The driving examiner will ask you two ‘show me, tell me questions‘ (also vehicle safety questions) based on basic vehicle maintenance. Below are all the DVA show me tell me questions & answers.
One will be a ‘tell me’ how to do something question, explaining how to check the tyre pressure for example. The other question will be a ‘show me’ question. That’s where you will have to physically show the examiner how you would do something, for example testing the horn.
Some answers refer to you turning on the ignition. This means turning the key in the ignition (one or two ‘clicks’) for the electrics to turn on but don’t start the car.
This involves opening the bonnet.
A: You would check by removing the dip-stick, wiping it clean of oil, dipping it back in, removing it again and the oil should leave a mark between the maximum and minimum marker.
This involves you opening the bonnet.
A: The coolant can be checked by looking at the maximum and minimum levels found on the side of the expansion tank (never open the coolant when it’s hot).
This involves you opening the bonnet.
A: It can be checked by opening it up and checking that it has sufficient washer fluid inside.
This involves you opening the bonnet.
A: It can be checked by looking at the maximum and minimum levels found on the side of the brake fluid reservoir.
A: Tell the examiner you would start the car, drive forward slowly and try the foot brake. It should stop the car, the pedal should feel firm and not spongy, also the car shouldn’t pull to one side.
Tyre pressure information can be found in the car manual. You can check the tyre pressure by using a tyre pressure gauge.
A: The tread depth can be measured using a tread depth gauge. The legal minimum amount of tread should me no less than 1.6mm of tread in the central ¾ of the tyre and there shouldn’t be any cuts or bulges on the edge of the tyre.
A: Tell the examiner that the head restraint should be adjusted so that the rigid part of the head restraint is at least as high as your eyes (or top of your ears) and as close to the back of the head as is comfortable.
A: Turn the ignition on and turn the headlights on. Exit the car and check that both front headlights and the back tail lights are working properly.
A: Tell the examiner that you would start the engine and a warning light will stay illuminated on the dashboard if there is a fault with the anti-lock braking system.
A: Ask the examiner if they can check the back of the car while you turn the ignition on and press the foot brake to activate the brake lights (don’t start the car though). You might also be able to see the reflection of the lights on a wall or in windows.
A: Tell the examiner that you would start the car and move the steering wheel a little left and right. It should feel easy and light to steer and not heavy.
A: Turn the ignition on and operate the windscreen washer lever (pull & hold the wiper switch towards you).
A: Turn the ignition on, operate the indicator stalk, exit the car and check that all the indicators are working at the front and the back (both sides).
A: Turn the fan & air conditioning on, set the dial to blow onto the front window, press the rear demister button to demist the rear and turn the heat dial right for warm air.
A: Press the centre of the steering wheel (the horn) and you should hear that it works.
A: Turn the ignition on. Turn the dipped headlights on and then the rear fog light. Check that the warning light is on for the fog light (no need to get out or switch the engine on). Explain that you would only use the fog light(s) if visibility was poor and that you could not see further than 100 metres.
A: Press the foot brake, release the handbrake, re-apply the handbrake and the handbrake shouldn’t come up too high and the car shouldn’t move when you release the foot brake.
A: Turn the ignition on. Twist the light switch from off position, then side lights, then to dipped. You then need to pull the left lever towards you for the main beam. Tell the examiner that you can see the (blue) main beam warning light is displayed on the dashboard.
