When you sit your UK practical driving test, the examiner carefully records every action you take behind the wheel. Mistakes are inevitable, but not all errors carry the same weight. To make sense of the scoring system, it’s important to understand the three types of faults:

1. Driving Faults (Minors)

  • These are small mistakes that aren’t immediately dangerous.
  • Examples: stalling the car once, forgetting to check a mirror before a turn, or slightly incorrect positioning.
  • You can make up to 15 minor faults and still pass.
  • However, if you repeat the same minor fault too often (e.g., consistently failing to check mirrors), it can be escalated into a serious fault.

2. Serious Faults

  • A serious fault is something that has the potential to be dangerous, even if no accident occurs.
  • Examples: failing to give way at a junction, poor lane discipline, or not responding correctly to traffic signs.
  • Just one serious fault means an automatic fail.
  • These faults show that your driving could put yourself or others at risk if repeated in real-world conditions.

3. Dangerous Faults

  • The most severe category: a dangerous fault involves actual danger to you, the examiner, the public, or property.
  • Examples: pulling out into fast-moving traffic without checking, running a red light, or mounting the pavement.
  • A dangerous fault results in immediate failure of the test, regardless of how well you drove otherwise.

📊 Pass/Fail Criteria

To pass your UK driving test, you must:

  • Have no serious or dangerous faults.
  • Accumulate no more than 15 minor faults.

This system ensures that learners can make small mistakes without being penalised too harshly, but safety-critical errors are taken very seriously.

📝 Why These Categories Matter

  • Minors show areas where you need improvement but don’t compromise safety.
  • Serious faults highlight gaps in judgment or awareness that could lead to accidents.
  • Dangerous faults demonstrate unsafe driving that poses an immediate risk.

Understanding these differences helps learners focus their practice on avoiding the mistakes that matter most. It also reassures nervous drivers that a few small slip-ups won’t ruin their chances of passing.

✅ Final Thoughts

The UK driving test isn’t about perfection—it’s about proving you can drive safely and responsibly. Knowing the difference between minor, serious, and dangerous faults can help you prepare more effectively and approach test day with confidence.

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