26 / 07 / 22
What to wear to my Practical Driving Test
One of the most common questions instructors get from their pupils is ‘what to wear to my practical driving test’? The answer really is quite simple – technically you can wear whatever you like, but remember that first impressions count! In most situations in life, the way you look does tend to have some sort of impact on the outcome of situations. This is why we recommend to our pupils to dress smart casual to your practical driving tests – similar to what you’d wear to an interview.
Now, we’re not saying you need to go all out and wear a suit or a dress, but something clean, smart and comfortable would be ideal. We’ve highlighted the main points to consider when choosing your outfit for practical test day:
Comfort!
The most important thing to consider when choosing your outfit for practical test day is comfort. Being comfortable is likely to help you settle your nerves and keep calm. You want to make sure that you are not restricted in your movement – so that when you’re performing a manoeuvre, you can completely look around and twist your whole body. Consider the weather; check it the night before when you’re getting ready to go to sleep. In the summer months it can get hot in a car, and stress can make you feel even warmer, so consider just wearing a t-shirt with a light jacket over the top so that you can remove it if you feel warm before your test. You won’t be able to do much adjusting once you’ve set off. Wearing comfortable shoes is also key – in the summer it might be tempting to wear sandals or flip flops, but this is not recommended (and could actually land you in a big fine!). Wearing comfortable, flat trainers that support your feet is best. If you have long hair, we recommend tying it back to keep it out of your face and eyes. The thickness of shoe soles can dramatically change how the pedals feel, so make sure you have spent plenty of time driving in the shoes you choose to wear on your practical test day.
Smart Casual!
Now, there’s nothing wrong with turning up to your practical test in a tracksuit however, as mentioned before, first impressions count! You want to start off on the best foot with your driving examiner, so we always recommend dressing smart casual. What you don’t want to do, is offend or act disrespectful to your driving examiner. This could include things like displaying poor personal hygiene, or wearing items of clothing that are revealing or offensive. For both genders, we recommend wearing an ironed, clean t-shirt, trousers, and clean trainers.
If you’re wondering how to actually prepare to take the practical driving test, read our blog post on it HERE.
