Before you even pull away from the test centre, your DVSA examiner will ask you two vehicle safety questions — one "tell me" question answered verbally before you set off, and one "show me" question answered while you are driving. Together they are worth up to one driving fault, so they are easy marks to secure — if you prepare properly.
What Exactly Are "Show Me, Tell Me" Questions?
The DVSA introduced the current format to make sure new drivers understand basic vehicle safety checks, not just how to steer and brake. There are 19 questions in the official DVSA bank, and your examiner will pick one tell me and one show me on the day. You will not know in advance which two you will get, so it pays to know them all.
If you answer both questions incorrectly, you receive one driving fault (a minor). You cannot fail your test on these questions alone, but a driving fault still counts towards your total — and every fault matters when you are aiming for a clean sheet.
Tell Me Questions: Answer Before You Move
Tell me questions are asked in the car before the engine starts. The examiner wants a clear, confident verbal explanation — you do not need to touch anything. Common examples include:
- Tyres: "Tell me how you'd check that the tyres have sufficient tread depth." (Answer: use a tread depth gauge or the 20p coin test; the legal minimum is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.)
- Brakes: "Tell me how you'd check the brakes are working before starting a journey." (Answer: test them as you move off — they should not feel spongy or slack.)
- Power steering: "Tell me how you'd check that the power steering is working." (Answer: gentle resistance felt as the wheel is turned when moving; if it feels heavy, there may be a fault.)
- Engine oil: "Tell me how you'd check the engine has sufficient oil." (Answer: use the dipstick — check it is between the minimum and maximum markers when the engine is cold.)
- Headlights: "Tell me how you'd know if there was a problem with your anti-lock braking system." (Answer: the ABS warning light would stay on.)
Show Me Questions: Demonstrate While Driving
Show me questions are asked once you are moving. The examiner wants you to safely operate a control without losing focus on the road. You must keep full control of the vehicle throughout. Common examples include:
- Rear windscreen demister: "When it's safe to do so, show me how you'd switch on your rear windscreen demister."
- Horn: "When it's safe to do so, show me how you'd operate the horn."
- Heated rear windscreen / front demister: Locating and activating climate controls without looking away from the road for too long.
- Windscreen wipers and washers: Switching them on at a safe, appropriate moment.
- Hazard warning lights: Knowing exactly where the button is so you can press it calmly and quickly.
Three Tips to Nail Them on Test Day
1. Learn the controls of your lesson car cold
Sit in the car before a lesson and physically locate every button. Muscle memory on the day means your eyes stay on the road, which is exactly what the examiner wants to see.
2. Practise your verbal answers out loud
Saying an answer in your head and saying it clearly under pressure are very different things. Ask your instructor to fire random tell me questions at the start of each lesson — make it a habit.
3. Use structured test prep alongside your lessons
Apps like SteerClear — the UK app for practising real DVSA practical driving test routes with live scoring — help you build the overall test confidence that makes small challenges like show me, tell me feel routine rather than daunting.
The Bottom Line
Show me, tell me questions are the only part of your practical driving test you can prepare for word for word. There is no excuse for dropping a fault here. Work through all 19 questions, learn the controls of your car thoroughly, and walk into your test knowing these two marks are already yours.