Pull Up on the Right and Reverse: Driving Test Manoeuvre Explained

Of the manoeuvres you can be asked for on the practical test, pulling up on the right is the one that feels strangest at first, because you are deliberately parking on the side of the road you would not normally use. Once you understand why the examiner is asking for it, it becomes much less intimidating: it is a test of observation and control, not a trick.

You will be asked for only one reversing manoeuvre on your test. It could be this one, parallel parking, or bay parking. You will not know in advance, so you need to be comfortable with all of them.

What the examiner asks you to do

In simple terms: pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse back in a straight line for about two car lengths, and then rejoin the traffic on the left.

The examiner will choose a suitable road and will tell you clearly what they want. You do not need to find the spot yourself, and you should not rush to the first gap you see if it is not safe.

Step by step

1. Pull up on the right. Check your mirrors, signal right, and cross to the right-hand side only when it is safe and there is no oncoming traffic that would be put at risk. Stop reasonably close to the kerb and parallel to it, as you would on the left, but facing oncoming traffic.

This is the part learners worry about most, and it is where observation matters most. Take your time. A slow, well-observed move across the road is better than a quick one that surprises another driver.

2. Reverse in a straight line. Before you move, check all around — mirrors, and over both shoulders. Reverse slowly and steadily, keeping the car straight and reasonably close to the kerb. Keep checking as you go, not just at the start. If a pedestrian, cyclist or car approaches, stop and wait. You are allowed to pause; you are not expected to keep reversing into a hazard.

3. Rejoin the traffic. Signal left, check mirrors and blind spots, and move back to the left-hand side of the road when it is safe. Do a final check before you pull away, because traffic may have built up behind you while you were reversing.

What the examiner is marking

Control, accuracy and observation, in that order of importance for most learners:

• Did you choose a safe place and a safe moment to cross the road?
• Did you keep the car straight and close to the kerb while reversing?
• Did you keep observing all the way through, and stop for other road users?
• Did you rejoin traffic safely, without rushing?

You are allowed to correct your position if your observation is right. A small correction, done safely, is better than drifting further off line while you hope it sorts itself out.

Common mistakes

• Crossing to the right without a proper check for oncoming traffic.
• Reversing too fast, then steering in big corrections.
• Checking only at the start of the reverse, then staring at one mirror.
• Forgetting that you are facing oncoming traffic when you rejoin, and pulling out without a full check.
• Stopping too far from the kerb, or at an angle, and then trying to fix it by reversing further without looking.

Practising with your instructor

Your instructor will start this on a quiet road, break it into the three stages above, and build up your speed and confidence gradually. If you find the right-hand side confusing, ask them to talk you through the observation routine out loud a few times — most learners find that once the routine is automatic, the manoeuvre itself feels straightforward.

For the other manoeuvres, see our general parking manoeuvres guide and our guide to driving test faults, so you know what counts as a driving fault versus a serious fault. And if you are checking coverage, we pick up door-to-door — see our areas we cover page.

This guide describes the manoeuvre in general terms. Your instructor will adapt the exact reference points and routine to the car you are learning in.

Related guides

• Parking manoeuvres
• Driving test day checklist
• Driving test faults explained
• Areas we cover