What are the show me, tell me questions on the driving test?

There are 21 questions: 14 “tell me” and 7 “show me”. You are asked two of them, one of each kind. You will not know which two you will get, so it makes sense to learn the whole list. All 21 are further down this page.

The “tell me” question comes at the start, after the eyesight check and before you drive. You explain how you would carry out a safety task, and you do not need to do it. On the headlight and indicator questions you describe walking round the car, but you do not need to get out and do it. The exceptions are the engine oil, coolant and brake fluid questions: if you get one of those, you open the bonnet and tell the examiner how you would do the check.

The “show me” question comes while you are driving. This time you operate something in the car, such as the washers, the demister or the side window. Every one of them begins “when it is safe to do so”, and those words matter. You are not expected to reach for the control straight away: wait until it is safe, then do it.

The two questions count together, so the most a wrong answer can cost you is one driving fault:

• One question wrong: one driving fault (sometimes called a minor).
• Both questions wrong: still one driving fault, not two.
• Dangerous or potentially dangerous driving while you answer the “show me” question: you fail the test.

You can pass with up to 15 driving faults, as long as you have no serious or dangerous faults, so a wrong answer does not end your chances by itself. Losing control of the car while answering the “show me” question is a common fault on this part of the test, alongside getting questions wrong.

That is the real risk in the “show me” question. A wrong answer has a fixed cost. Drifting out of your lane while you hunt for a switch could cost much more, depending on what the examiner sees on the day. Keep your eyes on the road, use a quick glance to find the control, and keep the car under control the whole time.

If you cannot find a “show me” control, the examiner should ask you to pull up at the first suitable place and let you find it while stopped. If you find it, you are asked the same question again on the move. If you still cannot, the examiner should explain how it works and repeat the question while you drive. That is likely to count as a driving fault, as long as you keep control of the car.

Examiners are told not to press you for precise answers, because these are basic safety checks that need no in-depth knowledge. So if a “tell me” question beats you, give the best explanation you can, put it behind you and concentrate on the drive. If a “show me” control will not come to hand, do not keep looking down for it. Keeping control of the car comes first.

DVSA publishes model answers for the “tell me” questions only. Most are a sentence long, but a few have several parts, so they are worth extra attention:

• Tyre pressures: where you find the figures, and how you check them, which is more than just “use a gauge”.
• Tyre condition: the tread depth, where on the tyre it applies, and what else you look for on the rubber.
• Power steering: there are two simple checks. Know how each one feels.
• Main beam: how you switch it on, and how you would know that it is on.
• Rear fog lights: how you switch them on, and when you would use them.

Several of the questions touch on legal requirements, so it helps to get these right in everyday driving too. Annex 6 of the Highway Code says cars MUST have a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference. Rule 236 says you MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced, and you MUST switch them off when visibility improves. They can dazzle other road users and hide your brake lights.

Rule 112 says to use the horn only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users that you are there, and never aggressively. You MUST NOT use it while stationary on the road, or in a built-up area between 11.30 pm and 7.00 am, except when another road user poses a danger.

DVSA gives no answers for the “show me” questions, and the controls differ from car to car. The answers below are about doing each job safely, so you still need to learn where things are in the car you will use:

• Say each “tell me” answer out loud in your own words until you can do it without notes.
• Open the bonnet and point to the oil dipstick or level indicator, the coolant tank and the brake fluid reservoir.
• Sit in the car you will take your test in and find every “show me” control without searching.
• With your instructor or supervising driver, practise using those controls safely while you drive.
• Ask your instructor to include any question you are unsure about in your lessons.
• Read the vehicle maintenance, safety and security section of the Highway Code.

The list of questions was last updated on 4 December 2017. For how a single driving fault sits beside serious and dangerous faults, see the guide to what examiners look for, listed at the foot of this page. These questions are not among the top 10 reasons for failing, and the guide to those is listed there too.

You explain the “tell me” questions. You do not need to do them, so leave the ignition alone. On the bonnet questions you point things out and describe the check: you are not asked to touch a hot engine or check the levels yourself.

If the car’s information system shows fluid levels or tyre pressures, you can refer to it in your answer. If you have trouble opening the bonnet, the person with you can help, and in high winds or heavy rain the examiner may decide a bonnet question is not suitable.

No answers are published for the “show me” questions, and every car’s controls differ. For each one, wait until it is safe, find the control with a quick glance, use it and keep control of the car. Do not keep looking down: if you cannot find it, the examiner should ask you to pull up.

• Tell me how you would check the brakes are working before you set off.

  Test the brakes gently as you move off. A pedal that feels spongy or slack, or a car that pulls to one side, means something is wrong.

• Tell me where you would find the right tyre pressures for this car, and how you would check them.

  The pressures are in the manufacturer’s guide. Check them with a reliable gauge while the tyres are cold, remember the spare, and put the valve caps back.

• Tell me how you would set the head restraint so it protects you best in a crash.

  The rigid part should be 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 cannot be adjusted.

• Tell me how you would check the tyres have enough tread and are safe to use on the road.

  Look for cuts and bulges, and for at least 1.6 mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tyre’s width, all the way round.

• Tell me how you would check the headlights and tail lights are working. You need not get out of the car.

  Operate the switch, with the ignition on if needed, then walk round the car. As it is a “tell me” question, you only need to explain it.

• Tell me how you would know there was a problem with the anti-lock brakes.

  A warning light on the dashboard comes on when the anti-lock braking system has a fault.

• Tell me how you would check the indicators are working. You need not get out of the car.

  Operate the switch, with the ignition on if needed, then walk round the car. As it is a “tell me” question, you only need to explain it.

• Tell me how you would check the brake lights are working on this car.

  Press the brake pedal and use reflections in windows or doors, or ask someone to help.

• Tell me how you would check the power-assisted steering is working before a journey.

  With gentle pressure on the wheel as the engine starts, it should move slightly as the system starts working; or turn the wheel just after moving off. Heavy steering means a problem.

• Tell me how you would switch on the rear fog lights, and when you would use them. You need not get out of the car.

  Switch on dipped headlights (and the ignition if needed), then the fog light switch, and check the warning light. You MUST NOT use fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced, and MUST switch them off when it improves.

• Tell me how you would switch from dipped headlights to main beam, and how you would know main beam is on.

  Operate the switch, with the ignition or engine on if needed, and check the main beam warning light on the dashboard.

• Open the bonnet and tell me how you would check the engine has enough oil.

  Point out the dipstick or oil level indicator, and describe checking the level against the minimum and maximum marks.

• Open the bonnet and tell me how you would check the engine has enough coolant.

  Point out the high and low marks on the header tank, where there is one, or the radiator filler cap, and describe how you would top up to the right level, with the engine cold.

• Open the bonnet and tell me how you would check there is a safe level of brake fluid.

  Point out the brake fluid reservoir and check the level against its high and low marks.

• When it is safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the rear windscreen?

  Wait until it is safe, then find the rear wash and wipe control with a quick glance and use it

• When it is safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the front windscreen?

  Wait until it is safe, then use the windscreen washer control briefly, eyes mostly on the road

• When it is safe to do so, can you show me how you would switch on your dipped headlights?

  Wait until it is safe, then find the light switch with a quick glance and set it to dipped headlights

• When it is safe to do so, can you show me how you would set the rear demister?

  Wait until it is safe, then press the rear demister switch and check its warning light

• When it is safe to do so, can you show me how you would operate the horn?

  Wait until it is safe, then give the horn a short press, keeping control of the steering

• When it is safe to do so, can you show me how you would demist the front windscreen?

  Wait until it is safe, then set the air to the screen and the fan up, with air con on if fitted

• When it is safe to do so, can you show me how you would open and close the side window?

  Wait until it is safe, then use the switch or winder to open it a little and close it again

DVSA publishes these questions on GOV.UK. The wording stays close to DVSA’s so you recognise them on the day; the answers are our own.

• What are the top 10 reasons for failing the driving test?
• What do examiners look for on the driving test?
• All 37 situations, explained

• DVSA: car “show me, tell me” vehicle safety questions
• GOV.UK: what happens during the car driving test
• DVSA: understanding your car driving test result
• GOV.UK: driving test faults and your result
• DVSA: examiner guidance, guide to assessment and marking
• DVSA: examiner guidance, general technical matters
• GOV.UK: The Highway Code

Checked against these pages on 4 November 2026. If GOV.UK says something different, GOV.UK is right.