Driving examiner

You would test people’s skills at driving a car. You’d see whether a person is a safe and competent driver and decide whether they can get their full driving licence.

You would go out in a vehicle with a learner driver and assess their skills to see if they reach the national standard for driving cars and light vans.

You would:

• prepare the paperwork for the test

• meet the driving test candidate

• set them tasks so you can check their eyesight

• ask them questions to confirm the vehicle is safe

• give them instructions as part of the test

• watch how well they drive and if they are a safe driver

• check their skill and safety in carrying out manoeuvres like reversing the car

• take notes throughout the test

• tell the person if they have passed or failed

• give feedback to the candidate and their instructor

• fill out the driving test report form and give a copy to the candidate

• complete a more detailed report on the driving faults.

You would sometimes have to tell people that they have failed the test. They may be upset or angry but you would need to be firm and fair.

Being observant would be important. Throughout the test you’d need to concentrate on the person’s driving and pay attention to other traffic or people on the roads.

You might also carry out tests for other types of vehicles such as motorcycles or large goods vehicles.

Driving examiners work for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) which is an executive agency of the UK Government’s Department for Transport.

Some haulage and bus companies also employ driving examiners to assess their lorry, bus or coach drivers. 

• UK Government - Guidance on becoming an approved driving examiner

• Disclosure Scotland – more about the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme