2] |
Bay parking (reverse or forward)
For a reverse bay park in the test centre car park, the examiner guidance says you may reverse into any bay you choose, and the examiner shouldn't tell you which bay or how to do it.[2] If it's done at the start of the test, you'll be asked to drive out of the bay and stop with your wheels straight, then reverse into a convenient bay.[2] The examiner shouldn't tell you to park in the middle of the bay.[2]
For a forward bay park, the examiner directs you into a suitable car park on the route. You drive forwards into any convenient bay, finishing within the lines, and are then asked to reverse out to the left or right.[2]
How it's judged:
- Parking outside the bay is unacceptable.[2]
- Crossing the lines on the way in normally isn't penalised, and the examiner shouldn't worry too much about exactly where in the bay you finish. They consider whether the car could reasonably be left in that position.[2]
- As an example, finishing with one or two wheels on the bay line is given as a driving fault. Finishing with wheels fully in the next bay is given as a serious fault.[4]
- You're expected to look all round even if the car park is empty. The guidance puts it this way: "The question is not whether there is anybody there, but whether the candidate has taken adequate observations".[2]
Parallel parking
You'll be asked to pull up well before a parked car the examiner points out, then drive alongside it and reverse into a parked position. That's either behind one car, finishing within about two car lengths, or between two cars with a gap of about two car lengths.[2] Parked cars on the other side of the road aren't used for this exercise.[2]
Faults examiners commonly record here include poor coordination of the controls, scrubbing or mounting the kerb, unnecessary shunting backwards and forwards, getting too close to the parked car, finishing too far from the kerb or at an angle, and not completing within two car lengths.[5] On observation, they look for things like missing blind-spot checks and relying too much on the mirrors.[5]
Pull up on the right and reverse
This is done during normal driving on a main road, usually one with light to medium traffic and a clear view ahead and behind.[2] When it's safe, you pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for about two car lengths, then drive on and rejoin your side of the road.[1][2] If you ask the examiner for help, they'll tell you to do it as if you were driving alone, and they won't get out of the car to guide you.[2] The manoeuvre ends when you've stopped reversing and selected neutral.[2]
Judging other traffic is the main thing here. The guidance gives an example: misjudging an approaching vehicle when moving over to the right is a driving fault if nobody was put at risk. It becomes a serious fault if the other driver has to brake heavily for you.[4]
What "control" and "observation" mean
For every manoeuvre, the examiner guidance describes the expected standard as accurate control of the car plus effective all-round observation throughout, with consideration for other road users.[4] In practice:
- Control: well-coordinated use of the controls, no stalling, no scrubbing or mounting the kerb, no turning the wheel the wrong way. Needing to reposition to correct a loss of control or accuracy is given as a driving fault. Excessive repositioning after a complete misjudgement is given as a serious fault.[4][5]
- Observation: blind-spot checks and looking round, not just using mirrors. React to other vehicles and pedestrians you've seen, and don't wait unnecessarily long for them.[5]
Two small things many learners don't know: you're allowed to take your seat belt off while doing a manoeuvre that involves reversing, and you can ask the examiner to help adjust the left-hand door mirror before a manoeuvre.[3]
The controlled stop
Every test includes pulling up on the left, and moving off at an angle from behind a parked vehicle.[2][3] You'll also be asked to do a normal stop at the side of the road and a hill start.[1]
The emergency stop
You might be asked to do an emergency stop.[1] Examiner guidance says it should be done on one in seven tests, chosen at random.[3] Here's how it works:
- The examiner asks you to pull up and explains the exercise.[6]
- The signal is the word "Stop!" said at the same time as the examiner raises their right hand to face level. They'll show you this first.[3]
- Before giving the signal, the examiner looks round to check it's safe. Don't brake when they look round; wait for the actual signal.[3]
- You stop as quickly and safely as possible. Once it's done, you won't be asked to do it again.[6]
If a real emergency has already come up naturally during the test, the exercise isn't needed.[3] The standard expected is stopping safely, promptly and under full control, without locking the wheels. The guidance also reminds examiners that in wet weather it can take twice as long to stop.[4] Faults recorded here include reacting late, putting the handbrake on before the car has stopped, missing the brake pedal, letting go of the steering wheel and skidding out of control.[5]
Common questions
Can I ask to do a different manoeuvre?
No. The examiner chooses, and the guidance asks for the choice to be random and evenly spread.[3]
Is one mistake in a manoeuvre an automatic fail?
Not necessarily. Faults are graded as driving, serious or dangerous depending on the risk.[4] A small correction may be a driving fault or nothing at all. Finishing outside a bay, or putting someone at risk, is far more serious.[2][4] See driving test faults explained.
Sources
- Driving test: cars – What happens during the test
- Guidance for driving examiners (DT1) – 1. Car driving test
- Guidance for driving examiners (DT1) – 6. General technical matters
- Guidance for driving examiners (DT1) – 11. Guide to assessment and marking
- Guidance for driving examiners (DT1) – 12. Finding and recording faults on the digital test report
- Guidance for driving examiners (DT1) – 14. Test wordings
Last checked against the cited sources on 14 October 2026. PassNav is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA, DVLA or TomTom. Our guides are prepared with AI assistance and checked against the official sources cited on each page. Rules and fees change — for current legal requirements and booking rules, always check GOV.UK. This is general guidance and does not replace professional driving instruction. Spotted something out of date? Email passnav@smartaisolution.co.uk — see our editorial policy.