Top 10 reasons learners fail their driving test in the UK: 2026 DVSA figures and an instructor's advice
Nobody likes hearing they've failed their driving test, especially after driving well for most of it. One mistake near the end can be enough. I've seen capable pupils fail that way, then go on to avoid the same fault once they understood what had happened.
I'm John Nicholson, and I've been teaching people to drive in Darlington for more than a decade. Over the years, I've seen the same mistakes pop up again and again. One learner pulls out of a junction too soon. Another changes lanes without checking their mirrors. Someone else approaches traffic lights too quickly and has no time to think.
Figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for April 2025 to March 2026 show the ten faults recorded most often on practical car driving tests in Great Britain. Junction observations came first, followed by mirror use when changing direction and positioning when turning right. Table DRT121F gives the fault ranking, while table DRT121A shows a 50.0% pass rate for practical car tests over the same period.
These figures cover England, Scotland and Wales, not Northern Ireland. One point is worth making: these figures rank the faults recorded during tests. They don't mean every fault on the list caused someone to fail. You can make a driving fault and still pass. A serious or dangerous fault is a different matter.
What actually makes you fail a driving test?
The official driving test marking rules explain the three types of fault an examiner can record:
• Driving faults: Mistakes that aren't potentially dangerous on their own. You can pass with up to 15 of these.
• Serious faults: Mistakes with the potential to cause danger. One means you fail.
• Dangerous faults: Mistakes involving actual danger to people or property. One means you fail.
A pattern of repeated driving faults can become a serious fault. There's no automatic rule, though, that three marks in one box mean you've failed. The examiner looks at what happened and how serious it was.
1. Poor observation at junctions
DVSA ranking: 1st
Junction observations have topped the DVSA list for years. Even so, learners often misunderstand what the examiner is looking for. They tell me, 'But I looked.' My next question is usually, 'What did you see?'
There's a difference between looking and taking in what's happening. You might glance right and left but miss a motorcyclist. You might notice a car but misjudge its speed. Or you could look at the right time, wait a few seconds and then pull out without checking whether the situation has changed.
I remember one pupil waiting at a very busy roundabout. Cars kept coming. He was getting frustrated and just wanted to get out of there. After waiting so long, he started looking for any gap instead of judging whether it was safe.
An examiner once explained a related point to one of my pupils, Sarah: waiting doesn't automatically mean you'll fail. Repeatedly missing safe chances to go is undue hesitation, a different fault from poor observations. But after a long wait, impatience can also take over. Keep assessing each gap properly, and don't pull out just because you've been waiting.
Another pupil turned left from a junction after looking to the right. He hadn't properly checked the road to his left again. Further down, traffic lights had turned red, and a queue had started to build. The road had changed since he'd last looked.
The DVSA's published examples of junction faults include poor judgement of approaching speeds, looking too late and entering a roundabout when another vehicle is approaching from the right. The same guide cites Department for Transport figures showing that ineffective observation by a driver, rider or pedestrian was a factor in 47% of reported collisions in Great Britain in 2023. That figure is about road collisions, not driving test failures.
How to avoid junction faults
Start with your approach speed. If you're heading towards a closed junction, slow enough to give yourself a proper chance to see. At some junctions you'll need to edge forward carefully. At others, you'll need to stop. Don't approach every junction in exactly the same way.
Look both ways, assess how quickly traffic is approaching and look again as needed. Watch for cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists. At crossroads, remember the road ahead as well. Highway Code Rule 170 also explains your responsibilities towards pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross when you turn.
John's tip: Don't rush the last few metres. If you can't see clearly, edge forward only when it's safe and stop where you have a better view. I sometimes ask pupils to imagine crossing that road on foot: would they really step out in front of that vehicle? On a faster road, you need a much bigger safety margin. Take the time to judge it properly.
2. Not using mirrors correctly when changing direction
DVSA ranking: 2nd
You check a mirror to find out what's happening around you, not to prove to the examiner that you remember the routine. It's how you find out who's near your car before you do something that might affect them.
Examiners assess mirror use when you're signalling, changing direction and changing speed. Mirror use when changing direction came second in the DVSA rankings. Whatever you're doing, the check needs to happen in time for you to act on what you see.
A missed check at a roundabout
One of my pupils was following a sat nav towards Barnard Castle. He needed to turn right, taking the fourth exit at a roundabout. As he approached, he started moving across and signalled. What he hadn't done was properly check his centre and right mirrors first.
A car was following closely behind. Because he hadn't checked his mirrors properly, my pupil couldn't tell whether there was enough room for the movement he was making. As he moved across, the examiner took the steering wheel, and my pupil failed his test.
An indicator doesn't give you priority or make another vehicle slow down. Before moving across, he needed to know where the surrounding traffic was and whether he could change position safely.
A bus-lane mistake on Yarm Road
I had another pupil driving along Yarm Road in Darlington town centre. She'd driven well and had made just two driving faults. Then she reached the end of a bus lane and moved without checking properly to the left.
That missed check cost her the test. It's frustrating, but the risk is clear. A bus, cyclist or another permitted road user could be travelling in the space you're about to enter. You wouldn't walk across a busy road without checking. Changing lanes shouldn't be any different. For learners testing locally, I've also covered Yarm Road and nearby junctions in my Darlington driving test route guide.
Remember the mirrors when slowing down
Changing speed is assessed under a different mirror-use category, but the principle is the same. One of my pupils approached traffic lights as they changed. He stopped, but he hadn't checked his centre mirror early enough to see how close the vehicle behind was. His braking forced the following driver to react sharply.
Highway Code Rules 159–161 explain the need to check mirrors and blind spots before moving and to use mirrors before signalling or changing direction or speed.
John's tip: Forget the myth that every good driver must check every mirror at fixed intervals. Build your checks around what's happening. About to signal? Know who's behind you. Moving sideways? Check the side you're moving towards. Slowing? Check behind early. Every mirror check should have a purpose.
3. Incorrect positioning when turning right at junctions
DVSA ranking: 3rd
When you're turning right, where you wait matters. Wait too far left on a wide road and you may block vehicles that could otherwise pass safely. Move too far right and you could obstruct oncoming traffic.
I see this particularly often with some pupils who have driven abroad. They may be experienced drivers, but the layout and conventions of UK junctions can differ from what they're used to. Even experienced drivers need to get used to how junctions work here.
A pupil of mine failed while waiting to turn right near Blackwell. He stayed too far to the left instead of positioning towards the centre line where it was safe. The road had a 60mph speed limit and there was enough room for following traffic to pass if he'd positioned better. Instead, vehicles were held up behind him.
Make your intentions clear
Start looking for the right lane and turning area before you get to the junction. If there's a marked turning area or right-turn lane, use it correctly. If there are no markings, position as close to the centre of the road as is safe, without putting yourself or others at risk.
Highway Code Rules 179 and 180 cover right turns and positioning. Rule 174 covers yellow box junctions. You must not enter a yellow box unless your exit is clear. There is an exception when you're turning right and can only wait because of oncoming traffic or other vehicles waiting to turn right. It isn't a general place to stop while you wait for the road ahead to clear.
John's tip: Practise right turns at traffic-light-controlled crossroads as well as ordinary side roads. Use the road markings and the centre of the road you're turning into to judge your path. Keep practising until you can get into position without staring at the bonnet or making a last-second correction. Good positioning helps other road users understand what you're doing.
4. Not responding correctly to traffic lights
DVSA ranking: 4th
One of my pupils was having a really good test. He'd made just one driving fault when he arrived at some traffic lights, third in a queue of cars. He followed the cars ahead, but the signal changed as he reached the advanced stop-line area for cyclists. He stopped inside it.
Unfortunately, he failed, and he was gutted. But stopping inside that area, on its own, doesn't explain why a fault was marked. The important questions are what the lights showed when he crossed the first stop line and whether he could have stopped safely beforehand.
There's an important distinction to make here. Highway Code Rule 178 says that if you've already crossed the first line when the signal turns red, you must stop at the second line. Stopping between the lines is therefore not automatically wrong. Whether the driver made a fault depends on when the lights changed, where the car was and how the driver approached. That's why I want pupils to understand the rule rather than assume that stopping inside the cycle area is always wrong.
What should you do at amber?
Amber means stop, unless you've already crossed the stop line or you're so close that stopping could cause a collision. Red means stop. Green means you may proceed if the way is clear.
Another common problem occurs when you're already in a junction waiting to turn right. When the oncoming traffic stops, you should complete the turn once it's safe to do so. Waiting there longer than necessary could block traffic when the other lights turn green. But never turn simply because the lights have changed if another vehicle or pedestrian makes it unsafe.
Don't enter a junction on green if a queue ahead means you'll be stuck blocking it. A green light doesn't mean you should drive into a blocked junction. The Highway Code's traffic-light rules explain the different situations.
John's tip: Look at what's happening around the lights, not just the signal itself. Cars slowing, a busy crossing or people waiting to cross are all reasons to be prepared. None tells you exactly when the lights will change. Plan your approach so you can stop safely if you need to.
5. Poor steering control
DVSA ranking: 5th
The examiner wants to see that you can steer at the right time, control the car and keep a safe distance from kerbs, parked vehicles and oncoming traffic. You don't have to use the pull-push method to pass. If your steering is safe and effective, there's no reason to change it just for the test.
Sam, a pupil I taught years ago, failed when driving around a parked car. He waited until he was too close before steering out. By then, he couldn't leave enough room between the cars.
Why steering faults happen
Some learners look directly at what they're trying to avoid. Others hold the wheel so tightly that their movements become abrupt. On narrow roads, a driver may turn too early and clip the kerb. On a bend, they may turn too late and drift towards another lane.
The DVSA's examples of steering faults include steering too early or late, losing position and getting too close to parked vehicles. Work on those problems rather than trying to copy exactly how someone else holds the wheel.
Practise your position, not just your hands
John's tip: Keep a secure but relaxed grip. I teach pupils to avoid hooking their thumbs tightly inside the steering wheel because it can make them grip awkwardly. Find a hand position that lets you steer freely without losing control. Where you look and when you start steering matter just as much as how you hold the wheel.
6. Not moving off safely
DVSA ranking: 6th
One pupil wasn't checking his blind spot properly. He looked towards the door window, but didn't turn far enough to see behind him properly. It looked as though he'd checked, yet he could still have missed a vehicle coming up alongside him.
He made the same type of mistake several times during his test and failed. That doesn't mean there's an automatic three-fault rule. The examiner judged his observations to be inadequate.
Check before you commit
When you're parked on the left, start by checking around the car. Use the centre mirror to assess traffic behind, then the appropriate door mirror and blind spot before moving. Make sure the gap is still safe as you set off.
Don't forget the emergency stop exercise. Afterwards, your car may be stopped in the middle of the road. Before moving again, check behind and around you properly. The DVSA specifically identifies missing rear observations after an emergency stop as a possible moving-off safety fault.
Mirrors also have limitations. Door mirrors can make vehicles appear smaller or further away than they are. The centre mirror helps you judge traffic approaching from behind, but no mirror shows everything. Check the places that matter before moving.
John's tip: Don't make the blind-spot check an afterthought. Check the relevant area immediately before moving, then move only if it's still safe. I'd rather a learner take another moment than pull out in front of a car, cyclist or motorcyclist they haven't seen.
7. Not responding correctly to road markings
DVSA ranking: 7th
Road markings tell you which lane to use, where to stop, where to give way and which areas to keep clear. The problem is that some learners don't notice them until they're almost on top of them.
From the first driving lesson, I warn pupils about what I call bonnet gazing. That's when someone spends too much time watching the road immediately in front of the car. If that's all you look at, you don't give yourself much warning about the junction or road layout ahead.
Imagine approaching a junction where the left-hand lane has a left-turn arrow painted on the road. If you carry straight on from that lane, you could cross the path of traffic using the lane for going ahead. The problem is not just missing a direction; it's failing to respond to the road marking before you commit to the manoeuvre.
That's why I ask pupils to read the road surface as well as the signs. Spotting lane arrows early gives you time to choose the correct position without a last-second change.
Learn the markings before you need them
It's not just lane arrows. Think about give-way lines, stop lines, double white lines, hatching, bus lanes, cycle lanes, box junctions, keep-clear markings and pedestrian crossings.
Each has a different meaning. You can't spend the last two seconds before a junction trying to remember it. If you approach a busy roundabout at speed, you need to understand the lane instructions well before you arrive.
The Highway Code's road-markings section is a useful reference. Review anything you're unsure about with your instructor, then practise recognising it on real roads. Passing the theory test shouldn't mean you stop learning the signs and markings.
Look ahead, then scan back
Try to see the junction early. Look for road signs and lane arrows. Then scan back towards the space around your vehicle. You can then choose the right lane without having to swerve across at the last moment.
John's tip: If the junction looks complicated, reduce your speed appropriately on the approach. You wouldn't run towards a cliff edge without slowing down. Give yourself that same chance to think when the road ahead needs a decision. More time usually means better observations and fewer rushed mistakes.
8. Not responding correctly to traffic signs
DVSA ranking: 8th
I see two problems repeatedly. Some learners don't spot a sign at all. Others see it but don't understand what it requires, or they leave their response too late.
Years ago, a pupil of mine approached a right turn where two junctions were close together. She began turning towards a road with a No Entry sign. The examiner had to intervene before she entered it.
Which signs should you know?
You need to understand any sign you might meet on your journey. When preparing for your test, pay particular attention to: speed limits, no-entry signs, one-way streets, compulsory directions, bus-lane restrictions, no-left-turn and no-right-turn signs, mini-roundabout signs and advance lane directions.
It's worth revising the Department for Transport's free Know Your Traffic Signs guide. I've also written a beginner's guide to UK road signs and their meanings for learners who want a simpler introduction. I'd much rather someone learn what a sign means before meeting it at a busy junction than try to puzzle it out at the last moment. That's why the theory test checks whether you understand road signs.
What if you miss a sign?
Don't suddenly cut across traffic to correct the route. Continue in a lawful, safe direction and let the examiner redirect you if necessary. A wrong turn is not automatically a test fault; a dangerous correction can be.
John's tip: Look as far along the road as conditions allow, without losing awareness of nearby hazards. The earlier you see a sign, the more seconds you have to work out what it means. You'll have more time to respond when several things happen together.
9. Poor road positioning during normal driving
DVSA ranking: 9th
I teach my pupils to develop a normal road position, or NRP. That's where you normally drive when you're not turning, overtaking or changing your position for another reason.
In Great Britain we drive on the left, but that doesn't mean hugging the kerb. You need space on both sides of the car. Too far left and you might catch the kerb or leave no room to turn. Too far right and an oncoming driver may think you're about to move into their lane.
One pupil failed after driving very close to the kerb. When he reached the end of the road and turned left, he mounted the kerb. He'd left himself too little room to steer into the new road safely.
What is a good normal road position?
On an ordinary road, aim for a safe, steady position within your lane, leaving suitable room from the kerb and oncoming traffic. I often use the left-hand kerb as a teaching reference. That can be more useful than staring at the centre line, especially when the road becomes wider.
I may use a distance of around a metre from the kerb as a practice reference on a suitable road, but one metre is not a rule for every situation. Narrow lanes, parked vehicles, cyclists and different road layouts all change where the car should be.
On one-way streets, your position will depend on your intended direction, the markings and the available space. If you're turning right, you may need to position towards the right-hand side. At a roundabout, stay within the lane indicated and don't cut across other lanes simply because you're travelling straight ahead.
The DVSA's normal-positioning examples include repeatedly driving too close to the kerb or centre, unnecessary use of the right-hand lane on a dual carriageway and cutting across a roundabout.
Plan your lanes before they change
John's tip: Use a reference point, but remember to look up at the road ahead. A learner who only watches the kerb can drift towards it. A learner who watches only the centre line can drift away from the left-hand side as the road widens. Take in the whole lane and leave yourself room to steer.
10. Not making reasonable progress
DVSA ranking: 10th
I had a pupil who was a lovely driver during lessons. She could control the car, read the road and make good progress. But on test day, she drove much more slowly than she ever had in lessons.
Afterwards, I asked what had changed. Her mum had told her the night before to take her time so she'd pass. She'd taken that advice to mean driving slowly everywhere, even where it was safe to make more progress.
When driving too slowly becomes a fault
The DVSA assesses maintaining progress separately from speeding. Driving unnecessarily slowly when the road is clear can hold up other traffic. But a speed limit is a maximum, not a speed you must achieve. Highway Code Rules 125 and 126 make clear that you must drive at a speed that lets you stop safely within the distance you can see to be clear.
Aim to keep moving at a suitable pace when the road is clear, without rushing towards hazards. If visibility is poor, a road is narrow or traffic is unpredictable, slowing down is sensible driving, not a failure to make progress.
Learn to judge speed comfortably
I practise maintaining a steady speed with pupils on suitable roads. You should be able to use the accelerator smoothly without constantly staring at the speedometer. Then we practise easing off early for junctions, bends and changes in the limit.
John's tip: Look ahead and ask whether you're holding up traffic unnecessarily when the road is clear. Know the limit, then choose a speed that makes sense for the space, visibility and traffic. Don't suddenly adopt a different style of driving because you're on test. Show the examiner the safe, controlled driving you've practised.
Bonus: How to avoid faults during reversing manoeuvres
The current practical test includes one reversing exercise, selected from four possible manoeuvres. According to GOV.UK's driving test guidance, you may be asked to:
- Parallel park at the side of the road.
- Reverse into a parking bay, then drive out.
- Pull up on the right-hand side, reverse for around two car lengths and rejoin the traffic.
- Drive forward into a parking bay, then reverse out.
Control the speed first
There's no need to rush a reversing exercise. I often get pupils to practise at walking pace or slower, sometimes at around 1mph in a manual car when conditions allow. That's a teaching guide, not an official test speed. Keeping the car moving slowly gives you time to steer, stop and check what's around you.
Don't become so interested in the parking space that you forget pedestrians, other cars or cyclists. Look through the rear window where appropriate, use mirrors to help with position and check blind spots as the situation demands. If someone approaches and you can't continue safely, stop and reassess.
Can you correct your parking?
Yes. You can make an adjustment if the car isn't where you want it, provided you do it safely. There is no guaranteed allowance of three shunts. A correction won't automatically mean failure, but losing control or failing to observe properly can.
John's tip: Treat every change of direction as a fresh opportunity to check around the car. If you stop, adjust and move again, don't forget the observations. The examiner wants to see a safe manoeuvre, not just a car that ends up between the lines.
How to improve your chances of passing first time
Start with the mistakes you make most often. If you keep missing mirror checks, don't simply tell yourself to remember them next time. Practise linking the check to a real decision: moving lanes, signalling or slowing down. If you hesitate at junctions, work on recognising safe gaps while remaining patient when the gap isn't there.
Want to check how ready you are for your practical driving test? Try our free Driving Test Pass or Fail Predictor to review your preparation and identify areas to practise before test day.
Mock tests can help. You drive with less help from your instructor and find out whether your usual habits hold up on your own. You also get used to being assessed, which can make the real test feel less unfamiliar. If you're unfamiliar with where you'll take your test, my UK driving test centre directory is another starting point for local information.
Get comfortable with independent driving
The independent driving section now lasts 20 to 35 minutes. You may follow a sat nav, traffic signs or a combination of both. The examiner tells you what to follow and sets up the sat nav when one is used. Since changes introduced in November 2025, independent driving can extend through much of the test.
If you take the wrong turning, don't panic. The official guidance says you won't be marked down simply for going off route. You still have to drive safely, obey road signs and avoid cutting across traffic to recover a missed instruction.
Use feedback properly
If your instructor points out a mistake, find out why it happened. Were you watching the wrong part of the road? Did you approach too quickly? Did you know the rule but forget to follow it? Once you know the cause, you know what to practise.
Final thoughts: Why do so many learners make the same mistakes?
After years of teaching in Darlington, I keep coming back to two things: speed and planning.
Sometimes the car is moving too quickly for the learner to read the road. Sometimes their hands or feet are moving too quickly. And sometimes the decision happens before the observations are complete.
That's why I don't just teach pupils the list of things that can make them fail. I want them to understand why a particular action is unsafe. Once they can recognise the danger, they have a reason to change their habits.
Don't mistake that for driving slowly everywhere. You need to make progress when it's safe and wait when it's not. Make a decision when you've checked it's safe, not because you feel rushed. Keep looking properly, even on roads you know well.
If you're preparing for your test, use these ten reasons as a checklist with your instructor. Practise the ones you struggle with until you can handle them consistently. If you're nearby, you can find out more about my driving lessons in Darlington. For learners further afield, JNDS Online's driving courses provide another way to prepare alongside practical lessons.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common reason for failing a driving test in the UK?
Poor observations at junctions top the DVSA's latest annual ranking of car driving test faults in Great Britain. The figures cover April 2025 to March 2026. That can mean looking too late, missing another vehicle or misjudging how fast it's approaching. Remember that Great Britain figures don't cover Northern Ireland.
How many minor faults can you have and still pass?
You can pass with 15 or fewer driving faults, as long as you have no serious or dangerous faults. Repeated driving faults may become serious, depending on what happens. There's no automatic three-fault rule. See the official DVSA marking explanation.
Can you fail for driving too slowly?
Yes, if you're driving unnecessarily slowly and failing to make reasonable progress when it is safe. But you should always reduce speed for poor visibility, bad weather, pedestrians, parked vehicles and other hazards. The speed limit is a maximum, not a target you have to reach.
What if I take the wrong turn while following the sat nav?
You won't receive a driving fault just for taking a wrong turning. Follow the road safely and let the examiner give you new directions. What matters is that you don't create danger by swerving, cutting across lanes or ignoring signs.
How many times can I correct a parking manoeuvre?
There isn't a fixed number of permitted adjustments. You may correct your position when necessary, but each movement must be controlled and safe. Keep making effective observations, particularly before moving again.
How long is the independent driving section?
Under current DVSA guidance, it lasts between 20 and 35 minutes. You may follow a sat nav, road signs or both. The examiner will explain the arrangement and set up the sat nav when needed.
What should I do if I've already failed a driving test?
Go through your fault report with your instructor and practise the situations that caused problems. You can read my separate guide to what happens if you fail your driving test for the next steps.
What's the best way to prepare for a first-time pass?
Practise the faults you make during lessons. Ask your instructor to explain what caused them and how to fix them. Use mock tests, drive on different types of road and learn to make safe decisions without constant prompting. What matters is showing you can make safe decisions without someone telling you what to do.
