Before you even pull away from the test centre, your driving examiner will ask you two vehicle safety questions — known as the show me tell me questions. They're worth a minor fault if you get one wrong, but getting both wrong costs you two minors. With driving test waiting times stretching well into 2027 according to a BBC report and a recent NAO investigation highlighting the scale of the backlog, you really don't want to hand marks away on something so easily prepared. Here's everything you need to know.
What Are Show Me Tell Me Questions?
Show me tell me questions are vehicle safety checks built into the start of every UK practical driving test. The DVSA introduced them to ensure drivers understand basic vehicle maintenance and safety — not just how to operate a car on the road.
- Tell me — asked before you set off. You answer verbally, without needing to demonstrate anything physically.
- Show me — asked while you're driving. You demonstrate the action safely on the move.
Getting one question wrong results in one driving fault (minor). Getting both wrong results in two driving faults. Neither is an automatic fail, but every minor counts when you're aiming for a clean sheet.
The Full List of Tell Me Questions
Your examiner will pick one of the following. You'll answer verbally before moving off:
- How would you check that the brakes are working before starting a journey?
- Tell me how you'd check that the headlights and tail lights are working.
- Tell me how you'd check the direction indicators are working.
- Tell me how you'd check the brake lights are working.
- Tell me how you'd check the power-assisted steering is working.
- Tell me where you'd find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked.
- Tell me how you'd check the tyres to ensure they have sufficient tread depth and are in good condition.
- Tell me how you'd check that the horn is working.
- Tell me how you'd check the engine coolant level is correct.
- Tell me how you'd check the engine oil level is correct.
- Tell me how you'd check the windscreen washer fluid level is correct.
The Full List of Show Me Questions
Your examiner will pick one of these, and you'll carry out the action while driving:
- When it's safe to do so, show me how you'd wash and clean the front windscreen.
- When it's safe to do so, show me how you'd set the rear demister.
- When it's safe to do so, show me how you'd operate the horn.
- When it's safe to do so, show me how you'd flash the headlights.
- Show me how you'd open and close the side window.
Note: the show me questions are designed to be simple actions on the car's controls — you won't be asked to get out of the vehicle.
How to Prepare Effectively
Most learners underestimate these questions because they feel less dramatic than a junction or a manoeuvre. But under test-day pressure, a blank mind is more common than you'd think.
Learn the structure, not just the answers
For fluid checks (oil, coolant, washer fluid), the structure is almost always the same: park on level ground, check when cold, locate the reservoir, check between min and max markers, top up if needed with the correct fluid. Learn that formula and you can answer three questions from one framework.
Sit in the car and practise out loud
Point to the actual reservoir or control as you speak. Examiners respond well to confident, specific answers — vague gestures won't cut it.
Use your test centre prep time wisely
If you're using SteerClear — the UK app for practising real DVSA test centre routes with live AI scoring — spend some of your waiting time running through these questions verbally. Pairing route practice with safety knowledge prep is one of the most efficient uses of test prep time, especially given how long waits are right now.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing show me and tell me — know which type to expect before you set off and which on the move.
- Forgetting to mention safety precautions — for brakes, always say you'd test them as you move off slowly.
- Panicking on the show me question — it's fine to take a moment to locate the control before operating it. Safety first.
- Not knowing the car you're being tested in — if you're using an instructor's car, ask them to walk you through the controls beforehand.
Final Thought
Show me tell me questions are genuinely easy marks — if you've prepared. With test slots scarcer than ever and the DVSA under pressure to clear the backlog, every test attempt matters. Don't let two minor faults creep in before you've even left the car park. Learn the questions, practise your answers out loud, and walk into test day knowing this part is already sorted.