Driving Tips
What is an extended driving test?
Who has to take an extended driving test
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 08/10/2026
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 08/10/2026
If you find yourself disqualified from driving, there’s a chance you may have to pass an extended driving test to be able to drive again. An extended driving test is a longer and more expensive version of the practical driving test. When facing penalties, a court can order you to pass one before you get your full driving licence back.
Although you’d hope you won’t ever have to take one, they are not uncommon. In fact, Freedom of Information data analysed by cinch confirms around 4,000 extended driving tests were booked in 2024.
Drivers will only need to take an extended driving test if ordered to by a court. This applies to bans of 56 days or more. For shorter bans, you can drive again once the ban ends. This decision will be based on the reason(s) why the driver was banned. It’s compulsory after a dangerous driving conviction.
It’s worth noting that Northern Ireland currently has different rules to the rest of the UK for drivers taking extended driving tests.
Section 36 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 states drivers will be disqualified until they pass an ‘appropriate driving test’. This means:
a) An extended driving test, where a person is convicted of an offence involving obligatory disqualification or is disqualified under section 35 of this Act,
b) A test of competence to drive, other than an extended driving test, in any other case,
“extended driving test ” means a test of competence to drive prescribed for the purposes of this section, and
“test of competence to drive ” means a test prescribed by virtue of section 89(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
In effect, this means that while your ban may have ended, you still can’t drive with a full licence. If you’re getting behind the wheel, you’re going to need a provisional licence, some L plates, a qualified supervisor and learner driver insurance.
Driving without those counts as driving while disqualified. This counts as a serious criminal offence, with penalties including up to six months in prison (12 in Scotland), an unlimited fine and a possible longer ban.
If you’ve reached 12 or more penalty points within three years, you’ll be banned from driving for at least six months - and the court could order you to take the extended driving test.
Courts will order you to take a test when there’s evidence of inexperience, incompetence or ill health. They’ll also consider the length of your ban before deciding if this will be the standard or extended driving test. A court can also order a retest after other bans. Read more about drink-driving penalties and bans.
If you pick up six or more points within two years of passing your first test, The DVLA will automatically revoke your driving licence. At this point, you’ll have to apply and pay for a new provisional licence and pass your theory and practical tests again. This tends to be the practical test, unless the court orders an extended test.
As you can tell from its name, an extended driving test is longer than a standard practical driving test. Some aspects, such as the eyesight check, ‘show me, tell me’ questions, independent driving and a manoeuvre.
| Standard test | Extended test | |
|---|---|---|
| Who takes it? | Anyone with a provisional licence | Drivers a court has ordered to retest |
| Length | 38 to 40 minutes | Around 70 minutes, with at least 60 minutes of driving |
| Weekday fee* | £62 | £124 |
| Evening weekend and bank holiday fee* | £75 | £150 |
| Pass mark | No serious or dangerous faults, and no more than 15 driving faults | Same |
*Correct as of www.gov.uk on 8 October, 2026
Extended driving test routes can include dual carriageways, so it’s worth getting some extra practice on faster roads. You also may be asked to do an emergency stop.
Examiners are encouraged to mark you in the same way as any candidate taking a practical test. The extended running time of this test means you have to drive seamlessly for 60 minutes. If you’re an experienced driver, it might be worth taking a few lessons before the day of the test to try and weed out any bad habits you’ve picked up.
In addition to the above, the driving test costs page on www.gov.uk confirms you’ll have to pay £23 to take a theory test. You’ll also need a new provisional driving licence, which costs £34 online or £43 by post.
This means you’re looking at spending at least £181 before factoring in refresher lessons and insurance.
Yes, you need insurance to drive a car on any public road in the UK. As you are technically learning to drive again, you will need learner driver insurance while you take private lessons (with a qualified supervisor who holds a full licence and meets the eligibility rules) and during your test. If you’re taking lessons with a professional, the insurance should be covered.
Some learner policies will only accept drivers with no convictions. This means you may need to find a specialist policy - and the premium is likely to increase.
On the day you take your extended test, you must ensure the car is in roadworthy condition, taxed and insured. An instructor's car will already be covered. If you pass the extended test, you’ll be able to drive straight away but not with learner insurance. You're going to need to get car insurance, either annual or temporary.
If you have finished your driving ban and been ordered to pass an extended test, it might be time to get some extra practice. If you have parents happy to let you practise in your car, you can take out learner driver insurance and get back on the road. Remember, their insurance might not cover you and driving uninsured can lead to a £300 fine and six points.
Just make sure you put L plates on the car and have a qualified supervisor beside you. They must be aged over 21 (25 if you have a Tempcover policy), been a permanent UK resident for at least 2 years and have held a full UK driving licence for at least 3 years.
Once you’ve passed your test, your learner cover will end. As a full licence holder, you’ll now need to get covered again.
Insurers won't cover you to drive while you're banned, so if you own a car, it's worth declaring it off road with a SORN.
Once your ban has passed, you’ll be able to start taking lessons again but you must declare any unspent convictions to an insurer while getting a quote. Insurers will see you as a higher risk after your ban, so you may struggle to get a quote or face higher premiums. You should also ask any potential insurer what they will do about your no claims discount.
Passed your extended test and ready to go but not ready to commit to an annual premium? Tempcover’s temporary car insurance for convicted drivers can help bridge the gap while you compare your annual quotes.
https://www.gov.uk/driving-disqualifications
https://burtondrivingschool.co.uk/what-is-an-extended-driving-test/
https://dodrive.uk/the-extended-driving-test/
https://unlock.org.uk/advice/extended-driving-tests/
https://examroutes.co.uk/27546/extended-driving-test-disqualification-2026/
You can take as many extended driving tests as you need to pass but you'll pay the full fee each time, and you'll need to wait for another slot.
Yes, on a provisional licence. You need L plates, a qualified supervisor and insurance for the car.
Yes. If a court bans you until you pass an extended test, you'll need a new provisional licence and to pass a theory test pass before taking the extended test.
You don't need to apply for a new licence, and you don't need to retake your test. You can drive again once your ban ends.
Related tags:
Temporary Car InsuranceWe also currently hold an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot with over 50,000 reviews.
