90 Years of the Driving Test and the move to EV

Since 1935, the UK driving test has come a long way. What started as a simple drive around the block has turned into a full-on, tech-packed assessment – now with hazard perception videos, sat navs, and even the reality of self-driving cars.

1935 – Driving Test introduced
1996 – Theory Test launched
2002 – Hazard Perception added
2010 – Independent Driving Section added
2017 – Sat navs introduced in Practical Test
2021-25 – Digital integration and EV emphasis

On 1 June 2025, the driving test turns 90, marking almost a century of changes in how drivers in Britain are tested, trained, and assessed. So, what do you think the future holds for drivers?

Would you like to dive deeper into potential future changes, like autonomous vehicles or the impact of electric cars? Or should we keep it more open-ended?

The future of the driving test is going to be just as exciting as its past. The DVSA is already looking into how the test can keep up with automation, in-car tech, and the shift to electric vehicles – so definitely keep an eye out!

Here at Road Masters, we’ve switched to offering only automatic transmission driving lessons, thanks to the growing number of electric and automatic cars hitting the road.