Patente D1 exam-day guide
Patente D1 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid ID document
Bring the identity document the test centre requires. The exact accepted types (national ID card, passport, residence permit) and whether a photocopy is accepted must be confirmed with the provider when you book; do not assume your everyday card is enough.
Booking confirmation and appointment time
Print or save the confirmation email with your appointment time, centre address and reference number. Arrive with enough margin to complete check-in before your slot; the cut-off for late arrival is set by the provider, so confirm it in advance.
Theory test result / proof of passed theory
In many systems you must have passed the theory exam before sitting the practical one. Carry whatever proof the provider asks for (result slip, code on the booking, or nothing if it is linked electronically). Confirm with the provider which applies to you.
Learner permit or provisional licence
Bring the physical permit if the provider requires it at check-in. It also matters because the examiner may ask to see it before the drive. Confirm the requirement with the provider.
Glasses or contact lenses if you need them
If your licence or medical certificate carries a vision condition, you must drive with the correction. Turning up without your glasses when your record says you need them can end the test before it starts. Bring a spare pair of contacts if you wear them.
Comfortable, legal footwear
Wear flat shoes you can feel the pedals through. Avoid thick soles, heels or loose sandals. This is not a formal rule in most systems but it directly affects clutch and brake control.
Vehicle documents (if you supply the car)
If you are tested in your own or a family car, bring the registration document, valid insurance covering the test and, where required, proof of roadworthiness. The exact list depends on the provider and the vehicle; confirm it when booking.
Vehicle check: lights, tyres, fluids, mirrors
Before leaving home, check all lights and indicators, tyre condition and pressure, washer fluid, and that mirrors and seat adjust properly. A defective light can make the car unusable for the test.
Clean, uncluttered car interior
Remove loose objects from the parcel shelf and footwells and make sure the passenger seat and belt are usable for the examiner. A cluttered or dirty car can be refused.
Know the test route area and local rules
Review the road types around the test centre: priority rules, roundabouts, one-way streets, speed limits and any tram or bus lanes. Local knowledge reduces surprises during the independent drive.
Plan the journey to the centre
Check the route and traffic conditions the day before and leave a buffer. Arriving stressed or late is one of the most avoidable ways to fail.
Rest and light review the evening before
Do not cram new manoeuvres the night before. A short review of the checklist for observation, mirror use and priority, then sleep, is more useful than extra driving.
Plan the day
Do two or three practice drives in the car you will use for the test, on roads similar to the test area. Focus on the manoeuvres you find least reliable, not on everything. Practise the full sequence the examiner will see: pre-drive checks, moving off, junction observation, lane discipline, parking and the safety question. Ask your instructor or accompanying driver to mark you strictly against the official assessment criteria. Confirm the appointment time, centre address, vehicle requirements and accepted ID with the provider now, so there is time to fix any gap.
Do one calm drive of about an hour, then stop. Check the car: lights, indicators, brake lights, tyres, washer fluid, fuel or charge. Prepare the documents and ID in one envelope or folder. Re-read your notes on priority, roundabouts, speed limits and observation routines. Set out clothes and shoes. Confirm your route to the centre and the arrival time, including how early the provider wants you there. Go to bed at a normal hour.
Eat something light and avoid heavy caffeine if you are already nervous. Leave with a large margin for traffic. At the centre, complete check-in, present your ID and documents, and use the waiting time to settle rather than to revise. Adjust the seat, headrest, mirrors and steering wheel before the examiner joins you, and check that the car starts and all warning lights behave normally.
Listen to each instruction fully and ask for clarification once if you genuinely did not understand; the examiner may repeat but will not coach. Drive to the rules, not to the examiner's mood. Make observation visible: mirror checks before signalling, a shoulder check before moving off or changing lane, and a clear look at every junction. If you make a mistake, keep driving safely; one error is rarely decisive, but a rushed recovery often is. Stay within speed limits, especially in built-up areas and roadworks. At the end, park safely, switch off and wait for the result and any feedback.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document the provider specifies and present it at check-in. Accepted documents and any extra proof of address or residency vary, so confirm the exact list with the provider before test day.
Arrive before the appointment time. Late arrival usually means the slot is lost and the fee may not be refunded; the exact cut-off is set by the provider, so confirm it when booking.
The examiner's instructions and safety directions take priority over everything else. If the examiner intervenes, for example with the dual controls or by giving a direct instruction, stop the manoeuvre and follow it.
You may ask the examiner to repeat an instruction, but not for hints or guidance on how to perform a manoeuvre. The test measures independent driving, so decisions must be yours.
If you need to stop for a genuine emergency, illness or a warning light, say so clearly and stop safely. Do not continue a drive you believe is unsafe; the examiner will decide how to proceed.
Breaks are not normally part of the practical driving test; the drive is continuous. If you have a medical condition affecting your ability to sit for that length of time, raise it with the provider in advance rather than on the day.
Scoring is done by the examiner against the official assessment sheet, with faults graded by seriousness. The exact fault categories and pass thresholds are set by the authority, so do not rely on second-hand versions; confirm the current criteria with the provider or the official handbook.
Switch off and put away your phone before the test begins. Recording the test, using a phone while driving, or any attempt to influence the examiner is grounds for ending the test, and the provider's rules on devices should be confirmed in advance.