Passing your driving test feels like a big step. One part of the test that often worries learners is the number of minors. What counts as a minor? How many can you have before failing? And how do you keep them low? This post answers those questions and gives tips to help you succeed, with reference to how Wimbledon Driving School supports you.
What Is a Minor?
A minor, also called a driving fault, is any mistake during your test that is not serious or dangerous. Minors are recorded when your performance is not perfect, but your actions are not likely to cause an accident. Examples include:
- Forgetting to check your wing mirror before changing direction.
- Being overly cautious at a junction.
- Slight hesitations when moving off or stopping.
These are not immediate failures, but they can add up. Wimbledon Driving School helps learners understand these small errors so you can correct them early.
How Many Minors Are You Allowed?
On the official practical driving test, you are allowed up to 15 minors and still pass.
That means you can make 15 small mistakes, and still pass, so long as none of those mistakes turn into serious or dangerous faults. But while the number seems generous, having too many minors could put you in a risky position. If your minors are spread over many areas, examiners may question your consistency, decision-making, and readiness.
What Happens If You Get Too Many
You fail the test if:
- You commit one serious fault or one dangerous fault. These are mistakes that put you or others at risk.
- You accumulate more than 15 minors.
Also, repeating the same minor fault many times can lead to it being upgraded to a serious fault. For example, if you always forget to check your mirrors when changing direction, that might be considered serious by the examiner. Wimbledon Driving School emphasises consistency and helps you eliminate repeated minor errors.
Will You Find Out How Many Minors You Had?
Yes. When you get your test result, pass or fail, the examiner will tell you exactly how many minors you got and where you made them.
This feedback is extremely helpful. It shows you areas to focus on in future practice or lessons. At Wimbledon Driving School, instructors encourage learning from feedback. They help you review your faults and work on weak spots before retesting.
How Wimbledon Driving School Helps You Keep Minors Low
At Wimbledon Driving School, we aim to prepare you so you have the best chance of passing with few minors. Here is how we support learners:
- Structured lessons that build your skills step by step: control, observation, judgement. We don’t rush you through without solid foundations.
- Regular feedback each lesson. Your instructor will point out minor issues when they arise, so they don’t become repeated faults.
- Mock tests similar to the real one. This helps you get used to the test format, the pressure, and how examiners assess you.
- Focused practice on common minors. Example: mirror checks, safe stop-starting, observation at junctions. You’ll practice these until they feel almost automatic.
Encouragement to practice off-lesson with a supervising driver where legal. Every bit of practice helps reduce minor faults.
What Kinds of Minors Are Common
Some minors occur more often than others. Knowing them helps you watch out for them. Examples include:
- Not checking mirrors early enough.
- Using signals late or not checking blind spots before turning.
- Slight hesitation when moving off or stopping.
- Unsafe positioning (too close or too far from kerbs).
- Incorrect speed (either too slow, causing hesitation, or slightly too fast for conditions).
By focusing on these, you can reduce the most likely faults that count against you.
How to Manage Minors During the Test
When you are in the test itself, you can’t stop them entirely—but you can control them. Here are tips for that:
- Stay calm. If you notice a minor being noted, don’t let it distract you. Focus on safe driving.
- Watch for patterns. If you know you often get a minor for mirror checks, remind yourself early and often in the test.
- Don’t try to fix everything at once. Fixing too many small mistakes can lead to hesitation. Prioritise the ones that recur.
- Listen carefully to instructions. Sometimes faults come from misunderstanding what examiner wants. If unsure, just ask.
- Drive assertively, not aggressively. Good awareness, smooth control, steady speed. Those show safety and competence.
What to Aim for Before Your Test
To give yourself the best chance, aim for:
- Having fewer than 10 minors in mock tests or lessons. This builds confidence and shows you are controlling your faults well.
- Practicing in test routes or areas similar to where your test will be. Familiarity helps reduce surprises.
- Doing lessons in different traffic conditions (heavy traffic, quiet streets, busy junctions). The more varied the conditions, the fewer surprise faults. Wimbledon Driving School teaches in SW London & Surrey so learners get exposure to many road types.
Over-Worrying isn’t useful
Some stress is natural, but over-worrying about minors can work against you. Here is what not to get caught up in:
- Don’t obsess over every minor you ever had. Tests aren’t perfect. One slip doesn’t ruin everything.
- Don’t compare your minors with those of others. Everyone has different strengths and areas they need to improve.
- Don’t let fear of failing stop you practicing situations that feel hard, often these are where most minors happen.
Ready to Reduce Your Faults and Pass with Confidence?
Minors matter, but they aren’t things to be scared of. They are part of the learning process. You get graded on them, but you are allowed up to fifteen if you avoid serious faults. What makes the difference is preparation, consistency, and knowing where your weak spots are.
If you want help reducing minors, mastering tricky junctions, or gaining confidence before your test, Wimbledon Driving School is here for you. Book your next lesson with us and let our expert instructors guide you. Visit the bookings page to take your next step.
