In the car driving test in Great Britain, the examiner asks you 2 vehicle safety questions: one "tell me" question at the start, before you drive, and one "show me" question while you are driving. There are 14 tell me and 7 show me questions. If you get one or both wrong, you get 1 driving fault (a minor). You only fail if you drive dangerously while doing the show me task. Source: DVSA.
You get one of these at the start of the test, before you move off. For the last 3, you have to open the bonnet and point to the part as you explain.
Tell me how you'd check that the brakes are working before starting a journey.
The brakes should not feel spongy or slack. Test them as you set off. The car should not pull to one side.
Tell me where you'd find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked.
In the manufacturer's guide (the car's handbook). Check them with a reliable pressure gauge when the tyres are cold. Include the spare, and put the valve caps back on.
Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash.
Set it so the rigid part is at least as high as your eyes or the top of your ears, and as close to the back of your head as is comfortable. Some head restraints can't be adjusted.
Tell me how you'd check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road.
Look for cuts and bulges. There must be at least 1.6mm of tread across the middle three-quarters of the tyre, all the way round.
Tell me how you'd check that the headlights and tail lights are working. You don't need to exit the vehicle.
Switch the lights on (turn the ignition on if you need to), then say you would walk round the car to check them.
Tell me how you'd know if there was a problem with your anti-lock braking system.
The ABS warning light on the dashboard comes on if there is a fault.
Tell me how you'd check the direction indicators are working. You don't need to exit the vehicle.
Switch on the indicators or the hazard warning lights (turn the ignition on if you need to), then say you would walk round the car to check every indicator.
Tell me how you'd check the brake lights are working on this car.
Press the brake pedal and look for the reflection in windows, garage doors or the car behind, or ask someone to watch. You may need to turn the ignition on.
Tell me how you'd check the power-assisted steering is working before starting a journey.
If the steering feels heavy, it may not be working. Keep gentle pressure on the wheel while you start the engine: it should move slightly as the system starts. Or turn the wheel just after moving off: it should feel light.
Tell me how you'd switch on the rear fog light(s) and explain when you'd use it/them. You don't need to exit the vehicle.
Switch on the dipped headlights, then the fog light switch, and check the fog light warning light on the dashboard. Use them only when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you can't see more than 100 metres.
Tell me how you switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you'd know the main beam is on.
Use the headlight switch or stalk to change to main beam. The main beam warning light (usually blue) comes on in the dashboard.
Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check that the engine has sufficient oil.
Find the dipstick (or the oil level indicator) and check the oil level is between the minimum and maximum marks.
Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check that the engine has sufficient engine coolant.
Find the coolant header tank. Check the level is between the high and low marks, and explain how you would top it up.
Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid.
Find the brake fluid reservoir and check the level is between the high and low marks.
You get one of these while you are driving. Do it when it is safe, and keep your eyes on the road. Learn where each control is in the car you will take the test in, because it differs between cars.
When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the rear windscreen?
Use the rear washer control (on most cars it is on the wiper stalk) to spray and wipe the rear screen once.
When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the front windscreen?
Use the washer control on the wiper stalk to spray the front screen and run the wipers.
When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd switch on your dipped headlights?
Turn the light switch to dipped headlights. The dipped beam light (usually green) shows on the dashboard. Switch them off again afterwards.
When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd set the rear demister?
Press the rear heated screen button. Its warning light comes on. Switch it off again once you have shown it.
When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd operate the horn?
Press the horn, usually in the centre of the steering wheel.
When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd demist the front windscreen?
Set the heater controls to blow air at the windscreen and turn the fan up. Use the air conditioning too if the car has it.
When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd open and close the side window?
Use the window switch (or the winder) to open the window a little, then close it again.
21 cards is a small deck. Read each question, say your answer out loud, then check it. Do the whole deck once a day for a few days, and then only the cards you got wrong. Saying the answer before you look is what makes it stick. Reading the list over and over feels like learning, but you will forget most of it.
For the show me questions, sit in the car you will test in and find each control with the engine off. Then practise them on a lesson with your instructor, so you can do them without looking down for long.
The fog light answer comes from the Highway Code, rules 226 and 236: use fog lights only when visibility is seriously reduced, and switch them off when it improves.
These are the questions for the car test. Lorry, bus and motorcycle tests have their own lists, and Northern Ireland's test is run by the DVA, not DVSA.
For the theory test there is much more to learn: stopping distances, signs, motorway rules. StudyCards AI turns your notes or a PDF into flashcards like these, and you can export them to Anki.
Questions are from DVSA's car show me tell me vehicle safety questions. Crown copyright, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The answers are in our own words.