Part 3a and part 3b
Part 3a takes up to 30 minutes and is held off-road, either with DVSA or with an approved private test provider. You carry out an S-shaped reverse into a bay, and if you are testing with a trailer you also show the uncoupling and recoupling procedure. You must pass 3b within six months of passing 3a.
Part 3b is the on-road test: vehicle safety questions, then about an hour of driving, including moving away uphill and downhill, a controlled stop and 10 minutes of independent driving. You pass with 12 or fewer driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults. See GOV.UK part 3a and part 3b.
Common reasons for faults
- Late or missing mirror checks before changing speed or direction
- Poor positioning on bends and at junctions
- Driving too slowly for conditions, or too fast for the vehicle
- Not allowing for the length of the vehicle when turning
Related licences and Driver CPC
Whether you want to drive a lorry (HGV/LGV training) or a passenger carrying vehicle – a minibus, a bus or a coach under a PCV training licence – the route ends with Driver CPC: the CPC Module 2 case study test and the CPC Module 4 practical demonstration test.
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