The Device
The examiner uses a TomTom sat nav mounted on the dashboard windscreen via a suction bracket. The screen faces you and displays a moving map with your current position, the planned route highlighted, and the next turn instruction with distance countdown.
The device provides audio instructions in a clear, neutral voice: "In 200 metres, turn left." "Take the second exit at the roundabout." "Continue straight ahead." These instructions match the format of any commercial sat nav you may have used previously.
Before the independent driving section begins, the examiner shows you the sat nav, confirms you can see the screen, and provides a brief explanation if requested. This is your opportunity to ask any questions about the device.
During Navigation
Listen First
Audio instructions are your primary guidance. Listen to each instruction, process it, and plan your response. The screen is a secondary visual confirmation. Prioritise listening over looking — your eyes should remain on the road.
Brief Glances
Glance at the screen only when needed — to confirm distance to turn or verify which exit at a roundabout. Each glance should last no longer than a speedometer check. Extended screen staring is noted as a driving distraction fault.
Missed Turns
If you miss a turn, do not brake suddenly or attempt unsafe U-turns. Continue driving safely. The sat nav automatically recalculates within seconds and provides new directions. The examiner is aware and adjusts the route mentally.
Safety Priority
If the sat nav instructs a turn but you are in the wrong lane or the turn is unsafe, continue straight. Safe driving always overrides sat nav compliance. The examiner recognises and respects this judgement. The device will recalculate.
Common Sat Nav Situations
Roundabout Instructions
"Take the third exit at the roundabout." The sat nav counts exits sequentially from your entry point. If uncertain, the screen shows the roundabout layout with your exit highlighted. Remember: the exit count refers to exits you could take, including the first one on your left.
Lane Guidance
Some TomTom displays show lane guidance approaching junctions — arrows indicating which lane to use. This is helpful supplementary information, but road markings and signs always take precedence over sat nav lane suggestions.
Audio Silence
Between turns, the sat nav may be silent for several minutes. This is normal — it means you should continue on the current road until the next instruction. "Continue straight" is implicit when no instruction is given. Do not assume silence means you have missed something.
"I was anxious about the sat nav until DriveSQ practised it during every lesson for my last month. By test day, following the device while driving felt completely natural. The independent driving section was actually the calmest part of my test."
— Raheem, M11, passed 2026