How to Appeal a Driving Test?

Taking your driving test—whether it’s your first or fifth attempt—can be a stressful and nerve-wracking experience. As you might expect, these feelings are intensified if you happen to fail. In most cases, learners are aware of their mistake as soon as it happens during the practical test.

However, in some instances, learners may feel that the examiner is treating them unfairly or misjudging their ability in a discriminatory way. This can lead to questions about whether it’s possible to appeal a driving test.

In short, it is possible to appeal a driving test. But how exactly do you go about it?

Failing your driving test

Unfortunately, as many learners know, failure is always a possibility when taking the practical test. Whether it's your first attempt or your tenth, there’s always something that could trip you up—as highlighted in the top 10 reasons people fail their driving test.

Sometimes, nerves can get the better of you, while other times, it’s just a few small mistakes that add up. The key takeaway is that you're not alone in this experience.

Figuring out where you went wrong

During your practical test, you’re allowed up to 15 driving faults (minors), but no serious or dangerous faults (majors). Some common faults include:

  • Moving away: Failing to carry out proper checks before moving off is a minor fault—though it could become a major fault if you move away when it’s not safe.
  • Emergency stop: You need to demonstrate full control when stopping quickly. Some learners make the mistake of using both the clutch and footbrake. Want to test your reaction time? Try the Leo Driving School emergency stop game.
  • Turn in the road: If you can’t complete the manoeuvre within five moves or touch the kerb, you’ll get a minor fault.
  • Starting the engine: If the car is in gear, you don't press the clutch, or the handbrake isn’t applied, you could run into several problems.

At the end of your test, the examiner will tell you what faults you made. You’ll receive a feedback sheet, which will be invaluable for helping you improve your driving in the future. If you know which areas you’re weakest in, you can focus on them before retaking the practical. If your driving instructor observed your test, they’ll also be able to give you further feedback.

You might, for instance, need to revisit a particular road feature—such as a roundabout—that tripped you up during your test to avoid repeating the same mistake. In most cases, learners accept the examiner’s decision, though they might not be happy with the result. The best drivers recognise their own limitations and mistakes.

Appealing a driving test

If you feel like the examiner made an error or treated you unfairly, you may wonder whether you can appeal your driving test result.

When can you appeal a driving test?

While many learners accept the final decision made by the examiner, some might feel that something was wrong with the process. The likelihood of a successful appeal depends entirely on the reasons for your complaint.

If you’re convinced you’re a good driver and believe the examiner simply didn’t understand your skills (despite their years of experience), you probably won’t have grounds to appeal. Examiners don’t fail students just because they can—there needs to be a valid reason.

You can appeal a driving test if you believe the examiner didn’t follow proper regulations or if you feel that they were deliberately failing you or treating you in a discriminatory or malicious way.

What result can I expect?

If you’re hoping that appealing your driving test result will overturn the examiner’s decision, you’ll likely be disappointed. Even if the DVSA finds that your examiner has a history of complaints or failing students unfairly, they cannot alter your driving test result. However, they can investigate whether your allegations against the examiner are valid.

While the result of your test won’t change, a successful appeal might result in a free retest, saving you £62!

How does the process work?

To complain about your practical test, you can contact the DVSA by email, phone, or post. You’ll receive a response within 10 working days.

To formally appeal a driving test, however, you’ll need to follow a different process. If you believe that the examiner didn’t follow regulations during your practical, the result won’t change, but you could be entitled to a free retest if your appeal is successful.

  • In England or Wales, you must send your appeal to a Magistrate’s Court within six months of taking the test.
  • In Scotland, you need to send your appeal to a Sheriff’s Court within 21 days.

Get back behind the wheel

Failing your test can be disheartening, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your journey.

As we mentioned earlier, it could be something minor that led to your failure. If that’s the case, you might want to consider a refresher course—like our 10-hour driving course—ideal for learners who are almost test-ready but need some extra lessons to resolve any issues.

The longer you leave between practical tests, the more likely your skills will slip. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about long waiting times for a driving test with Leo Driving School. By taking advantage of driving test cancellations, we can help you secure a fast-track practical test and get you on the road sooner.