How Many Minor Faults Can You Get on Your Driving Test?

01The numbers — what passes and what fails

The marking system has three fault types. Understanding all three — and how they interact — tells you far more than just knowing the number 15.

Minor fault

≤15

Up to 15 and you can still pass. A small, isolated mistake that did not compromise safety in that moment.

Serious fault

A potentially dangerous mistake. One is enough to fail — regardless of how few minors you have.

Dangerous fault

Actual danger was created. The examiner may have needed to intervene. Instant fail.

Your minor fault budget — visualised

16✗

Pass zone (1–10)

Caution zone (11–15)

Fail (16+)

The zero-fault myth

Fewer than 2% of people who pass do so with zero minor faults. Expecting perfection on test day creates the exact kind of anxiety that causes mistakes. The test is designed to assess safe driving — not flawless driving.

02The DL25 — what the examiner marks you on

The examiner records every fault on a form called the DL25 — now completed digitally on a tablet. It covers 28 separate assessment areas.

Eyesight check

Use of mirrors

Junctions

Move off

Signals

Controlled stop

Reverse manoeuvre

Independent driving

Use of speed

Following distance

Positioning

Clearance / obstructions

Response to signs

Response to road markings

Response to traffic lights

Response to traffic controllers

Response to pedestrians

Steering

Clutch control

Gears

Footbrake

Handbrake

Accelerator

Ancillary controls

Awareness / planning

Crossing / meeting traffic

Overtaking

Pedestrian crossings

Highlighted areas are consistently the highest source of faults across all UK test centres.

DL25 — Example result sheet extract PASS · 4 minors

Assessment area

Use of mirrors — change direction

–

Junctions — turning left

–

Move off — safely

–

Signals — necessary

–

You receive a copy of your DL25 after the test. Go through it with your instructor rather than discarding it — it is the fastest way to improve before a retest.

03When minors become serious — the pattern rule

A pattern of the same minor fault, recorded repeatedly in the same category, can be reclassified as a serious fault — even if your total minor count is low. There is no fixed trigger number — it is a judgement call.

1×

First missed mirror check Minor recorded

An isolated lapse. The road was clear, no danger. Recorded as a single minor. The test continues normally.

2×

Second missed mirror check Second minor

The examiner notes the repetition. Still within normal tolerance, but their attention is now specifically on mirror use at every subsequent junction.

3×

Third missed mirror check Pattern established

The examiner now has evidence of a consistent habit rather than an isolated error. They may reclassify the fault category as serious.

Serious fault recorded Test failed

The category is marked as serious on the DL25. The test continues to its natural end, but the result is already a fail.

⚠ There is no fixed trigger number

Some guides state that three minors in the same category equals a serious fault. This is a simplification. The DVSA gives examiners discretion, and the threshold varies by category. The principle is: any pattern that suggests the skill is not safely established can be reclassified.

04Common minor faults — and which ones escalate fastest

Fault	Typical grade	Escalation risk
Late or missed mirror check before changing direction	Minor	High. Three missed checks is enough for most examiners to escalate.
Signal cancelled late after a turn	Minor	Low. Rarely escalates — cosmetic fault.
Slight hesitation at a clear junction	Minor	Medium. Hesitation that causes delay to others escalates quickly.
Stalling the engine	Context	Low — unless at a junction. Stalling while pulling away is nearly always minor. Stalling on a busy roundabout is different.
Rough gear change or riding the clutch briefly	Minor	Low. Persistent clutch riding will eventually escalate, but occasional roughness does not.
Missed blind spot check when moving off	Context	High. If traffic is present, this becomes serious immediately. If the road was clear, it may record as minor.

Fault

Typical grade

Escalation risk

Late or missed mirror check before changing direction

Minor

High. Three missed checks is enough for most examiners to escalate.

Signal cancelled late after a turn

Minor

Low. Rarely escalates — cosmetic fault.

Slight hesitation at a clear junction

Minor

Medium. Hesitation that causes delay to others escalates quickly.

Stalling the engine

Context

Low — unless at a junction. Stalling while pulling away is nearly always minor. Stalling on a busy roundabout is different.

Rough gear change or riding the clutch briefly

Minor

Low. Persistent clutch riding will eventually escalate, but occasional roughness does not.

Missed blind spot check when moving off

Context

High. If traffic is present, this becomes serious immediately. If the road was clear, it may record as minor.

05Reading your result sheet after the test

How to use your DL25 constructively

Note the category of each minor — not just the total number
Look for clusters — two or more faults in the same category is a signal
Ask the examiner to explain each fault at the debrief — they are required to do this
Share the sheet with your instructor before rebooking further lessons
Note where on the route the faults occurred — the examiner records the location too

You must wait 10 working days before retaking

The DVSA requires a minimum of 10 working days between tests. Rebooking immediately without addressing the root cause is the main reason people fail the same category twice.

06Common questions

Does the examiner tell me each time they record a minor fault?

No. The examiner records faults discreetly on their tablet throughout the test and says nothing until the debrief at the end. Try not to guess whether a mistake was recorded — focus on the next section of the drive.

Can I ask the examiner how many minors I have during the test?

No — and doing so is discouraged. The examiner will not tell you your running total. The debrief at the end is when all faults are explained.

What is the average number of minors for a candidate who passes?

DVSA data shows the average passing candidate receives around 4 to 6 minor faults. Passing with zero is extremely rare. Passing with 13 or 14 is uncommon but entirely possible.

I keep getting 8–10 minors on assessment sessions. Should I be worried?

Not necessarily. 8 to 10 minors is a comfortable pass. What matters is whether they are spread across different categories (normal variation) or concentrated in one or two (a pattern to fix). Go through each result with your instructor the same way you would a real DL25.

How manyminor faultscan you get?

01The numbers — what passes and what fails

02The DL25 — what the examiner marks you on

03When minors become serious — the pattern rule

04Common minor faults — and which ones escalate fastest

05Reading your result sheet after the test

06Common questions

How many
minor faults
can you get?