Driving Test Faults Explained: Minors, Serious and Dangerous Faults

Every mistake you make during your driving test is classified into one of three categories. Understanding the difference is crucial because the type of fault — not just the number — determines whether you pass or fail.

Minor faults (also called "driving faults") are mistakes that aren't potentially dangerous. They represent a lapse in your driving standard but don't put anyone at risk. Examples include:

• Stalling the car when there's no traffic around
• Checking your mirror slightly late before signalling
• Positioning your car a little wide on a left turn
• Signalling too early or too late (when it doesn't mislead anyone)

You're allowed up to 15 minor faults and still pass. Most successful candidates have between 3 and 8 minors.

Serious faults are mistakes that are potentially dangerous or show a consistently poor standard of driving. A single serious fault means you fail the test. Examples include:

• Pulling out at a junction without seeing an approaching car that has to slow down
• Significantly exceeding the speed limit
• Failing to stop at a red traffic light (even if no one is crossing)
• Repeated failure to check mirrors in a way that could eventually cause danger

Dangerous faults are mistakes that cause actual danger — where the examiner, another road user, or a pedestrian is put in immediate risk. A single dangerous fault means you fail the test. In extreme cases, the examiner may use their dual controls (brake) to prevent an incident. Examples include:

• Pulling out in front of a car that has to brake hard or swerve
• Running a red light when a pedestrian is crossing
• Losing control of the car

The examiner uses a standardised marking sheet divided into 31 categories of driving competence. Each time you make a minor fault, the examiner marks a small tick in the relevant category.

The categories include areas like:

• Controlled stop
• Move off (safety, control)
• Use of mirrors (signalling, change of direction, change of speed)
• Signals (necessary, correctly, timed)
• Response to signs and signals (traffic signs, road markings, traffic lights, traffic controllers, other road users)
• Use of speed
• Following distance
• Progress (appropriate speed, undue hesitation)
• Junctions (approach speed, observation, turning right, turning left, cutting corners)
• Judgement (overtaking, meeting, crossing)
• Positioning (normal driving, lane discipline)
• Pedestrian crossings
• Position/normal stops
• Awareness/planning
• Ancillary controls

At the end of the test, the examiner totals up all the minor marks across every category. If the total is 15 or fewer and there are no serious or dangerous faults, you pass.

The marking sheet is a physical or digital form that the examiner fills in throughout the test. You'll receive a copy after the test, regardless of whether you pass or fail. It's a valuable document — study it carefully to understand your strengths and weaknesses.

One of the most misunderstood aspects of the driving test is the relationship between minors and serious faults. There's a persistent myth that "3 minors in one category equals a serious" — but this is not an automatic rule.

What actually happens is that the examiner uses their professional judgement. If they see you making the same type of minor fault repeatedly, they'll consider whether it represents a habitual problem that could become dangerous.

For example:

• You forget to check your left mirror once before turning left — that's a minor
• You forget again on the next left turn — another minor
• You forget a third time — the examiner may now decide this is a pattern showing you habitually don't check that mirror. Since this could eventually lead to danger (e.g., a cyclist in your blind spot), they may mark it as a serious fault

But equally, you could get 4 minors for "use of speed" across different situations (slightly too fast on one road, slightly too slow on another, hesitant at a junction, then too fast again later) and the examiner might keep them all as minors because they don't show a single habitual pattern.

The key factors the examiner considers:

• Is the same specific error being repeated?
• Could this pattern of behaviour become dangerous?
• Does the candidate seem unaware of the fault?

So while "3 minors = serious" isn't a fixed rule, getting 3+ minors in one area is a strong warning sign that the examiner is watching closely.

After your test, you'll receive a copy of the examiner's marking sheet (form DL25). This document contains all the information about your performance and is the key to understanding what went well and what needs work.

The sheet is laid out as a grid with driving competence categories down the left side and columns for each type of fault across the top (minor, serious, dangerous). Each tick represents one fault.

At the top of the sheet, you'll see:

• Your name and candidate details
• The test centre, date, and examiner's name
• The weather conditions during the test
• Which manoeuvre you were asked to perform
• Whether the independent driving section used a sat nav or traffic signs

At the bottom, you'll see the total count of each fault type and the overall result (pass or fail).

How to read your sheet:

• Look at where the serious/dangerous marks are first — these are why you failed (if you failed)
• Then look at clusters of minors — these show your weak areas
• Note the categories with zero marks — these are your strengths
• Share the sheet with your instructor — they can interpret the context and plan targeted practice

The DL25 form hasn't changed significantly in years, so any practice marking sheets your instructor shows you during mock tests will look very similar to the real thing.

The DVSA publishes annual data on the most common reasons for failing the practical driving test. The top faults remain remarkably consistent year after year. Here are the most frequent in 2026:

1. Junctions — observation (24% of all tests): Failing to look properly at junctions remains the number one fault. This includes not checking both directions adequately before pulling out, failing to spot approaching traffic, and turning without a proper look.

2. Mirrors — not checking before changing direction (20%): Forgetting to check your mirrors before turning, changing lane, or pulling out. The MSM (Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre) routine needs to be automatic.

3. Steering control (15%): This covers mounting the kerb, swinging too wide on turns, poor positioning on bends, and inconsistent steering on straight roads.

4. Junctions — turning right (13%): Cutting corners on right turns, incorrect positioning, poor timing when joining from a side road, and failing to give way to oncoming traffic.

5. Moving off safely (12%): Not checking the blind spot before pulling away from the kerb or from behind a parked vehicle.

For a complete guide to each of these faults and how to avoid them, read our common driving test faults guide.

The pattern is clear: observation and mirrors are the biggest areas of weakness. If you can master the habit of checking your mirrors and looking properly at junctions, you eliminate the most common causes of failure.

If you believe your driving test result was unfair, you do have options — but it's important to understand what is and isn't possible.

You cannot appeal against the examiner's judgement of your driving. The DVSA's position is that the examiner is a trained professional whose on-the-spot assessment of your driving is final. If they judged that your observation at a junction was a serious fault, you can't argue that it should have been a minor.

What you CAN complain about:

• The examiner's conduct was unprofessional or discriminatory
• The test was not conducted according to DVSA guidelines (e.g., incorrect procedure)
• External factors interfered with the test (roadworks not accounted for, examiner gave confusing instructions)
• You believe the examiner was biased

To make a complaint, contact the DVSA directly through their official complaints procedure. You can write to them or use the online form at gov.uk. They will investigate and respond, though the process can take several weeks.

In rare cases, if the DVSA upholds your complaint, they may offer you a free retest. However, they will not change a fail to a pass — the most you can hope for is another attempt at no cost.

Realistic advice: Most failed candidates feel their result was harsh in the moment. Before complaining, wait a day or two, review the marking sheet with your instructor, and consider honestly whether the examiner's assessment was reasonable. In the vast majority of cases, the examiner's judgement is fair, even if it's disappointing.