What to take to your driving test: the 2026 checklist
You need three things: your UK driving licence, your theory test pass certificate if you have it, and a car that meets the rules. That is the whole of what to bring to your driving test, according to GOV.UK's what to take page. Forget the licence or turn up in a car that fails the rules and the test is cancelled with no refund.
It happens more than you would think. DVSA's Ready to Pass campaign says 2,281 car tests were cancelled in July 2026 because the learner brought an unsuitable car, forgot their licence or was late. Each one is a £62 weekday fee (£75 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays, per GOV.UK's test costs) gone, plus however many weeks it takes to get another date.
The driving test checklist: what to bring
Screenshot this or print the page. Tick it off the night before.
| What | Must you bring it? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UK photocard driving licence (provisional) | Yes | You must be recognisable from the photo |
| Valid passport | Only with a paper licence | Bring both if you do not have a photocard |
| Theory test pass certificate | If you have it | No replacement needed if lost |
| A car that meets the rules | Yes | Usually your instructor's |
| Glasses or contacts | If you need them to drive | The eyesight check comes first |
| Recall proof for some Citroen and DS models | Only if your own car is on the list | See the car section below |
| Booking confirmation email | Not required | Useful for the time and test centre address |
Northern Ireland licence holders bring the photocard and the paper counterpart.
Documents: what documents do you need for your driving test?
Your driving licence
This is the one that ends tests before they start. GOV.UK is blunt about it: if you do not take the right things, the test is cancelled and you do not get your money back.
Two details catch people out:
- The photo. You must be recognisable from it. Dyed hair or a new beard is fine. If you have changed so much that you cannot be recognised, you need to update the photo before test day.
- Paper licences. If you do not have a photocard, bring a valid passport as well as the paper licence.
Your theory test pass certificate
Bring it if you can find it. If you cannot, do not order a new one. GOV.UK says you do not need a replacement theory certificate, because the examiner checks your theory pass before the test starts.
The certificate number is still handy: it is one of the ways to sign in when you change your test online, and GOV.UK has a service to find a lost theory test pass number. If you are still working towards that pass, our theory test guide for 2026 covers booking, the hazard perception clips and the pass marks.
Glasses or contact lenses
The test opens with an eyesight check: you read a number plate from 20 metres (20.5 metres for an old-style plate). Fail it and you fail the test, which ends there. If you need glasses or contacts to meet the standards of vision for driving, wear them.
Driving test car requirements: your instructor's car or your own
DVSA does not provide a car. Most learners take their test in their instructor's car, and GOV.UK says the same: most people use their driving instructor's. It is the car you have practised in, and your instructor knows the test rules it has to meet.
If you are using your own car, the list is long and the examiner checks it. Per GOV.UK's own-car rules, the car must:
- be taxed, roadworthy, and have a current MOT if it is over 3 years old
- be insured for a driving test (check with your insurer)
- have no warning lights on that show a safety issue, such as the airbag light
- have no tyre damage, legal tread on every tyre and no space-saver spare fitted
- have an extra interior rear-view mirror for the examiner
- have a passenger seatbelt and a passenger head restraint (slip-on ones are not allowed)
- be able to reach at least 62mph and have an officially fitted mph speedometer (an extra display or phone app does not count)
- have L-plates on the front and rear ("L" or "D" plates in Wales)
- have 4 wheels and a maximum authorised mass of no more than 3,500kg
Ready to Pass adds that every headlight, brake light and indicator must work, both front seatbelts must work, and the L-plates must not block your view or the examiner's.
A few more points from the same GOV.UK page:
- Dual controls are not required in your own car. A hire car does need them.
- Dashcams fitted for insurance are fine if they face outwards and do not film the inside of the car or record audio.
- Driver aids like parking sensors, cameras, lane assist and cruise control are allowed. Self-parking, Tesla autopilot and your own sat nav cannot be used during the test.
- Tinted windows. The windscreen and front side windows must follow the tint rules, and the test may be cancelled if the rear windows are too dark for the examiner to see out.
- Tidy and smoke-free. Clear rubbish out of the footwells, door pockets and cup holders, and do not smoke in the car right before or during the test.
- Banned models. These do not give the examiner all-round vision: any panel van, the BMW 218 convertible, BMW Mini convertible, Ford KA convertible, Polestar 4, Polestar 5, 2-door Smart Fortwo, Toyota iQ and VW Beetle convertible. If you drive any other convertible or a coupe, check with the test centre first.
- Recalled cars. Some Citroen C3, C4, DS3, DS4 and DS5 and DS Automobiles DS3 models built in certain years have an airbag recall. The examiner checks online, but if they cannot, you need proof the recall work is done (or that your car was not affected), or the test is cancelled.
Remember you are still a learner on the way there. If you drive your own car to the test centre, you need L-plates and a supervisor who is over 21 and has held a full licence for 3 years, per GOV.UK's rules on practising with family or friends.
Our view: unless you have a specific reason, use your instructor's car. A car that fails any one of those checks costs you the fee and the slot.
What happens if you forget something
| Problem | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Forgot your licence on the day | Test cancelled, no refund | Rebook and pay again |
| Lost your licence before the test | You cannot sit the test without it | Order a replacement now. It can take up to 15 days, so move the test if it will not arrive |
| Licence stolen | Same as above | If you have to move the test at short notice, you can apply for a refund with a crime number |
| Lost theory certificate | Nothing | Bring your licence. The examiner checks the pass |
| Own car fails the rules | Test cancelled, pay again | Use your instructor's car, or rebook |
Moving the test is free if you give 10 full working days' notice for a car test (Monday to Saturday count, Sundays and public holidays do not). Under the 2026 booking rules you must make the change yourself (your instructor is not allowed to), you can change a car test only twice before you have to cancel and book again, and you can only move it to one of the 3 test centres nearest to where it is booked, or back to the centre you first booked. Our guide to finding an earlier driving test date explains how those changes and cancellation slots work.
If you fail and want to resit, the new date must be at least 10 working days away and you pay the full fee again.
The night before and the morning of
The night before
- Put your licence (and passport, if you have a paper licence) somewhere you cannot miss, like next to your keys.
- Check the time and test centre address on your booking email. If you have lost it, check your appointment details on GOV.UK. Our driving test centre guides show the address, recent pass rates and waiting times for each centre.
- Confirm the pick-up time with your instructor.
- If you use glasses or contacts, put them with your licence.
- If it is your own car: walk round it. Lights, tyres, L-plates on, examiner's mirror fitted, no warning lights on the dashboard.
Then stop revising. Our guide to managing driving test nerves has more on sleeping well and what examiners are marking.
The morning of
Eat something. If you can, book a lesson with your instructor right before the test as a warm-up, so you arrive having driven the car you are about to be tested in. Ready to Pass asks you to arrive 5 minutes before your appointment, and being late is one of the reasons tests get cancelled, so leave room for traffic.
Decide whether you want someone in the back. The examiner will ask if you want a person to sit in during the test or join you for the feedback. Usually that is your instructor, but it can be a relative or friend over 16, and they cannot take any part in the test, per the GOV.UK test guide. If your own instructor cannot make your date, read what instructors weigh up before taking a stranger to a test so you know what to expect when you ask around.
If you want to go in feeling ready on the driving itself, our guide to passing your driving test first time covers how to get your driving to test standard. Run through the 21 show me tell me questions the night before, make sure you are solid on all 3 driving test manoeuvres, and if you have not done one yet, a mock driving test in the last week or two is the best rehearsal for the day.
If your instructor uses Orbit
If your instructor runs their diary on Orbit and has added your test date, your pupil portal shows your practical test date and start time, any warm-up lesson booked before it, and which show me, tell me questions you have already practised. One less thing to text your instructor about the night before.
FAQ
What do I need to bring to my driving test?
Your UK driving licence, your theory test pass certificate if you have it, and a car that meets the rules. With a paper licence, bring a valid passport too.
Do I need my theory certificate for my driving test?
Bring it if you have it. If you have lost it, you do not need a replacement: the examiner checks your theory pass before the test starts.
What happens if I forget my driving licence on test day?
The test is cancelled and you do not get your money back. If you have lost it beforehand, order a replacement and move the test if it will not arrive in time.
Can I use my own car for my driving test?
Yes, if it meets every rule above, including insurance that covers a driving test. It does not need dual controls. A hire car does.
Do I need to wear my glasses for the driving test?
Yes, if you need them to read a number plate from 20 metres. Fail the eyesight check and the test ends.
What if my instructor's car breaks down on the day?
If the test cannot be completed because of a problem with the car, GOV.UK says you book another test and pay again. Speak to your instructor straight away about a replacement car, or move the test if you still have 10 full working days' notice.
Still looking for someone to teach you, with a car that meets every rule above? Find a driving instructor near you and take your test in their car.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.