Ready to Pass
Our instructors teach the DVSA 27 driving skills and review your progress against the official syllabus. Each skill is tracked in your learner dashboard from Level 1 (Introduced) to Level 5 (Reflection), so you know exactly when you are ready to drive safely and independently.
What is Ready to Pass?
Ready to Pass is the DVSA campaign that defines the 27 skills learners need to become safe, independent drivers. The DTC maps each skill to your learner dashboard, from Skill 1 (legal responsibilities, eyesight and fitness to drive) through Skill 27 (independent driving following sat-nav or road signs). Every guide on this page is written or reviewed by a DVSA-approved ADI and covers what you need to know, common mistakes to avoid, and quick tips for your next lesson.
DVSA recommended learning sequence
DVSA survey data shows learners who start professional lessons before their theory test are more likely to succeed. Follow this order, guided by your instructor, to build safe habits from the start.
- 1Choose a DVSA-approved driving instructor
- 2Start studying The Highway Code
- 3Start taking driving lessons with your instructor
- 4Study and practise for your theory test
- 5Book and take your theory test when your instructor says you are ready
- 6Do private practice between lessons, when your instructor agrees
- 7Book your driving test only when your instructor agrees you can drive safely on your own
Source: DVSA Despatch — Driving skills: what’s changed on the Ready to Pass? website and why
Legal Responsibilities, Eyesight & Fitness to Drive
Understand eyesight rules, alcohol limits, drug restrictions, mobile phone laws, and the vehicle documents every driver must keep current.
Safety Checks: FLOWER Before You Drive
Learn the FLOWER acronym: fuel, lights, oil, water, electrics, rubber. Essential pre-drive checks that keep you legal and safe.
Cockpit Checks & Safety Before You Drive
Before you turn the key, your car needs to be safe, legal, and set up for you. Learn seat position, mirror adjustment, and pre-drive checks.
Show Me, Tell Me - Vehicle Safety Questions
The examiner asks two vehicle safety questions. Know all 14 tell me questions and the show me while-driving tasks.
Controls, Instruments & Dashboard
Master the pedals, gearstick, dashboard gauges, horn, wipers, and all the controls you use every time you drive.
Moving Off & Stopping Safely
Every journey starts with moving off and ends with stopping. Get the MSM routine, blind spot checks, and hill starts right.
Safe Positioning & Lane Discipline
Make sure you drive in the correct position for the road you are on. Good lane discipline keeps you and others safe.
Mirrors, Observation & The MSM Routine
Poor mirror use is a top fault on driving tests. Learn when, why, and how to use mirrors correctly with the Mirror-Signal-Manoeuvre routine.
Signalling, Timing & Communication on the Road
Signals tell other road users what you intend to do. Learn when to signal, when not to, and how to avoid misleading signals.
Anticipation, Planning & Hazard Perception
The best drivers see problems coming before they happen. Learn scanning techniques, hazard clues, and how to plan your driving.
Speed Limits & Choosing a Safe Speed
Speed limits are maximums, not targets. Learn the national limits, stopping distances, and how to adjust for conditions.
Other Traffic: Meeting, Crossing & Overtaking
Most of the time there will be other traffic on the road. Learn to deal safely with oncoming traffic and overtaking.
Eco-Friendly Driving & Fuel Efficiency
Save fuel, reduce emissions, and drive more smoothly with eco-friendly techniques that coincide with good driving habits.
T-Junctions, Crossroads & Box Junctions
Junctions are the leading cause of serious driving faults. Learn to emerge safely and handle yellow box junctions with confidence.
How to Handle Roundabouts
Roundabouts are one of the top sources of driving test faults. Master lane choice, signalling, and priority rules.
Pedestrian Crossings & Vulnerable Road Users
Learn the rules for zebra, pelican, puffin, and toucan crossings. Plus sharing the road with cyclists and horse riders.
Bay Parking: Forward & Reverse
Bay parking appears on most driving tests. Learn both forward and reverse bay parking with clear reference points.
Turning the Car Around
Master the three-point turn, turning using roundabouts, and reversing into side roads with safe positioning.
Parallel Parking Step by Step
Park parallel to the kerb behind a stationary vehicle - a classic manoeuvre broken down into clear steps.
The Emergency Stop
The emergency stop tests your reaction speed and vehicle control. Here is exactly what happens and how to execute it.
Country Roads, Bends & Narrow Lanes
More than half of fatal collisions happen on rural roads. Learn how to read bends and handle narrow lanes safely.
Dual Carriageways & Slip Roads
Master lane discipline, merging from slip roads, safe overtaking, and following distances at higher speeds.
Motorway Driving Rules & Smart Motorways
Understand motorway joining, lane discipline, variable speed limits, red X signs, and smart motorway breakdowns.
Night Driving & Using Headlights Correctly
Master headlight use, glare recovery, and hazard spotting in low light. Essential for evening tests and post-test driving.
Driving in Rain, Fog & Weather Conditions
Learn how rain, fog, and other weather affects grip, visibility, and stopping distances. Handle aquaplaning confidently.
Passengers & Loads
Ensure seatbelts, child seats, and luggage are secure. Understand baby seat airbag rules and safe trailer loading.
Independent Driving: Sat-Nav & Following Signs
For twenty minutes of your test you will drive without turn-by-turn instruction. Learn to follow sat-nav directions calmly.
Vehicle Security & Leaving Your Car Safely
Locking your car, hiding valuables, and choosing safe parking spots protect your vehicle and reduce insurance risk.
Urban Driving, Bus Lanes & One-Way Streets
Navigate busy towns with confidence. Learn bus lane rules, one-way street hazards, and parked car risks.
Understanding UK Road Signs & Shapes
Learn the shapes, colours, and symbols of the UK road sign system. Recognise warnings, orders, and information signs.
Road Markings Explained: Lines, Arrows & Zones
From double white lines to box junctions and bus stop clearways - understand every road marking and how it is tested.
Traffic Lights, Signals & Filter Arrows
Master traffic light sequences, filter arrows, flashing amber rules, and temporary roadwork lights.
Sharing the Road with Cyclists & Motorcyclists
Learn to pass cyclists safely, check blind spots for motorcyclists, and understand primary position and filtering.
Driving Near Schools, Playgrounds & Pedestrian Areas
Reduce speed, increase observation, and respect crossing patrols near schools. Protect children with defensive driving.
Older Drivers, Mobility Scooters & Slower Vehicles
Show patience near slower road users. Understand how to share space with vulnerable and less mobile traffic.
The Most Common Driving Test Faults
Every year the DVSA publishes the top reasons learners fail. Know these faults and how to avoid them on test day.
Test Day: Preparation & What to Expect
A well-prepared learner is a calm learner. Understanding what happens from arrival to the final manoeuvre removes uncertainty.
Steering, Positioning & Road Holding
Keep the vehicle straight, maintain lane discipline, and handle bends safely. Steering faults cost tests - avoid them.
Pull Up on the Right & Reverse
One of the newer test manoeuvres. Learn when, where, and how to pull up on the right and reverse safely back.
Following Distance, Tailgating & Space Management
Space around your car is your safety margin. Learn the two-second rule, stopping distances, and why tailgating is dangerous.
Track Your Progress with the DVSA
The official Ready to Pass progress tracker helps you and your instructor record your level for all 27 driving skills. Work through 5 levels - from Introduced to Reflection - so you know exactly when you are test-ready.
Want structured, in-person instruction?
These guides are a great starting point, but nothing replaces working with a DVSA-approved instructor who can give you real-time feedback.
Your route to independent driving
Where Ready to Pass fits in your journey
From your first provisional licence to passing your DVSA practical test — here's the path we walk with every learner.
- 1Apply for your provisional licence
Get your first UK provisional driving licence from DVLA before anything else.
Learner HelpOpen - 2Start lessons and theory study
Build practical skills while studying the Highway Code and hazard perception.
Driving LessonsOpen - 3Prepare for and pass your theory test
Use focused revision guides, practise both parts, then book through GOV.UK.
Resource HubOpen - 4Build independent driving skills
Track your progress and learn to drive safely without prompts.
Ready to PassOpen - 5Check your test readiness
Use mock tests and your instructor's feedback before choosing a test date.
Driving LessonsOpen - 6Book and take your practical test
Book your own test through GOV.UK once you and your instructor agree you are ready.
Learner HelpOpen - 7Keep learning after you pass
Keep developing the judgement and habits that make you a safer independent driver.
Learner HelpOpen
Not sure where to start?
Start with your provisional licence. Once it arrives, practical lessons and theory study can progress together.
Join hundreds of learners who passed with The DTC
From first lesson to test day, our instructors have helped learners across Scotland and the South of England earn their licence with confidence.