The minimum test vehicle standards for a car also apply to a car and trailer test, with additional requirements for the towing vehicle and trailer. Vehicles that don’t meet the minimum standards are not suitable for the purpose of taking a test, and your test may be cancelled with loss of fee.

Category B – cars and vans

A car or van presented for test must be:

• a four wheeled vehicle of no more than 3,500 kilograms (kg) maximum authorised mass (MAM)
• capable of a speed of at least 100 kilometres per hour (km/h) or 62.5 miles per hour (mph)

The car or van must also be fitted with:

• a seatbelt for the examiner
• a passenger head restraint, which needn’t be adjustable but must be fitted as an integral part of the seat – ’slip on’ type head restraints aren’t permitted
• an interior mirror for the examiner’s use
• L-plates displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle but not interfering with the driver’s or examiner’s view
• a speedometer that measures speed in mph and km/h

The vehicle must be legal and roadworthy and have no warning lights showing, eg the airbag warning light.

Convertible vehicles

Some convertible vehicles are unsuitable for the driving test because of the lack of all-round vision for the examiner.

Unsuitable vehicles include:

• Ford KA convertible
• BMW Mini convertible
• VW Beetle convertible

If you want to use a convertible vehicle for the driving test please check its suitability when you book.

Suitability of vehicles for Category B tests

Most hatchbacks, saloons and estate cars are suitable for the driving test, but some models with good forward vision have large blind spots to the rear, giving examiners problems with observation.

Panel vans also present problems with vision and are often unsuitable for test.

Vehicles supplied by motor manufacturers have been through the type approval process. This approval concentrates on vehicles from a driver’s point of view and does not necessarily make the vehicle suitable for a driving test.

Vehicles for test must allow examiners all round vision to see approaching vehicles. This is particularly important when the car is at an angle to other vehicles during reversing manoeuvres and when emerging at a junction with the vehicle at an angle to the major road.

The Toyota iQ has been risk-assessed and is unsuitable for the practical driving test.