Show Me, Tell Me Questions: All 21 Questions and Answers

If you are getting ready for your UK driving test, the "show me, tell me" questions are one part you can prepare for completely in advance. They are a fixed set of vehicle safety questions, the examiner asks you just two of them, and the full list is published by the DVSA. Learn them properly and this is one section of the test where you can walk in feeling fully in control. This guide explains how they work and gives you all 21 official questions with simple answers.

What are 'show me, tell me' questions?

Show me, tell me questions are vehicle safety questions that the driving examiner asks during your practical test. They check that you understand basic safety checks and can find and use the main controls in a real car. They are not designed to catch you out. They are there to make sure you can keep a car in a safe, roadworthy condition once you are driving on your own.

There are two types. A "tell me" question asks you to explain in words how you would carry out a safety task. A "show me" question asks you to physically demonstrate a task, such as operating a control, while you are driving.

How many show me, tell me questions are there?

There are 21 questions in total on the official DVSA list: 14 "tell me" questions and 7 "show me" questions. The good news is that you are not asked all of them. The examiner asks you just two, one "tell me" question and one "show me" question. Because any of the 21 can come up, and no single one is more likely than another, it is worth knowing them all.

When are the questions asked?

The timing is fixed, as shown in the diagram above. The "tell me" question comes first, at the very start of the test while the car is stationary and before you pull away. The "show me" question is asked later, while you are actually driving, and it can come at any point during the drive, including the independent driving section. The examiner will only ask it when it is safe for you to demonstrate.

What happens if you get them wrong?

Getting one or both questions wrong results in a single driving fault, often called a minor. One minor will not fail you on its own. You can pass the test with up to 15 driving faults in total, so a slip on a safety question is not the end of your test. The one thing to watch is the "show me" question: if you let your driving become dangerous while you are demonstrating, that is a serious fault and you would fail. So keep your eyes on the road and your control of the car first, and operate the control second.

All 14 'tell me' questions and answers

These are asked before you drive. You only need to explain the principle in your own words, so you do not have to recite anything word for word.

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

The brakes should not feel spongy or slack. They should be tested as you set off, and the car should not pull to one side.

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

In the manufacturer's guide or handbook, often also on a sticker in the door shut or fuel filler flap. Use a reliable pressure gauge, check and adjust when the tyres are cold, do not forget the spare, and refit the valve caps.

3. Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted.

The rigid part of the head restraint should be at least as high as the eye or the top of the ears, and as close to the back of the head as is comfortable. Some restraints are not adjustable.

4. Tell me how you'd check the tyres have enough tread depth and are safe to use.

Check for cuts and bulges, and that there is at least 1.6mm of tread depth across the central three quarters of the tyre and around its entire circumference.

5. Tell me how you'd check that the headlights and tail lights are working.

Operate the switch (turn the ignition on if needed) and walk round the car to check. As this is a "tell me" question, you only explain it rather than physically doing it.

6. Tell me how you'd know if there was a problem with the anti-lock braking system (ABS).

A warning light on the dashboard will illuminate if there is a fault with the ABS.

7. Tell me how you'd check the direction indicators are working.

Operate the switch (turn the ignition on if needed) and walk round the car to check the indicators are flashing.

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

Operate the brake pedal and check using reflections in windows or a garage door, or ask someone to confirm they come on.

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

If the steering feels heavy, the system may have a fault. Apply gentle pressure to the wheel as you start the engine and you should feel a slight movement as the system kicks in. Alternatively, turning the wheel just after moving off confirms the assistance is working.

10. Tell me how you'd switch on the rear fog light(s) and when you'd use them.

Operate the switch (with dipped headlights and ignition on if needed) and check the warning light is on. Use them when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres.

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

Operate the switch with the ignition or engine on, and check the blue main beam warning light on the dashboard.

12. Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check the engine has enough oil.

Identify the dipstick, and explain that you would check the oil level sits between the minimum and maximum markers.

13. Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check the engine has enough coolant.

Identify the coolant header tank, and check the level is between the high and low markings, topping up to the correct level if needed.

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

Identify the brake fluid reservoir and check that the fluid level sits between the high and low markings.

All 7 'show me' questions and answers

These are asked while you are driving. Keep control of the car first, then operate the relevant control.

1. Show me how you'd wash and clean the rear windscreen.

Operate the rear wash and wipe controls.

2. Show me how you'd wash and clean the front windscreen.

Operate the front wash and wipe controls.

3. Show me how you'd switch on your dipped headlights.

Operate the dipped headlight switch.

4. Show me how you'd set the rear demister.

Operate the rear demister switch.

5. Show me how you'd demist the front windscreen.

Set the controls to clear the windscreen, directing airflow to the screen and using the fan, heater or air conditioning, plus a heated windscreen if the car has one.

6. Show me how you'd open and close the side window.

Operate the window controls.

7. Show me how you'd operate the horn.

Operate the horn control.

Tips for learning them

Do not just memorise wording. Sit in the car you will be tested in, open the bonnet, and find the dipstick, the coolant tank and the brake fluid reservoir for yourself, since pointing confidently is much easier than describing from memory. Practise the "show me" controls until they are second nature, so you can use them without taking your attention off the road. The DVSA also publishes short videos demonstrating each answer, and your instructor will usually run through them in your last lesson before the test.

Have the show me, tell me questions changed for 2025 or 2026?

No. The current set has been in place since December 2017, and searches for the "2025" or "2026" questions return the same official list. The DVSA can update the questions from time to time, but changes are rare and minor. The list in this guide is the current official set. You can always cross-check against the source on GOV.UK.

The safety questions are just one small part of test day. If you are at the earlier stage of working out when you can start, our guide on what age you can drive in the UK covers provisional licences and the learner rules.