The examiner asks you to carry out one reversing manoeuvre from a fixed list, and may also ask for an emergency stop. This page explains each manoeuvre, what it involves, and the faults learner drivers commonly pick up, so you know what to practise before test day.
Which manoeuvres are in the driving test?
In the current DVSA practical driving test you are asked to perform one reversing manoeuvre, chosen by the examiner from three options: parallel parking, bay parking (forward or reverse), or pulling up on the right and reversing. You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop, which is set in a proportion of tests and is a separate exercise rather than a reversing manoeuvre. You will not know in advance which manoeuvre you will be given.
Each manoeuvre tests control, accurate steering, and all-round observation in a tight space. The sections below take them one at a time.
Parallel parking
Parallel parking means reversing into a space at the side of the road, behind a parked vehicle, and finishing close to the kerb. The examiner asks you to pull up alongside the car in front of the space, then reverse in and stop within about two car lengths of it. It is included because roadside parking behind another car is one of the most common real-world parking situations, especially on residential streets.
What it involves
Pull up roughly level with the parked car, leaving about a car's width beside it.
Reverse into the space, steering to bring the back of the car towards the kerb.
Straighten up and finish parallel to the kerb, close to it but not touching it.
Common faults
- Mounting or hitting the kerb, because the steering is taken too far or too late.
- Finishing too far from the kerb, which can be recorded as a fault if the position is poor.
- Weak observation, such as not checking the blind spot and mirrors before and during the reverse.
- Loss of control from reversing too fast to read the position accurately.
Bay parking
Bay parking means parking within a marked bay, and the examiner tells you which version to do: forward bay parking (drive in, then reverse out) or reverse bay parking (reverse in, then drive out). It is usually done in the test centre car park, or a nearby car park where the test centre has no bays. It is tested because parking accurately in a marked bay is a daily task in supermarket and town-centre car parks.
What it involves
Forward bay park: drive into a chosen bay, stop within the lines, then reverse out and stop with the wheels straight.
Reverse bay park: line up beside the bays, reverse into a chosen bay within the lines, then drive out when asked.
Keep the car inside the bay markings, with room for vehicles in the next bays.
Common faults
- Finishing outside the bay lines, which is the part examiners assess most closely.
- Inadequate all-round observation while reversing, particularly behind and to the sides.
- Repeated repositioning without correcting the line, which can build into a serious fault.
Pulling up on the right
Pulling up on the right means stopping on the right-hand side of the road, reversing about two car lengths, and then rejoining the traffic. The examiner asks you to cross to the right, park safely, then reverse and move off again when it is clear. It reflects a real situation, because on some narrow streets the only safe place to stop is on the right.
What it involves
Use mirrors and signal, then move across and stop on the right, parallel and close to the kerb.
Reverse roughly two car lengths, keeping a steady, slow pace and a good kerb distance.
Check mirrors and blind spots thoroughly, then signal and rejoin the traffic when safe.
Common faults
- Poor positioning, such as stopping across a driveway or too far from the kerb.
- Reversing without enough observation, especially for vehicles approaching from behind.
- Pulling away into the traffic without judging the gap, because the observation was rushed.
The emergency stop
The emergency stop tests your ability to stop the car quickly and under control in response to a hazard. It is set in a proportion of tests, so you may or may not be asked. If you are, the examiner tells you during the pre-test brief, then signals on the road by raising a hand and saying "stop". It is a separate exercise, not one of the three reversing manoeuvres.
What it involves
React promptly when the signal is given, braking firmly and progressively.
Keep both hands on the wheel and the car straight and stable as it stops.
Move off again safely afterwards, with full mirror and blind-spot checks first.
Common faults
- Reacting late, so the stop is slower than an emergency would need.
- Braking so harshly that the wheels lock or the car becomes unstable.
- Skipping observation before moving off again, which can be a serious fault.
No longer tested — practice only
The turn in the road (sometimes called a three-point turn) and the reverse around a corner are no longer part of the test; both were removed in December 2017. They are still useful skills to practise for everyday driving, but they are not current test manoeuvres.
Practising manoeuvres with MMS
You build manoeuvres through regular practice in a dual-control car with an instructor, on the kinds of roads and car parks used for local practice around Coventry, including areas near the Bayton Road test centre. Repetition with feedback helps a manoeuvre feel more familiar and controlled, because you build reliable reference points and correct faults before they settle in.
You can build manoeuvre practice into regular driving lessons, or concentrate it into an intensive course if you are short on time before a test date. From here you can explore driving lessons in Coventry, an intensive driving course, or how a mock driving test checks your readiness.
Lessons are taught by named instructors, with DVSA-approved driving instructor credentials stated where confirmed, and learners share their experience in MMS Driving School reviews. If you want clear, step-by-step manoeuvre guidance from a local instructor, book a lesson or call to talk through where you are.