Using your own car for your driving test: rules, checks and banned models

The rules your car must meet

GOV.UK notes that most people take the test in their driving instructor's car. If you bring your own, the examiner will expect every item below.

For the tint rules, cars first used from 1 April 1985 need a windscreen that lets through at least 75% of light and front side windows that let through at least 70%. Tidy the car too: GOV.UK asks you to clear rubbish and loose items from the dashboard, footwells, door pockets, cup holders and seats. Nobody can smoke in the car just before or during the test.

Tax, MOT and insurance

The car must be taxed and have a current MOT if it's over three years old. It must also be insured for a driving test. Don't assume your policy covers this: GOV.UK tells you to check with your insurance company. Our guide to learner driver insurance in the UK explains the policy types.

At the start, the examiner asks you to confirm an insurance declaration. Remember that you're still a learner on the way to the centre, so you need a qualified supervisor in the car; see the rules for supervising a learner driver. If you pass and want to drive home alone, check with your insurer first, because a policy arranged for a learner may not cover you once you hold a full licence.

Cars you can't use, and recalled models

Some cars are turned away because they don't give the examiner all-round vision. GOV.UK names these:

• any panel van, meaning a vehicle without rear seats or rear side windows
• BMW 218 convertible and BMW Mini convertible
• Ford KA convertible and VW Beetle convertible
• Polestar 4 and Polestar 5
• Smart Fortwo (2-door) and Toyota iQ

The list isn't complete, because not every model has been used on a test. If your car is a convertible or a coupe, contact your test centre before the day, using the details on your booking confirmation.

Certain models under airbag recalls also need proof that they're safe: Citroen C3 and DS3 cars built from 2009 to 2016; Citroen C4, DS4 and DS5 cars built between 2 February 2010 and 20 May 2018; and some DS Automobiles DS3 cars built from 2016 to 2019. The examiner checks the vehicle identification number online. If they can't, you'll need the stamped recall letter, a letter on manufacturer or dealer headed paper, or a screenshot from the recall checker showing the work was done or wasn't needed. Without it, the test is cancelled and you could lose your fee.

Driver aids and gadgets: what's allowed

Most modern features are fine. You can use a car with an electronic parking brake, hill-start assist, cruise control, speed limiters, parking sensors and cameras, lane assist, blind spot monitoring and traffic sign recognition. You can't use self-parking, Tesla's Autopilot or your own sat nav during the test; the examiner brings and sets up the sat nav for independent driving.

A camera fitted for insurance purposes is allowed if it faces outside the car and doesn't film the inside or record sound from inside. Examiner guidance also covers warning lights in more detail. An ABS light that's on at the start can be enough for the examiner to decline the test. An engine warning light that comes on mid-test while the car still drives normally won't stop it, but one that flashes amber or turns red ends the test at the next safe place. A service reminder on its own is no reason to cancel.

Your car, an instructor's car or a hire car

Your own car doesn't need dual controls. A hire car is different: GOV.UK only allows one if it's fitted with dual controls and meets all the other rules. Familiarity is the main argument for your own car. If most of your practice is in it with a supervisor, you'll know its clutch, brakes and blind spots better than any other. If most of your driving has been in lessons, the instructor's car may feel more natural on the day, and your instructor will know what the test requires of it.

Night-before checklist

1. L plates fixed front and rear and clearly visible.
2. Extra interior mirror fitted and adjusted.
3. Tyres checked for tread and damage, with no space-saver on the car.
4. Engine running: no airbag or other safety warning light showing.
5. Insurance confirmed for the test, and tax and MOT current.
6. Recall proof in the car if your model is on the list.
7. Dashcam facing out, with cabin audio switched off.
8. Car tidied with nobody smoking in it, screenwash topped up and enough fuel for the drive.

Practising in the car you'll test in pays off. For practice drives, SteerClear's routes around your test centre, such as Bristol (Kingswood), can run through CarPlay or Android Auto, so the directions come through the car's own screen. SteerClear is an independent app and isn't affiliated with GOV.UK or the examiners. If your car has no clutch pedal, read how the automatic driving test affects your licence, and for documents, timings and the rest of the day see the practical driving test guide.