Smoking Before Test Could Cost Drivers Their Licence

Data reveals that learner drivers lose thousands on doomed tests before getting behind because their car isn’t up to scratch. Motoring experts are urging drivers to check their vehicle meets the required standard or risk facing a long wait for a resit. 

Motoring experts at Quotezone.co.uk share some of the most unexpected reasons why Brits struggle to get their licence and encourage learners to ensure their car meets the basic required standards.

Forgetting ‘L’ plates, not having extra interior rear-view mirrors and smoking in the car before a test make the vehicle unsuitable for the examination.

According to data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), almost 5,000 provisional drivers fail their test yearly because their vehicle doesn’t meet the government’s basic required standards.

With a driving test for cars costing £62 on average, candidates are wasting hundreds of thousands of pounds a year on tests they have no hope of passing.

Any car without a passenger seatbelt for the Examiner, or a proper head restraint, won’t meet the required specifications.

Learner drivers are already facing agonisingly long waits to sit their test around the UK, with delays of up to five months in certain regions.

Driving candidates must ensure they are fully prepared and their car is up to the correct standards or face the long wait for a retest.

Greg Wilson, CEO of Quotezone.co.uk, said: “After paying for a test and waiting for months to sit it, it would be hugely disappointing to be given a fail before even getting in the car.

“Simple mistakes like forgetting to put ‘L’ plates up before heading to the test site could see drivers failed.

“Tax, insurance and an MOT might seem obvious preparations to most drivers, but when you’re a learner driver and perhaps nervous about your big day, these items may not be on your radar.

“Every year, thousands of hopeful soon-to-be drivers are frustrated because their vehicle isn’t fully prepared and up to the correct testing standards.” 

Quotezone.co.uk’s eight surprising reasons why you might fail your test before you begin:

1.No ‘L’ Plates

L plates, or D plates in Wales, must be placed on the front and rear of the car.

2. Smoke-free

The official GOV website states that the car must be smoke-free, meaning drivers about to sit their test cannot smoke before or during. This means strictly no cigarettes. During a lesson, learners are also prohibited from smoking or vaping in the vehicle.

3. Not Taxed

All vehicles must be taxed – if the car is not, the driver will fail their test and could be fined up to £1000, or five times the amount of tax owed. To check if your vehicle is taxed, enter the registration number on the Gov website.

4.No MOT

All vehicles must have passed their MOT to be roadworthy and safe. To check the status of an MOT and when it runs out, you can enter the vehicle number plate into the GOV website.

5. Not Insured

Drivers must have insurance for a car to be legally allowed on the road. This is to cover you in an accident or if anything or anyone is hurt or damaged. It also protects passengers in the car and the public. If taking the test in the instructor’s car, the cost of insurance will usually be included in the fee for using the vehicle. However, if you use your car or a family member or friend, you must take out valid learner or provisional insurance. If you pass your test, you’ll have to notify your insurance provider immediately and update your insurance or else your insurance will be invalid.

6. Tyre Damage

To satisfy the practical driving test requirements, all tyres must have a legal tread depth of at least 1.6mm across the centre ¾ breadth of all four tyres, and there must also be no signs of damage. Tyre tread depth gauges can be purchased online or from most vehicle maintenance shops. Also, check the tyre pressure to keep the car steady and stable while driving.

7. Speed

It is essential to check the speedometer before the test – the car must be able to reach at least 62mph. The speedometer must also be in mph.

8. Passenger Seatbelt and a Passenger Head Restraint

It is essential to have a passenger seatbelt and head restraint for the Examiner taking the test. Without these requirements, it would not be legal or safe for them to be in the car with you.

9. View Mirror for the Examiner

An extra interior rear-view mirror must be fitted for the driving examiner to use during the test, which can be purchased online.

10.No Warning Lights

No warning lights should be shown on the car used for a test. For example, if an airbag warning shows, the test will be cancelled, and drivers could lose their fees.

Quotezone.co.uk helps drivers compare and find savings on all sorts of insurance and household essentials, such as learner driver insurance, young drivers insurance and driving school insurance.