Patente B exam-day guide
Patente B · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid identity document (carta d'identità or passport)
Bring the original document you used at enrolment. A photocopy is normally not accepted. If your document has expired or you registered with a different document, confirm with the provider (autoscuola or Motorizzazione) before the exam day.
Fiscal code card (tessera sanitaria/codice fiscale)
Often requested together with the identity document to match your records. Keep it in the same folder as your ID.
Exam booking confirmation / receipt of fees
Bring the confirmation or receipt the provider gave you for the theory and/or practical session. The exact document required varies by province, so confirm with the provider.
Candidate presentation form (if issued by the autoscuola)
Some schools hand out a form or summary sheet listing the candidate and the session. If you were not given one, ask whether it is needed; mark as needs_review until confirmed.
Medical certificate / vision certificate if required for your case
Required when there are specific conditions (e.g. corrective lenses noted on your licence application). Check with the provider whether the original must be shown on the day.
Glasses or contact lenses if prescribed
If your medical certificate or licence application notes a prescription, wear them. Arriving without them can prevent you from taking the practical test.
Comfortable clothing and flat, closed shoes
You must be able to operate the pedals safely. Avoid flip-flops, high heels or bulky soles. This is practical advice, not a formal rule.
Know the meeting point and arrival time
Practical tests often start from the autoscuola or from the Motorizzazione (ufficio provinciale). Confirm the address and the time at least 48 hours in advance.
Plan your transport and arrive early
Aim to be there 15–30 minutes before the scheduled time to allow for check-in and any queue. Late arrival may mean losing your slot; the exact tolerance is set by the provider.
Review the vehicle controls you will use
Before the test, sit in the school car and check lights, indicators, wipers, mirrors, handbrake, seat adjustment and hazard lights. Knowing them by position reduces stress.
Bring water and a light snack
Waiting times can be long. Keep it simple and avoid heavy meals before driving.
Leave your phone silenced and stowed
Do not use it during the test. Confirm with the examiner/provider whether it must be switched off entirely; treat this as needs_review.
Plan the day
Check that your identity document, fiscal code and any booking confirmation are valid and in one folder. Call the autoscuola to reconfirm date, time, meeting point and which documents to bring. If anything is unclear, ask now rather than on the day.
Do two or three focused drives or lessons covering the manoeuvres most likely to be assessed: starting on a slope, parallel or bay parking, three-point turn where permitted, entering and leaving a roundabout, lane changes, emergency stop. Ask your instructor for one specific weak point to fix.
Review the topics you get wrong most often, especially priority rules, road signs with similar shapes, speed limits and safety distances. Do short timed practice sets rather than rereading the manual cover to cover.
Confirm how you will travel to the test centre and how long it takes. Protect sleep in the two nights before; fatigue is a common cause of small mistakes.
Lay out your documents, glasses and suitable shoes. Recheck the meeting time and address. Avoid learning new manoeuvres or cramming late at night; consolidate what you already know.
If you will drive a car you have not used before, ask whether you can sit in it briefly before the test to adjust the seat, headrest and mirrors. Confirm with the provider whether this is allowed.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early, and present your documents when called. Listen carefully to the examiner's instructions and ask for clarification if an instruction is unclear.
Adjust seat, headrest, mirrors and seatbelt before starting. Check that the gear is in neutral (or P) and the handbrake is on. Start the engine calmly and signal before moving off.
Drive smoothly and predictably: mirror and blind-spot checks, correct signalling, safe following distance, respect for speed limits and priority. Narrate nothing unless asked; focus on observation.
Take the manoeuvre slowly, use reference points, and correct in small steps. If you touch a kerb or stall, stay calm, secure the car and continue if the examiner allows.
Ask for the outcome and, if you did not pass, ask the examiner or instructor for the specific reasons so you can target them before the next attempt. Confirm with the provider how and when to rebook.
Rules to check
Bring the original identity document used at enrolment; a copy is generally not sufficient. If your document is lost, expired or different from the one registered, contact the provider before the exam day.
Follow the examiner's instructions and drive according to the Codice della Strada at all times. Dangerous or illegal driving can end the test immediately, regardless of how well you have driven up to that point.
Do not use a phone or other device during the test. Switch it off or silence it and keep it out of reach; confirm with the provider whether it must be off entirely.
Ask before taking breaks, leaving the vehicle or making any stop that is not part of the test. The examiner controls the session; unannounced stops may be treated as an interruption.
The examiner assesses your driving and your respect for the rules; the exact scoring and the list of assessed items are set by the competent authority. If you want details on how faults are weighted, confirm with the provider.
If you feel unwell, say so immediately. It is better to interrupt the test than to drive while impaired; the provider can explain the options for rescheduling.
Do not ask the examiner for hints or discuss the outcome during the drive. Keep the interaction polite and minimal; questions about the result belong after the test.
If you do not pass, ask for the reasons and confirm with the provider the waiting period and procedure for rebooking; do not rely on informal advice from other candidates.