Booking the Test in Guernsey

Practical driving tests can normally only be taken after you have held your provisional driving licence for at least one month.  The test can be booked at the Bulwer Avenue offices between the hours of 8.45am and 5.00pm (Mondays to Fridays).  The Department is unable to accept bookings over the telephone.

When booking your driving test, please remember to bring the following:

• Provisional Driving Licence (BOTH plastic card and paper counterpart)
• Theory test pass certificate
• C.B.T. certificate (motorcycle candidates only)
• Payment for the test - this can only be made at the time of booking

A 1.95% charge is levied against payments made by credit card.  This charge does not apply to debit / switch card payments.

The latest fees for the practical driving can be found in the downloads at the top of this page.

Please not that, although the Department will always try its best to accommodate your requirements, test spaces do get booked up well in advance, sometimes for several weeks at a time, so it is advisable to book early.

When the test has been booked, you will be given a booking receipt.  Please retain this as you will need it when taking the actual test.

Booking the Test in Alderney

Alderney candidates should go to the States Offices in Alderney with the above pieces of information needed to book a test.  You will then be advised what to do in order to contact the Alderney driving examiner, Mr Ralph Burridge, to organise a test time.

Cancellations

If you need to cancel your driving test, then please try to give us as much notice as possible.  The Department is only able to refund the test fee if the cancellation is made at least seven working days in advance.

If the cancellation is made with less than seven working days notice, the test fee can only be refunded if the test was cancelled on medical grounds and a doctor's certificate is provided.

Vehicle Requirements

Please note that in order to be used for a driving test, vehicles MUST:

• Display properly sized and mounted L-Plates
• Be properly insured
• Display a valid tax disc
• Be fitted in the passenger seat with a head restraint and seatbelt in good working order (cars and light goods vehicles only.  This applies even if they are normally exempt under the Seat Belts Ordinance, 1998).
• Be disconnected from dual control accelerator pedals.  The engine must not be altered to run especially fast.
• Comply with the requirements for Minimum Test Vehicles.  Details of the requirements for Minimum Test Vehicles can be found in the downloads box at the top of this page.

If you pass your test in a motor vehicle which has automatic transmission your full licence will be restricted to the use of such vehicles (except licences in category P).

Arriving for the Test

Driving test begin and end at the Environment Department offices at Bulwer Avenue at the junction with Longue Hougue.

Please endeavour to arrive for your test ten minutes early.  Please remember that the examiners have a tight timetable of test each day and you may miss your test if you are late arriving.

When arriving for your test you will need to:

• Park your vehicle on one of the driving test bays, which are clearly signposted from the road.
• Report to the Driving Test Waiting Room, where an Examiner will meet you.

You should have with you the following information:

• Provisional Driving Licence (BOTH plastic card and paper counterpart)
• Theory test pass certificate
• CBT certificate (motorcycle candidates only)
• Booking receipt (issued at the time of booking)

Before the test commences you will be asked to do two things:

1.  Sign the Driving Examiner's report form. 

This signature should be identical to that on your driving licence.  Varying your signature can result in delays and the possible cancellation of your test.

2.  Take an eye-sight test.

The Examiner will point out a vehicle, and ask you to read the number plate from a distance of approximately 22.5 metres.  This is the minumum distance you are required to be able to read a number plate in order to continue with the practical test.

If you need glasses or contact lenses to read the number plate, that is fine.  However, you must wear them during the test and whenever you drive.  If you have had sight correction surgery you should declare this when you apply for your provisional licence.

If you cannot show your examiner that your eyesight is up to the required standard, you will have failed yuor driving test, and the test will go no further.

Taking the Test

The test is designed to see that you can drive safely and competently in various road and traffic conditions.  Your Examiner will try to put you at ease, and is unlikely to say much other than to give instructions, to minimize distractions whilst you are driving.

If you wish for a friend, relative or driving instructor to accompany you on your test, this is permissible, as long as they do not interfere, or distract you from your driving.

The actual test will take approximately 40 minutes, during which time you will be tested on your general driving skills, as well as being asked to coomplete two of the following manoeuvers:

• Reversing round a corner
• 3-point turn
• Reverse parking

You are also likely to be asked to do an emergency stop.  The driving examiner will give you plenty of warning.

When taking a test on a motorcycle, tractor, or other vehicle where the driving examiner follows in his car, you will be invited to wear an easy fitting radio receiver so that the examiner can give instructions to you by radio during your test.

It is in your own interest that you agree to use the radio, as should traffic conditions cause you to become separated from the examiner, he can easily request you to stop to allow time for him to catch up with you.

Do not worry about making small mistakes during you driving test.  The examiner will note minor driving mistakes, and you may have up to 15 minor mistakes before failing the test.

However, if you display dangerous driving, you will fail the test, and it will be up to the driving examiner to decide whether or not to continue to the end of the test.

Test Results

At the end of your test, when you have driven back into the test centre and parked your vehicle, you will be told immediately by the examiner whether you have passed or failed.

If you have passed your test, you will be given a green pass certificate, which enables you to drive for the following 7 days as if you hold a full driving licence in that category.  However, if you do not apply for a full driving licence within those seven days, you must return to driving under provisional licence conditions until you obtain a full driving licence.

Your pass certificate can be exchanged for a full licence up to a year after your test, after which it is no longer valid.

If you fail your test, you will have the opportunity to ask the examiner any questions concerning the reason for failure.

You can either book another test straight away (bearing in mind that there is probably a waiting list) or continue to have more practice until you feel you are confident enough to try again.