The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has added a new car to its list of banned vehicles.
Learner drivers are allowed to complete a test in their own car instead of an instructor’s if the vehicle meets the criteria set out by the DVSA.
However, the DVSA has specified a list of car models that students are unable to use during driving tests.
READ MORE: Major driving lesson change announced for learner drivers in Liverpool
The government agency recently revised the rules so that the Smart Fortwo (2-door) has been added to the list.
The car joins four other models on the banned list, which also includes:
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BMW Mini convertible
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Ford KA convertible
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Toyota iQ
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VW Beetle convertible
The cars have been deemed unsuitable because their design obstructs the driver’s or the instructor’s vision of the road.
Other cars have been banned as they have been subject to product recalls, which means they may be unsuitable.
These include certain batches of Citroen C1, Peugeot 108, Toyota Aygo, Toyota Yaris, Vauxhall ADAM and Vauxhall Corsa D.
DVSA rules about using your own car for a driving test
In order to use your own car during a test, the car must meet the following criteria:
- be taxed
- be insured for a driving test (check with your insurance company)
- be roadworthy and have a current MOT (if it’s over 3 years old)
- have no warning lights showing, for example, the airbag warning light
- have no tire damage and the legal tread depth on each tire – you cannot have a space-saver spare tire fitted
- be smoke-free – this means you cannot smoke in it just before or during the test
- be able to reach at least 62mph and have an mph speedometer
- have 4 wheels and a maximum authorized mass (MAM) of no more than 3,500 kg
The full rules of using your own car for a driving test can be found here.
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