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Test Results · Fault Guide

What causes a
serious fault?

One serious fault ends your test. Here are the top 10 categories examiners record most — and why the same mistake can be minor on one test and a fail on another.

Quick answer A serious fault is any mistake that was potentially dangerous — even if nothing bad actually happened. One is enough to fail. Context decides: the same action can be minor or serious depending on who else was nearby.
1
Serious fault needed to fail — no exceptions
51%
Of learners fail on each attempt — 2023/24
15
Minor faults allowed before they also fail you
#1
Fault: junction observation — every year

01The three fault types explained

Every mistake on the driving test is assessed and placed into one of three categories. Two of them fail you immediately.

Minor fault
≤15
Up to 15 and you can still pass. An isolated error that was not dangerous in that moment.
Serious fault
0
A potentially dangerous mistake. One is enough to fail — regardless of how few minors you have.
Dangerous fault
0
Actual danger was created. The examiner may have needed to intervene. Instant fail.
The rule most learners miss

Minor faults can become serious if you repeat the same one. There is no fixed number — the examiner uses judgement. Three mirror checks missed in a row is a pattern, and that pattern can be reclassified as a serious fault mid-test.

02Why the same mistake can be minor or serious

The examiner does not apply a fixed rule to each action — they apply judgement based on what was happening around you at the time.

✓ Records as minor

You forget to check the left door mirror before turning left. The road is clear — no cyclists, no pedestrians. There was no one to be endangered by the gap in your observation.

✗ Records as serious

You forget to check the left door mirror before turning left. A cyclist is on your nearside. You turn across them. The potential for danger was real — whether or not the cyclist had to react.

03The top 10 serious fault categories

The DVSA publishes fault data annually. These categories have ranked at the top consistently for several years.

48.4%
UK pass rate in 2023/24. On average, a failing candidate made one serious or dangerous fault and 5.4 minor faults. Most failures come down to one avoidable moment.
1
Junctions — observation
Emerging without properly checking both directions. The most common single cause of serious faults, every year.
Very high
2
Mirrors — change direction
Failing to check mirrors before changing course. Most often caught on lane changes and left turns.
Very high
3
Control — steering
Poor steering around bends, when passing parked vehicles, or when pulling up at the kerb.
High
4
Junctions — turning right
Misjudging oncoming traffic when turning right. Also includes cutting the corner.
High
5
Move off — safely
Pulling away without completing proper blind spot checks.
Medium
6
Response to traffic signs
Failing to act correctly at give way lines, stop signs, traffic lights, or road markings.
Medium
7
Positioning — normal driving
Consistently driving too close to the centre line or poorly positioned on approach to junctions.
Medium
8
Reverse manoeuvre — control
Loss of vehicle control during bay parking, parallel parking, or pulling up on the right.
Medium
9
Maintaining progress — undue hesitation
Waiting unnecessarily at a clear junction, roundabout, or traffic light.
Medium
10
Signals — misleading
Signalling in a way that confuses or misleads other road users.
Medium

04What the examiner is actually watching

Examiners observe driving as a continuous flow, looking for whether safe habits are established — not whether each individual action was technically performed.

The examiner is looking for
⚠ The pattern problem

A single missed mirror check at 10 minutes is a minor. The same missed check at 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes is a pattern — and the examiner will re-examine every previous instance. What started as several minors can become a serious fault mid-test.

05Common questions

Can you argue with the examiner about a serious fault?

Not during the test. After the test, you can ask the examiner to explain each fault. If you believe a fault was wrongly recorded, you can raise a formal complaint with the DVSA, but overturning a result is very rare.

Does the examiner have to tell you when you fail?

In most cases, no — the examiner continues the test and tells you the result at the end. However, if a dangerous fault occurs the test may end early and the examiner will explain why.

What happens after a dangerous fault — does the examiner take over?

The examiner has a dual-control brake and will use it if there is an immediate risk of collision. This does not automatically end the test — but if intervention is required, a dangerous fault will almost certainly be recorded.

How do I know if I'm ready to avoid serious faults?

The clearest indicator is consistency over Driver Assessment Tool sessions. A single good session proves nothing — what matters is whether safe habits hold up consistently. See the MSM guide for the routine that underlies most of the top 10 faults.

All LearnerDrive Guides
🔁 Mirror Signal Manoeuvre Essential routine ⚠️ What Causes Serious Faults? Test results 👁️ When to Check Blind Spots Observation 🅿️ Parallel Parking Step by Step Manoeuvres 📋 How Many Minors Can You Get? Marking system ⚙️ Manual vs Automatic Key decision 🛣️ Motorway Driving After passing 🔄 Guide to Roundabouts Junctions 🌙 Guide to Night Driving Skills · After dark
▶ Driver Assessment Tool 📖 Highway Code Test 🚗 Show Me / Tell Me