Car Controls for Beginners: DVSA Skill 5 Explained
Before a car moves an inch, a competent driver must understand every control in it. This is not just good practice — it is a legal and examiner requirement. DVSA Skill 5 covers your ability to use all vehicle controls correctly and confidently, and it underpins every other skill you will learn.
Understanding car controls thoroughly at the start of your training saves hours of correction later. Pupils who rush past this foundation often develop habits — riding the clutch, looking down at the gearstick, gripping the wheel too tight — that are far harder to undo at test standard than they would have been to avoid in the first place.
What Examiners Look For
During your driving test, the examiner will be assessing your use of controls continuously, not just during a dedicated “controls” exercise. They want to see that you handle the car smoothly and without unnecessary force or hesitation.
Correct use of the pedals means using the right foot for the brake and accelerator, the left foot exclusively for the clutch, and never resting your foot on the clutch pedal when you do not need it. Gear changes should be smooth, timed appropriately to road speed, and chosen to suit the driving situation — not just following a rigid speed-to-gear rule.
Steering should be balanced and controlled. The examiner will note if you cross your hands during normal driving (which is fine in some situations), but more importantly they will look for whether you maintain a confident, light grip and keep the car within its lane. Pulling the wheel or fighting it is a red flag.
Secondary controls — lights, wipers, horn — should be operated without you looking away from the road. Familiarity with these controls is expected to be automatic by test day.
The 5 DVSA Levels for Car Controls
Level 1: Introduced
The pupil is aware that car controls exist and can identify them by name when pointed out. They understand the pedal layout and basic purpose of each control.
Level 2: Helped
The pupil can use controls with active input from the instructor. They may need reminding to take their foot off the clutch, or require coaching through each gear change as it happens.
Level 3: Prompted
The pupil uses controls mostly correctly but needs occasional verbal reminders — for example, a prompt to select a higher gear, or a reminder not to rest on the clutch when coasting to a stop.
Level 4: Independent
The pupil selects gears, uses pedals, and operates secondary controls without any instructor input. Errors are occasional and self-corrected.
Level 5: Reflection
Test-ready standard. The pupil uses all controls smoothly and instinctively, adapts gear selection to driving conditions, and can explain why they made a particular control choice. Mistakes are self-noticed and self-corrected without prompting.
The Controls in Detail
The Three Pedals
The clutch (left foot only) disengages the engine from the wheels. You press it when changing gear or when slowing to a stop below about 10mph. The “bite point” is the position where the engine and wheels begin to connect — finding it consistently is essential for smooth moving off and hill starts.
The brake slows the car using the right foot. Progressive braking — pressing gently then firmer then releasing slightly before stopping — produces a smooth halt rather than a lurch. Never use the clutch as your primary method of slowing down.
The accelerator controls engine power. Light, smooth inputs are always preferable to sharp stabs. Think of it as a volume dial, not an on/off switch.
Gears
A manual car typically has five or six forward gears and one reverse. Lower gears give more pulling power at low speed; higher gears are more efficient at speed. As a general guide: 1st to 20mph, 2nd to 30mph, 3rd to 40mph, 4th to 50mph, 5th above 50mph — but always match the gear to the road conditions, not just a speed number.
Changing gear: clutch in fully, select gear smoothly, clutch out progressively whilst adding gentle gas. Racing the engine or crunching the gears both indicate a gear change that was too rushed.
Steering
Hold the wheel in a relaxed grip at roughly the quarter-to-three or ten-to-two position. Feeding the wheel through your hands (the “pull-push” method) keeps you in control and is the technique approved by the DVSA. A tight, white-knuckle grip restricts your ability to feel feedback from the road.
Secondary Controls
Indicators, headlights, fog lights, wipers, and the horn should all be second nature before your first road lesson. Locate them in a stationary car and operate each one with your eyes looking forward, not down at the stalk.
Dashboard Warning Lights
Red lights require immediate attention — they indicate a serious fault (oil pressure, engine temperature, brakes). Amber lights are advisory — they require action soon. Green lights indicate an active system (full beam, indicators). Know each one before driving on a public road.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
| Mistake | Why It Happens | The Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Riding the clutch | Nervousness, unsure when to lift it | Consciously remove foot from clutch once moving; rest it on the floor |
| Looking down when changing gear | Not confident about gear positions yet | Practice gear positions with engine off until muscle memory develops |
| Gripping steering wheel too tightly | Anxiety or overcompensating for wobble | Consciously relax grip; imagine holding a piece of paper without folding it |
| Using both feet on the brake | Previous automatic car experience | Verbal reminder: left foot is clutch only; park it left of the pedals |
| Coasting in neutral | Trying to save fuel or simplify control | Stay in gear until just before stopping; this gives engine braking and control |
Practice Tips
Walk through controls before every lesson. Spend the first two minutes of each lesson identifying a control and its function with the engine off. This builds automatic recognition quickly.
Narrate your gear changes aloud. Saying “checking speed, clutch in, into third, clutch out, gas” helps embed the sequence and makes it easier for your instructor to give targeted feedback.
Practice finding the bite point repeatedly. On a quiet piece of ground, find the bite point, hold it for three seconds, then release the clutch and stop. Do this five times before moving off for real. Consistency here eliminates stalls.
Use your mirrors to check road, not gear lever. Every time you catch yourself looking at the gear stick, stop and look up. If you cannot find a gear without looking, revisit the stationary gear practice exercise.
Track Your Progress
DVSA Skill 5 is assessed as a background skill throughout your entire training. Use the five-level scale above to honestly rate where you are at the end of each lesson, and share that rating with your instructor. Drivers who self-assess accurately progress faster than those who rely solely on instructor feedback.
Related Skills
- Moving Off and Stopping (Skill 6) — once you know the controls, the next step is using them to move the car safely
- Road Positioning (Skill 7) — correct steering technique feeds directly into maintaining a safe road position
- Control and Positioning Skills Overview — see all skills in this category and track your progress across the full range