30/05/2026
Ever wonder why an instructor won't let you use their car for your driving test...we'll let me explain the reason why this may happen.
Every time a candidate turns up for a driving test with an Approved Driving Instructor, their unique ADI number goes down on the test report. That result is not just a pass or fail for the candidate...it is also a record which the DVSA uses as a record for the standard of teaching that the instructor represents.
The standard record is broken into 4 sections, (known as Trigger Points) these are as follows...
1. Driving Faults
2. Serious Faults
3. Examiner takes action (physical/verbal
4. Pass Rate
So let's start off with Driving Faults. Each time a test candidate has 6 or more driving faults (minors).
Then we have Serious Faults (aka...majors). The score that the DVSA is looking for is 0.55 per test.
Examiner taken action is something we really want to avoid. The limit for this is less than 10%. So if an examiner has to take action straight away that has become a serious fault. Making sense so far?
And last but not least...the pass rate. People are under the impression that when we talk about pass rate it has to do with "reputation" but again it's how the DVSA grade the trigger points. The overall pass rate can not be lower than 55%.
So what has this got to do with anything you ask? Simple, if an instructor gets 3 or more trigger points they will be called up to do a Standards Check Test. An instructor will only have 3 chances to pass this exam and if they fail on their 3rd and final attempt their instructors license is removed from the ADI register and they are no longer allowed to teach.
So basically...we can kiss goodbye to our lively hood.
So when an instructor refuses you the use of their car for test...they are not doing to be horrible. They are doing it because
1. You are probably not at the standard you need to be for your driving test.
AND...
2. They are protecting their lively hood.
This is why I don't take people who contact me looking for a "couple of lessons to get to know test routes" and " use my car for test".
Imagine if you only got 3 attempts at doing your driving test or you weren't allowed to drive...you would make sure you were 100% ready for your driving test, wouldn't you.