How Many Serious Faults Are Allowed on a UK Driving Test?

No serious faults are allowed on the practical car driving test in Great Britain. To pass, you must make no serious or dangerous faults and no more than 15 driving faults, sometimes called “minors”. One serious fault means you will not pass, even if the rest of your drive goes well.

If you are preparing for your test, that can sound worrying. But understanding what the fault categories mean gives you a clearer idea of what to work on with your instructor.

This article explains the DVSA rules for car driving tests in England, Scotland and Wales.

What is a serious fault on a driving test?

DVSA describes a serious fault as something potentially dangerous. It is not simply a mistake that looks untidy. The important issue is the risk created by your driving.

For example, DVSA’s guidance includes emerging from a junction without judging an approaching vehicle’s speed correctly, causing that vehicle to slow significantly. The lesson is not just to look, but to use what you see to decide whether it is safe to proceed.

What is the difference between a minor, serious and dangerous fault?

• A driving fault, often called a minor: a fault that is not potentially dangerous. Repeating the same fault can make it a serious fault.
• A serious fault: something potentially dangerous.
• A dangerous fault: something involving actual danger to you, the examiner, the public or property.

“Minor” and “major” are common learner terms. The official categories are driving, serious and dangerous faults.

Can you pass with one serious fault?

No. You cannot pass with one serious fault or one dangerous fault. The allowance of up to 15 applies only to driving faults.

A good manoeuvre does not cancel out a serious fault elsewhere in the test. Equally, you do not need a fault-free drive to pass: the rules allow up to 15 driving faults, provided there are no serious or dangerous faults.

How many minor faults are allowed?

You can pass with no more than 15 driving faults, as long as you make no serious or dangerous faults. With 16 driving faults, you will not pass.

Do not treat 15 as a target. Your aim during practice is to build safe, consistent habits rather than calculate how many mistakes you can make.

Can repeated minor faults become a serious fault?

Yes. DVSA explains that repeatedly making the same driving fault could make it a serious fault. Its guidance does not give a universal number of repetitions that automatically turns every driving fault into a serious fault.

Focus on correcting the habit with your instructor. If you keep missing relevant observations or making the same positioning mistake, identify why it happens and practise a safer approach.

Do manoeuvres cause most driving test failures?

It is easy to worry about reverse parking and give it more attention than the rest of your driving. Manoeuvres still matter, but DVSA’s top ten reasons for failing between April 2024 and March 2025 did not include reverse parking.

The first three reasons were ineffective observations at junctions, incorrect mirror use when changing direction, and moving off unsafely. Other reasons included positioning, traffic lights, steering, road markings, traffic signs and speed.

This does not mean manoeuvres can be ignored. It means your preparation should cover the whole drive, not just the exercise you feel most nervous about.

How should you practise before your driving test?

Ask your instructor: “Which parts of my driving are still potentially unsafe, and what should I practise next?” Use that answer to give your lessons and supervised practice a clear focus.

• At junctions: practise making effective observations and judging when it is safe to proceed.
• Before changing direction: use your mirrors and act on what they show you.
• When moving off: make the observations needed for the situation and wait until it is safe.
• Throughout the drive: plan your position, read signs and markings, and choose a safe speed for the conditions.

Record the issue, the correction and what you need to practise next. Your PASS FIRST TIME Serious Fault / Fix tracker, included with the full guide, is designed to help you organise that work.

Understand serious faults before test day

Knowing that no serious faults are allowed is only the starting point. Understanding the situations that create risk helps you turn that rule into useful practice.

The PASS FIRST TIME guide explains more than 90 serious-fault scenarios, with memory aids and practical exercises to support your learning alongside lessons and supervised practice.

Download your free PASS FIRST TIME preview to see how the guide can help you understand faults and identify what to practise.

Official sources

GOV.UK: Driving test faults and your result

DVSA: Top 10 reasons for failing the driving test in Great Britain (April 2024–March 2025).