In short
For about 20 minutes of the UK practical test the examiner will either set up a sat-nav or ask you to follow road signs to a destination. Missed turns aren't penalised — only the manoeuvre to recover.
Updated 2026-06-06 · 6 min read · By Driving Routes Editorial
How it works
The examiner sets up a TomTom Start 52 with a 20-minute route. They'll tell you the destination, then start the directions. Your job is to follow them safely — not to drive perfectly to the destination. If the route reroutes because of a missed turn, that's fine.
What's marked
Same as the rest of the test: observation, control, signalling, planning. The independent-driving section is not a separate scoring; it's a context for the same marking sheet.
If you miss a turn
Don't panic. The sat-nav reroutes; the examiner won't mark the missed turn unless your reaction to it was unsafe (sudden brake, swerve, lane change without observation).