Sat Nav on the Driving Test: Everything You Need to Know

When Was Sat Nav Added to the Test?

The DVSA introduced sat nav navigation into the practical driving test in December 2017. It replaced the older "turn-by-turn directions from the examiner" format that had been used for decades. The change reflects how most people actually navigate in real-world driving.

How the Sat Nav Section Works

• The test centre provides a TomTom sat nav device — you don't need your own
• The examiner programmes the route before the test — you won't know the destination
• You follow the sat nav instructions for approximately 20 minutes of the test
• One in five tests uses road signs instead of sat nav (signs-only) — about 20% of candidates are given this variation

What If the Sat Nav Gives Wrong Directions?

This is one of the most common concerns — and the answer is reassuring. If you follow the sat nav and it directs you incorrectly (e.g., into a one-way street the wrong way), you will not be failed for that as long as you respond safely when you realise the error.

If you make a driving fault while following incorrect sat nav directions — for example, you fail to observe properly while trying to understand the device — that fault will still be recorded. The sat nav being wrong doesn't excuse driving errors.

What If You Miss a Sat Nav Instruction?

Missing a turn or going the wrong way isn't automatically a fail. The examiner is assessing your driving — not whether you follow the perfect route. If you miss a turning, the sat nav will recalculate and you simply follow the new route. The examiner will not intervene unless you're about to make a dangerous manoeuvre.

How to Practise Sat Nav Following

1. Install Google Maps or Waze on your phone and use it during lessons (with phone legally mounted — not held)
2. Ask your instructor to programme unfamiliar routes and practise following instructions
3. Practise glancing briefly at the sat nav screen while maintaining road awareness — don't stare at it
4. Learn to prioritise audio instructions over visual ones — eyes on the road, ears on the nav

Signs-Only Test: How to Prepare

If you're given the signs-only variation (without sat nav), the examiner will tell you the general direction (e.g., "follow signs to the town centre") and you navigate using road signs. This tests:

• Reading and responding to direction signs at speed
• Lane selection based on road signs rather than sat nav instruction
• Confidence in decision-making without electronic assistance

Practise this by occasionally turning the sat nav off during lessons and navigating by signs alone in familiar areas.

The Independent Driving Section: Key Points

• It's not a memory test — the sat nav provides real-time instructions
• If you can't see the sat nav clearly, tell the examiner — they can reposition it
• The examiner won't give directions during this section (unless there's a safety issue)
• Wrong turns don't cause fails — dangerous driving does