Category B practical test: how should you adjust the seat and mirrors?

When preparing for Italy’s category B practical test, adjust the seat and mirrors before moving so that you can reach the controls and see the road. The examiner may assess how you settle into and prepare the vehicle. There is no single measurement that fits every driver or car: learn the adjustments in the practice vehicle with your instructor.

Get ready before moving off

The ministerial practical-test instructions include preparing the vehicle and positioning the driver. Before moving, adjust the seat so you can reach the controls without stretching, keep a posture that allows you to control the steering wheel and pedals, and set the mirrors for the required fields of view. Your position should remain comfortable and support safe control throughout the test.

The test car may differ from the one used in your lessons. Learn where its controls and adjustment mechanisms are with your instructor beforehand. After settling in, check the seat belt and any other item the examiner indicates. Do not rush or move off until your visibility and position are suitable.

Practise the sequence with an instructor

Mirrors help you observe the rear and sides, but they do not remove the need to check your surroundings as your instructor teaches. The best adjustment depends on the car, your height and the mirrors fitted. A sentence memorised from a guide cannot guarantee that your field of view is suitable.

Ask your instructor to let you repeat the adjustments while the vehicle is stationary, then check your position before a driving exercise. This advice concerns the category B practical test; it does not replace driving lessons. Quiz Patente Ufficiale can help you study Italian road theory, while adjusting the controls and judging space require practice with an instructor and a suitable vehicle.

To review Italian road theory, use Quiz Patente Ufficiale chapters and exam quizzes.