Show me, tell me questions
The "show me, tell me" questions are vehicle safety questions asked on every car practical test. One "tell me" question is asked at the start, before driving, and one "show me" question while driving. Getting one or both wrong is recorded as one driving fault; driving dangerously while doing the "show me" task is a serious or dangerous fault.[1] Newman advises practising them in the car used for the test, since controls vary.[1]
"Tell me" questions
| No. | Area | Question (paraphrased) | Answer in brief |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General | Adjusting the head restraint | Rigid part at least as high as the eyes or top of the ears, and close to the head |
| 2 | General | Checking power steering | Gentle pressure on the wheel while starting the engine, or turn just after moving off |
| 3 | Brakes | Checking the brakes | Pedal not spongy or slack; test as you set off; car should not pull to one side |
| 4 | Brakes | An ABS fault | A warning light comes on |
| 5 | Tyres | Tyre pressures | Manufacturer's guide; reliable gauge; check cold; include the spare; refit caps |
| 6 | Tyres | Tread and condition | No cuts or bulges; 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters and all the way round |
| 7 | Lights | Headlights and tail lights | Operate the switch, then walk round the car |
| 8 | Lights | Indicators | Operate the switch, then walk round the car |
| 9 | Lights | Brake lights | Press the pedal and use reflections, or ask someone |
| 10 | Lights | Rear fog lights | Operate the switch and check the warning light; use when visibility is under about 100 m |
| 11 | Lights | Main beam | Operate the switch and check the warning light |
| 12 | Bonnet | Engine oil | Dipstick or indicator, between minimum and maximum |
| 13 | Bonnet | Coolant | High and low marks on the header tank; how to top up |
| 14 | Bonnet | Brake fluid | Identify the reservoir; check against the marks |
For electric cars, or where bonnet items are inaccessible, the examiner may ask a different question.[1] Newman notes that answering the fog light question with "when it's foggy" shows the candidate has not learned the answers.[1]
"Show me" questions
Asked while driving, to be done only when safe:[1]
- Wash and clean the rear windscreen
- Wash and clean the front windscreen
- Switch on dipped headlights
- Set the rear demister
- Operate the horn
- Demist the front windscreen
- Open and close the side window
The side-window question refers only to the driver's own window. It is a safety question because at junctions with very restricted visibility, drivers are expected to open the window and listen for traffic.[1] Small fumbles, such as washing the front screen before the rear, are not marked.[1]
References
- Newman, Geoff (2026). Sevenoaks Driving Test Secrets, chapters 12 and 18 and Appendix A, reproducing the DVSA list under the Open Government Licence.
- "Car show me tell me vehicle safety questions". GOV.UK.