How Many Minors Can You Get on a Driving Test in 2026?

The Minor Fault Limit on Your Driving Test

One of the most common questions learners ask is how many minor faults (also called driving faults) they can accumulate before failing their test. The answer is straightforward: you can receive up to 15 minor faults and still pass your driving test. However, 16 or more minors means a fail.

But there is an important caveat that many learners miss: if you make the same minor fault repeatedly, the examiner may escalate it to a serious fault, which is an instant fail regardless of how few total faults you have.

Understanding the Fault Categories

Driving Faults (Minors)

A driving fault is a small error that does not cause immediate danger. Examples include forgetting a mirror check before signalling, slightly hesitating at a junction when it was safe to go, or a minor positioning error on approach to a roundabout. These faults show the examiner that your technique is not yet fully polished, but they do not pose a safety risk.

Serious Faults

A serious fault is an error that could potentially be dangerous. This includes things like failing to check mirrors before changing lanes in traffic, driving too fast for the conditions, or significantly misjudging a junction. One serious fault means you fail the test.

Dangerous Faults

A dangerous fault occurs when your actions actually endanger you, the examiner, other road users, or property. Examples include pulling out in front of an oncoming vehicle, running a red light, or causing another driver to brake or swerve to avoid you. Like a serious fault, one dangerous fault is an instant fail.

How Repeated Minors Become a Serious Fault

This is where many learners get caught out. If the examiner notices a pattern, for example you consistently forget to check your left mirror before turning left, or you repeatedly position your car too far to the right, they may decide this reflects a deeper gap in your driving. At that point, what started as minor faults gets reclassified as a serious fault.

There is no fixed number for this escalation. It is at the examiner’s professional judgement. As a rule of thumb, if you make the same minor mistake three or four times, there is a real risk it will be upgraded.

What Most Learners Get Marked For

The most common minor faults on UK driving tests are:

Observation at junctions – Not looking effectively in all directions before proceeding. This is the single most common fault category year after year.

Mirror checks – Forgetting to check mirrors before signalling, changing speed, or changing direction. Build the habit of checking mirrors every time, even when you think it is not necessary.

Steering control – Over-steering, under-steering, or allowing the car to drift in its lane. Smooth, deliberate steering inputs come with practice.

Speed management – Driving too slowly for the conditions (yes, this is a fault) or hesitating when you should be making progress. The examiner wants to see confident, appropriate speed choices.

How to Keep Your Fault Count Low

Build consistent habits. Every time you signal, check your mirrors first. Every time you approach a junction, follow the same observation routine. Consistency is what keeps minors from accumulating.

Practise the test routes. Knowing what to expect on the road removes uncertainty and lets you focus on your driving technique. The Exam Routes App gives you access to real routes with turn-by-turn navigation, so you can rehearse until every junction and roundabout feels familiar.

Do not panic after a minor fault. Many learners spiral after making a mistake, leading to more faults. Remember, you can make 15 minors and still pass. One fault does not define your test: move on and refocus.

Take mock tests. Ask your instructor to conduct a full mock test under realistic conditions. This helps you experience the pressure and identify weak areas before the real thing.

Frequently Asked Questions