The complete list of 19 show-me tell-me vehicle safety questions for your 2026 driving test, with clear answers and practical tips. The easiest marks on your test — prepare these and eliminate one potential driving fault entirely.
Your examiner will ask one tell-me question before you begin driving. You answer verbally — no physical demonstration required. These questions test your knowledge of basic vehicle safety checks.
Q: Tell me how you would check that the tyres have sufficient tread depth and are in good condition. A: The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, around the entire circumference. Check for cuts, bulges, and uneven wear. Use a 20p coin — if the outer rim is visible, tread may be insufficient.
Q: Tell me how you would check the brakes are working before starting a journey. A: The brake pedal should feel firm and not spongy when pressed. The car should not pull to one side when braking. Test them at low speed as you set off — they should stop the car promptly without unusual noise or vibration.
Q: Tell me how you would check that the headlights and tail lights are working. A: Turn on the ignition, switch on the headlights, and walk around the vehicle to check that both headlights and both tail lights are illuminated. Check indicators and brake lights with the help of a reflective surface or another person.
Q: Tell me how you would check the engine has sufficient coolant. A: Open the bonnet and locate the coolant reservoir (usually a transparent plastic container). Check the coolant level is between the minimum and maximum markers. Only check when the engine is cold — hot coolant is under pressure and can scald.
Your examiner will ask one show-me question during the drive. You must physically demonstrate the action while maintaining safe vehicle control. Keep the demonstration brief and return both hands to the steering wheel promptly.
Q: When it is safe to do so, show me how you would wash and clean the front windscreen. A: Operate the windscreen washer stalk (usually by pushing or pulling it) while driving. Brief operation, then return your hand to the wheel.
Q: When it is safe to do so, show me how you would sound the horn. A: Press the horn button on the steering wheel briefly. Remember: do not use the horn while stationary (unless a moving vehicle poses danger) or in a built-up area between 11:30pm and 7:00am.
Q: When it is safe to do so, show me how you would demist the front windscreen. A: Turn on the blower/fan, direct air to the windscreen, and adjust temperature to warm. Some vehicles have a dedicated demist button.
Q: When it is safe to do so, show me how you would demist the rear windscreen. A: Press the heated rear window button (usually marked with a rectangle with wavy lines). This activates the heating element embedded in the rear glass.
Getting one or both questions wrong results in a single driving fault. This is the lowest possible penalty and will not cause test failure on its own. However, when combined with other driving faults in the same competency area, it could contribute to a total that reaches the failure threshold of 16 driving faults or a pattern-based serious fault.
The practical advice: spend 15 minutes learning all 19 answers. This minimal investment eliminates a guaranteed driving fault and demonstrates the vehicle awareness that examiners view favourably throughout the rest of your test.
"DriveSQ practised show-me tell-me questions during every lesson in my final month. By test day, the answers were automatic. One less thing to worry about meant more mental energy for the driving itself."
— Olivia, Sale, passed 2026DVSA-approved, £35/hr, door-to-door across Greater Manchester.
WhatsApp Us 07352 932003Lessons around Bolton use real local roads including Bury Road, Wood Street and Le Mans Crescent, so by the time you're ready for your test you've already driven the streets you'll use every day after passing. Bolton-born Samuel Crompton invented the spinning mule around 1779 at Hall i' th' Wood, a breakthrough that revolutionised cotton spinning worldwide.
We also plan around school-run traffic near Bolton School and Bolton St Catherine's Academy, using quieter spots like Queen's Park for early manoeuvre practice before stepping up to busier sections of Bury Road.
Test centre: most learners around Bolton test at Bolton Driving Test Centre, Weston Street, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL3 2AW; mock tests are planned around the routes examiners actually use from there.
“We used Queen's Park for early manoeuvre practice before moving onto busier roads — built my confidence step by step.” – Nadia, Bolton
Building local road knowledge is one of the most underestimated aspects of driver training. Knowing which junctions require extra observation, where speed limits change, and where vulnerable road users are most likely to appear turns a competent learner into a genuinely safe driver for life. DriveSQ lessons are planned around the actual roads you will drive every day after passing.
DVSA statistics: The UK practical driving test pass rate is approximately 48% on first attempt — meaning more than half of all candidates fail at least once. The most common serious fault categories are observation at junctions (31% of all serious faults), use of mirrors (19%) and incorrect response to traffic signs (11%). Structured lesson plans that specifically address these three areas significantly improve first-time pass rates.
DriveSQ instructors bring nationally-accredited teaching methodology to every lesson, combined with deep local knowledge of Greater Manchester roads. Every lesson is planned to build on the previous one, creating a progressive learning journey from first drive to test-ready confidence.
Greater Manchester's road network covers over 4,500 miles of road managed across ten metropolitan boroughs. The network includes motorways (M60, M62, M56, M61, M63), A-roads of regional importance (A6, A34, A56, A57, A580), and an extensive local road grid of B-roads and unclassified roads. Understanding the network hierarchy — and the different driving demands at each level — is a key part of driver education.
Manchester's city centre road network is managed by TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) using a SCOOT adaptive traffic signal system that responds to real-time vehicle detector data. This means signal phases can be shorter or longer than expected — learners should always approach signals prepared to stop rather than accelerating in anticipation of a green phase.
The 2022 Highway Code update fundamentally changed the relationship between drivers and pedestrians at junctions. Under the updated rules, when a driver is turning into a side road, pedestrians who are already crossing that road or intending to cross have priority. This is a significant change from the previous convention where drivers completing turns had right of way. Rule H2 of the updated Highway Code states that drivers must give way to pedestrians waiting to cross at a junction. Rule H3 requires cyclists and horse riders to give way to pedestrians on shared use paths. The updated hierarchy of road users places pedestrians at the top, followed by cyclists, motorcyclists, cars, vans and finally HGVs. This hierarchy reflects the relative vulnerability of road users in collisions — a pedestrian struck at 20mph has a 97% survival probability, rising to only 20% at 40mph. The practical implications for learners are significant: at every junction and roundabout approach, the first check must now be for pedestrians crossing or about to cross, before assessing vehicle traffic.
Test cancellation by the candidate requires at least three clear working days' notice to avoid forfeiture of the £62 test fee. If the DVSA cancels a test due to examiner sickness or other operational reasons, a full refund is offered. The waiting time for a test appointment varies significantly by test centre — Manchester centres typically have 4-10 week waits in normal periods, but backlogs following industrial action or pandemic disruptions can extend this to 16+ weeks.
Vehicle maintenance responsibility transfers entirely to the driver after passing — and many new drivers are unaware of what this involves. Key monthly checks: tyre pressure (including spare), tyre tread depth (legal minimum 1.6mm across the central 75% of the tread width and around the entire circumference), oil level, coolant level, windscreen washer fluid, and all lights. Annual MOT from year three, six-monthly visual tyre inspection, and a full service to manufacturer's schedule. Driving a vehicle with a tyre tread below 1.6mm carries a £2,500 fine and three penalty points per tyre — four defective tyres could mean 12 points and licence revocation for a newly qualified driver.