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Category B practical test: which checks should I make before setting off?
The examiner may ask for vehicle-safety checks during the B practical test; practise them with an instructor, without improvising on the road.
Before moving the car in the category B practical test, you should be able to check basic safety items and prepare the vehicle as the examiner instructs. The test may include checks or questions about the car, but there is no universal sequence to recite from memory. Practise with your instructor in the same type of vehicle used for the test.
What a safety check may cover
Ministerial practical-test instructions for category B include preliminary checks of vehicle safety and knowledge of basic controls. Depending on the situation, the examiner may ask you to inspect an item or explain how you would make sure the car is ready to use. Practise locating lights and indicators, seat belts, visible tyres, the parking brake and key controls. Do not turn the test into a rigid checklist that is supposedly identical for every candidate.
Carry out checks while the car is stationary and in a safe place. Do not open the bonnet, touch hot parts or move the vehicle without instructions. If you are unsure what a control is called, ask your instructor to show you during practice. The examiner assesses ability and behaviour under the test requirements, not recitation of an online script.
Build a routine with your driving instructor
During lessons, ask to include a pre-drive check. You can confirm your driving position, closed doors, seat belts and mirrors, then identify lights, indicators, wipers and emergency controls. Adapt the routine to the car: controls differ by model, and automatic or electric vehicles may use different selectors.
The 2013 MIT circular describes the practical test and checks for B1, B and BE; Decree No. 294/2025 separately regulates mandatory practice, with its effective date linked to the director’s decree on the certification platform. Do not confuse certified lessons with the test’s vehicle checks. On test day, follow the examiner’s instructions, stay composed and do not begin a manoeuvre until the vehicle and area are safe.
Quiz Patente Ufficiale can help you review theory for the test with chapters and quizzes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to inspect the engine or open the bonnet?
Do not do so without a request and a safe setting. The actual check depends on the examiner and vehicle; practise accessible controls and checks with your instructor.
Is there one identical checklist for every test?
Ministerial instructions define the skills to assess, but the specific request can vary. Practise in the test vehicle and follow the examiner’s directions.