Show Me Tell Me Questions & Answers | Full List of 21 | Nottingham

Key Takeaways

21 official questions — 14 "tell me", 7 "show me" — grouped into 6 checks below
One wrong answer is a single driving fault, not an automatic fail
DVSA hasn't published an electric-vehicle version of this list — see the note below

The Complete Official List — All 21 Questions

All 21 official DVSA questions, grouped into the 6 checks below.

Download the full Q&A as a PDF All 21 questions and answers in one printable sheet, so you can revise offline without reopening this page.

Download PDF

Show Me Tell Me questions broken down into 6 categories: fluid checks, light checks, vehicle controls, tyres, head restraint, visibility

1Fluid Checks

For all three of these, the examiner asks you to open the bonnet first, then explain the check.

1 Tell me Official Question

"Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check that the engine has sufficient oil."

Model Answer

(Open the bonnet and identify the dipstick.) I'd pull it out, wipe it clean with a cloth, put it back in fully, then pull it out again to check the oil level sits between the MIN and MAX markers.

NoteYou only need to open the bonnet and explain the check — you don't have to actually pull the dipstick out and read it unless the examiner specifically asks you to show them. The min/max markers matter for a real reason: too little oil starves the engine of lubrication, while too much can damage seals and raise oil pressure dangerously, so "somewhere between the two" isn't just a phrase to repeat. A fully electric car has no engine or dipstick at all — see the electric car note further down this page.

2 Tell me Official Question

"Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check that the engine has sufficient engine coolant."

Model Answer

(Open the bonnet and identify the coolant reservoir.) I'd check the level from the side, making sure it sits between the MIN and MAX lines. I wouldn't open the cap while it's hot.

NoteCoolant stops the engine overheating. Opening a hot radiator cap can release pressurised, near-boiling coolant, which is exactly why the "only when cold" line is worth including — it shows the examiner you understand the check, not just the markers.

3 Tell me Official Question

"Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid."

Model Answer

(Open the bonnet and identify the brake fluid reservoir.) I'd check the level sits between the MIN and MAX markers.

NoteBrake fluid transfers the pressure from your foot on the pedal to the brakes themselves. If the level drops too low — often a sign of worn brake pads or a leak — the pedal can feel spongy or travel further before the brakes bite. That's why a low reading here is a genuine safety concern, not just a box to tick.

2Light Checks

4 Tell me Official Question

"Tell me how you'd check that the headlights and tail lights are working. You don't need to exit the vehicle."

Model Answer

I'd turn on the ignition, switch on the lights, then walk round the car to check each headlight and tail light's working.

NoteThis is a "tell me" question, so you only describe the method — you're not expected to actually get out and walk round the car. The examiner wants to hear the correct method explained clearly, not performed.

5 Tell me Official Question

"Tell me how you'd check the direction indicators are working. You don't need to exit the vehicle."

Model Answer

I'd turn on the ignition, press the hazard warning light switch, then walk around the vehicle to check all the indicator lights are flashing properly.

NoteThis is a "tell me" question, so you only describe the method — you're not expected to actually get out and walk round the car. Using the hazard switch lights all four indicator bulbs at once, so it checks every corner in a single action instead of testing left and right separately.

6 Tell me Official Question

"Tell me how you'd check the brake lights are working on this car."

Model Answer

I'd press the brake pedal and check the reflection in windows or doors, or ask someone to check for me.

NoteThis is one of the few checks where the method really is the point — you genuinely can't see your own brake lights from the driver's seat, so "how" you'd check matters as much as "what" you're checking. A common mistake is answering as though you could simply glance in the mirror, which doesn't actually show the brake lights.

7 Tell me Official Question

"Tell me how you'd switch on the rear fog light(s) and explain when you'd use it/them. You don't need to exit the vehicle."

Model Answer

I'd turn on the ignition and dipped headlights, then operate the fog light switch. I'd only use them when visibility drops below about 100 metres, and switch them off again once it clears.

NoteThis answer has two distinct parts, and it's easy to only give half: how to switch it on, and when you'd actually use it. The "when" matters to the examiner because fog lights left on unnecessarily — in light rain or at dusk, say — dazzle the drivers behind you.

8 Tell me Official Question

"Tell me how you switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you'd know the main beam is on."

Model Answer

I'd turn on the ignition, switch on the dipped headlights, then switch to main beam — I'd check the blue warning light comes on the dashboard to confirm it's switched over.

NoteAgain, two parts: the switching action, and how you'd confirm it worked. The dashboard warning light exists because you often can't tell from the driver's seat whether you're on dipped or main beam, especially in daylight or well-lit streets.

9 Show me Official Question

"When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd switch on your dipped headlights?"

Model Answer

Operate the correct switch or stalk to turn on dipped headlights — the green headlight icon appears on the dashboard.

NoteUnlike the "tell me" light questions above, this one is actually demonstrated while driving — find the control confidently without taking your eyes off the road for more than a glance.

3Vehicle Controls

10 Tell me Official Question

"Tell me how you'd check that the brakes are working before starting a journey."

Model Answer

I'd check the brakes as I set off — they shouldn't feel spongy or slack, and the car shouldn't pull to one side.

NoteThis covers three separate checks in one answer — pedal feel, straight-line braking, and testing on the move — and it's easy to mention only one. Each catches a different kind of fault: a spongy pedal often points to air or moisture in the brake fluid, while pulling to one side can mean uneven wear or a sticking caliper.

11 Tell me Official Question

"Tell me how you'd know if there was a problem with your anti-lock braking system."

Model Answer

I'd check the ABS warning light when the vehicle is started — it comes on briefly, then goes off; it would stay on if there's a fault with the anti-lock braking system.

NoteABS prevents the wheels locking under heavy braking, which is what lets you still steer while braking hard. You can't feel an ABS fault during normal driving, so the dashboard warning light is the only reliable way to know — which is exactly why this question exists.

12 Tell me Official Question

"Tell me how you'd check the power-assisted steering is working before starting a journey."

Model Answer

The steering shouldn't feel heavy. I'd check it by giving gentle pressure on the wheel as I start the engine — it should move easily. Alternatively, turning the wheel just after moving off gives an immediate indication the power assistance is working.

NoteDVSA accepts either method as a complete answer, so you don't need to give both. Understanding why they work helps: power assistance uses the engine, or an electric motor, to help turn the wheel, so the moment it engages is genuinely noticeable if you're paying attention for it.

13 Show me Official Question

"When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd operate the horn?"

Model Answer

When it's safe, press the horn.

NoteStraightforward, but know exactly where the horn is on your test car before the day, so you don't have to search for it.

14 Show me Official Question

"When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd open and close the side window?"

Model Answer

Open the window using the control, then close it again.

NoteThis checks you can operate a secondary control without a long look down — find the switch by feel if you can, keeping your attention on the road while you do it.

4Tyres

15 Tell me Official Question

"Tell me how you'd check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road."

Model Answer

I'd check there are no cuts or bulges on the tyres. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, and around its entire outer circumference.

Note1.6mm is the legal minimum in the UK, not just a guideline. The "central three-quarters, all the way round" detail matters because tread wears unevenly, so checking only one spot on one side can miss a problem that exists elsewhere on the same tyre.

16 Tell me Official Question

"Tell me where you'd find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how tyre pressures should be checked."

Model Answer

I'd find the recommended pressures in the manufacturer's guide, often on a sticker inside the driver's door sill, and check them with a reliable gauge when the tyres are cold, including the spare if there is one, then refit the valve caps.

NoteNotice this question has two parts — where to find the figures, and how to check them — so a full answer needs both. "Cold" specifically means the car hasn't been driven recently: driving heats the tyres and temporarily raises the reading, which would give a falsely high pressure if checked straight after a journey.

5Head Restraint

17 Tell me Official Question

"Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted so it provides the best protection in the event of a crash."

Model Answer

The head restraint should be adjusted so the rigid part is at least as high as the eyes or top of the ears, and as close to the back of the head as is comfortable. Some head restraints aren't adjustable.

NoteA head restraint's job is to stop your head snapping backwards in a rear-end collision, which is what causes whiplash. Both the height and the closeness matter for it to actually do that job — not just to look correctly positioned.

6Visibility

18 Show me Official Question

"When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the front windscreen?"

Model Answer

Operate the washers and wipers for the front windscreen.

NoteA quick, confident operation of the stalk or button is all that's needed — you're demonstrating the control, not actually cleaning the windscreen while driving.

19 Show me Official Question

"When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the rear windscreen?"

Model Answer

Operate the washer and wiper for the rear windscreen.

NoteNot every car has a rear wiper. If yours doesn't, it's fine to tell the examiner that directly, rather than reaching for a control that isn't there.

20 Show me Official Question

"When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd demist the front windscreen?"

Model Answer

Operate the controls to demist the front windscreen, using the air conditioning or heater if fitted.

NoteOn most modern cars this means selecting the windscreen airflow setting and often switching on the air conditioning, since AC clears condensation faster than heat alone. Know your own car's specific button or dial before test day rather than hunting for it mid-test.

21 Show me Official Question

"When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd set the rear demister?"

Model Answer

Switch on the heated rear windscreen.

NoteUsually a single button with a windscreen-and-wavy-lines symbol — locate it in advance so you're not searching for it mid-test.

Electric Cars & This Question List

DVSA has not published an electric-vehicle version of this list — the official GOV.UK page is unchanged since December 2017 and doesn't mention EVs. Since our training car is the fully electric KIA EV4, one question (engine oil) has no direct equivalent, as a battery-electric car has no engine or dipstick. In lessons, we focus on what you can actually check on this car — brake fluid, tyres, lights, washers and demisters — so you're not caught out by whichever questions come up on test day.

Source: DVSA, Car "show me, tell me" vehicle safety questions, GOV.UK.

Preparing for Your Driving Test in Nottingham?

We run through Show Me Tell Me questions on real vehicle checks during lessons, not just as a list to memorise, so you actually understand what you're being asked.

Book a Lesson

Want to Understand the Checks, Not Just Recite Them?

The answers above are enough to pass — but freezing on test day often comes from memorising wording rather than understanding what each check protects against. Here's the context behind the list, if you want it.

Why Learners Lose Marks Here

A mark lost on a Show Me Tell Me question comes from memorising a script instead of understanding what the check is actually for, which leaves you freezing when the examiner phrases the question slightly differently from how it was rehearsed — not from not knowing the answer.

The Two Question Types

During your test, the examiner will ask one "tell me" question at the start, before you begin driving, and one "show me" question while you're driving, when it's safe to do so. Getting either one wrong is recorded as a single driving fault — it does not fail the test on its own, unless answering it involves an unsafe action.

Tell Me vs Show Me — What's the Difference?

A "tell me" question asks you to explain how you'd carry out a safety check, for example how you'd know the brakes are working effectively. You answer this before you set off, with the engine off or running as instructed.

A "show me" question asks you to actually demonstrate a control while you're driving, for example operating the windscreen washers or demisting the rear window. Because this happens while driving, the examiner will only ask when it's safe to do so.

Why Memorising Wording Doesn't Work

The question bank covers 21 checks in total, split between the two types. If you've only memorised one exact phrasing of an answer, a question asked slightly differently can throw you — even though you'd have known the answer if you understood the check itself.

It helps more to actually understand what each check is protecting against — for example, why tyre tread depth matters, or why the power steering warning light exists — than to recite a script word for word.

How many Show Me Tell Me questions are asked in the test?

You're asked one ‘tell me’ question before you start driving, and one ‘show me’ question while you're driving, when it's safe for the examiner to ask it.

Does getting a Show Me Tell Me question wrong mean I fail my test?

Not on its own. It's recorded as a single driving fault. It would only become more serious if answering it involved doing something unsafe, such as taking your eyes off the road for too long while driving.

Are the Show Me Tell Me questions different for automatic cars?

The checks themselves are largely the same, since they cover things like lights, tyres, fluid levels and controls that exist on any car. A small number of questions relating to manual controls, such as the clutch, won't apply to an automatic.

Where can I find the full official list of questions?

DVSA publishes the current Show Me Tell Me vehicle safety questions on GOV.UK, and updates it periodically, so it's worth checking the official page directly rather than an older printed list. We've listed the full current set above.

Are Show Me Tell Me questions different if the test car is electric?

DVSA hasn't published an electric-vehicle version of the question list, and the official page still assumes a car with an engine. In practice, one question (checking the engine oil) has no direct equivalent on a fully electric car since there's no engine or dipstick. Everything else — brake fluid, tyres, lights, washers, demisters, controls — applies the same way.

Related Guides

Get Vehicle Checks Right Before Test Day

We cover Show Me Tell Me questions as part of real lessons, so you understand each check instead of just memorising answers.

Book a Lesson All FAQs