Why people fail the HGV test, and what happens if you do
How the reversing test and the on-road test are actually marked, the faults DVSA says it sees most, the ways a test is lost before you even start, and what a fail costs you in time and money.
Short answer
About 4 in 10 on-road lorry tests are fails: 60.7% were passed across Great Britain in 2025 to 2026, and 58.3% at Gillingham LGV. You fail the on-road test (Module 3b) with 13 or more driving faults, or any serious or dangerous fault. That's stricter than the car test, which allows 15.
The reversing test (Module 3a) is simply pass or fail. You fail by crossing a yellow line with the full width of a tyre, knocking a cone, pulling forward more than twice, or stopping short of the hatched area.
After a fail you can retake the on-road test after 3 working days and the reversing test after 24 hours. DVSA charges £115 and £40 again, and Kent schools that publish a retest price charge £427 to £495 for the truck, a warm-up and the test.
How each test is marked
| Test | How long | You pass if | Pass rate 2025 to 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module 3a: reversing, plus uncoupling and recoupling for Class 1 | Up to 30 minutes | You complete the exercises without an error. No driving faults are recorded: it's pass or fail. | 71.4%* |
| Module 3b: vehicle safety questions, then the road | 1 hour of driving, including about 10 minutes of independent driving | 12 or fewer driving faults, and no serious or dangerous faults | 60.7% |
| CPC Module 4: practical demonstration | 30 minutes | At least 15 out of 20 in each of the five topics, and 80 out of 100 overall | – |
The reversing test: exactly what fails you
You reverse an S-shaped course into a bay, as if backing onto a loading dock. DVSA's instructions to examiners say you fail if you:
- cross any yellow boundary line with the full width of a tyre;
- knock any cone out of place;
- pull forward to correct your position (a "shunt") more than twice in the whole exercise;
- stop with the very back of the lorry short of the black hatched section of the yellow stopping box. Touching the barrier at the back is fine; moving it is a fail;
- get out to look more than twice. You're allowed once part-way through, before a set marker cone, and once in the bay.
For Class 1, you also uncouple and recouple the trailer. There's no set number of attempts to line up, but the examiner will fail you if they're sure you wouldn't have put the trailer parking brake on without being stopped. DVSA's examples of common faults also include not checking the trailer brake before recoupling, skipping the tug test, and not refitting the safety clip or chain.
Ask your school whether its reversing area is marked out to DVSA's layout, and how many hours of reversing practice the course includes. You can't take the on-road test until you've passed this one.
The on-road test: where faults come from
DVSA doesn't publish statistics on which faults lorry learners make most. The "top 10 reasons for failing" lists you'll see online are from car tests. What DVSA does publish is its own list of common faults on the lorry test, including:
- Mirrors. Checking them after, or at the same time as, signalling, and changing lanes on a roundabout without an effective check.
- Junctions. Steering too early at a roundabout so the lorry mounts the kerb, and not checking for traffic when joining a dual carriageway from a slip road.
- Clearance. Passing within a metre of a vehicle when there's room for more, and moving back in too soon after overtaking.
- Positioning and control. Driving too close to the kerb or the centre line, over-steering on turns, and braking too hard or not hard enough.
- Moving off. Rolling back when moving off without a gear selected, and not checking blind spots.
- Signs and speed. Reacting late to a change of speed limit, not stopping at a stop sign, and stopping in the cyclists' box at red lights.
The test starts with vehicle safety questions: 5 on a Class 2 test, or 2 if you're adding a trailer to a licence you already hold. Each wrong answer is a driving fault, up to 4, which count towards your limit of 12. Getting all 5 wrong, or both of 2 wrong, is a serious fault and a fail.
Tests lost before you start
Some tests never happen, and you lose the fee:
- The lorry doesn't meet DVSA's rules. A Class 2 test lorry must weigh at least 12 tonnes, be at least 8 metres long with a closed box body, and carry a real load of 10,000kg, as five 1,000-litre containers of water. A Class 1 artic must be 14 to 16.5 metres long, with 15,000kg on the trailer. It also needs L plates, a second set of mirrors for the examiner, a tachograph and ABS. If the vehicle doesn't qualify, the test is cancelled and the fee is lost.
- Missing documents. Bring your photocard licence (or paper licence and passport), your theory pass, and for the on-road test your 3a pass certificate. Photocopies and scans aren't accepted as ID.
- Changing the date late. Lorry tests need 3 full working days' notice to move or cancel without losing the fee. The 10-day rule only applies to car tests.
Your school provides the lorry, so ask before you pay: "Does your test vehicle meet DVSA's minimum test vehicle rules, including the load?" GOV.UK, rules for lorries used for tests.
What happens after a fail
| Test | Wait before a retake | DVSA fee again | Deadline to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theory, Module 2 | 3 clear working days | £26 + £11, £23 | The theory certificate lasts 2 years from the first part you pass |
| Module 3a (reversing) | At least 24 hours | Up to £40 | Pass 3a and 3b within the 2 years |
| Module 3b (on-road) | 3 working days, Monday to Saturday, not counting the test day | £115 (£141 evenings and weekends) | Within 6 months of passing 3a, or retake 3a |
| Module 4 | 3 clear working days | £55 (£63) | Within 2 years of Module 2, or retake Module 2 |
The DVSA fee is the small part. A school charges for the truck and instructor again: Kent schools that publish a retest price charge £427 to £495, usually including about two hours' warm-up. Some sell "pass protection" upfront instead. Retest prices and pass protection.
Before you rebook, ask the examiner to go through your faults at the end of the test, and ask your instructor for a plan that targets them. A retest straight after 2 hours' warm-up suits a near miss; a serious fault at junctions or roundabouts may need more.
If DVSA cancels your test
- Bad weather: the examiner decides, and you're rebooked free. You can't claim expenses.
- DVSA cancels with less than 3 full working days' notice for any other reason: you can claim out-of-pocket expenses within 6 months, including up to 4 hours of training at your school's standard hourly rate and up to half a day's lost pay. How to claim.
- If your off-road test is with an approved school and it cancels, its own cancellation terms apply. Check them before you pay. Refunds and deposits.
How to give yourself the best chance
- Book enough hours. The fewer cab hours, the more likely a retest. Check they're one-to-one.
- Learn the vehicle safety questions before your course. They're free marks.
- Practise reversing until it's routine, not until you've done it once.
- Take the on-road test soon after your reversing test, well inside the 6-month limit.
Gillingham LGV test centre · Pass rates by age · Theory pass rates
Common questions
How many minors can you get on an HGV test?
12. You pass the on-road lorry test (Module 3b) with 12 or fewer driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults. DVSA cut the limit from 15 to 12 in November 2021. The car test still allows 15.
How many shunts are allowed on the HGV reversing test?
Two. A third pull-forward fails the exercise. You also fail by crossing a yellow line with the full width of a tyre, knocking a cone, or stopping short of the hatched area.
How soon can I retake my HGV test?
You can book straight away. The on-road test can be taken again after 3 working days (Monday to Saturday, not counting the test day), and the off-road reversing test after 24 hours.
How much does it cost to retake the HGV test?
DVSA charges £115 for the on-road test on a weekday (£141 evenings and weekends) and up to £40 for the reversing test. Kent schools that publish a retest price charge £427 to £495, including the truck and a warm-up.
What is the HGV test pass rate?
About 61% of on-road lorry tests were passed in Great Britain in 2025 to 2026.
Can I take the on-road test if I fail the reversing test?
No. You need your Module 3a pass certificate to take Module 3b, and you must pass 3b within 6 months of it.