Hill start on the driving test: how to do it without rolling back

What is a hill start?

A hill start means stopping on a slope and moving off again without rolling back. You need to balance the clutch and the accelerator and keep your observation going while the car is on a hill.

The RSA lists “perform a hill start” among the things you must do on the car test. The tester asks you to pull in on a hill and move off again. Do it as you would on any road: full checks, signal if needed and a smooth start.

How do you do a hill start in a manual car?

1. Stop on the slope and secure the car. Brake smoothly and stop on the left. Apply the handbrake firmly. Put the gear lever in neutral.
2. Prepare to move. Press the clutch, select first gear and bring the clutch up to the biting point. Add a little gas and hold the revs steady.
3. Check all around and signal. Check your mirrors, look around, including the blind spot over your right shoulder, and signal right if there is traffic.
4. Release the handbrake and move off. When it is safe, release the handbrake as the car begins to pull forward. Lift the clutch a little more and add gas smoothly.
5. Build up speed and cancel the signal. Once moving, accelerate gently, cancel the signal and change up through the gears as the road allows.

The Rules of the Road tells drivers to take all-round observation, check mirrors and signal before moving off, then check the blind spot to the relevant side just before going. The same rule applies on a slope.

How do you find the biting point?

The biting point is where the clutch starts to connect the engine to the wheels. Practise on a flat, quiet road in first gear. Lift the clutch slowly until the engine note drops and the car trembles, then press it back down. Repeat this until you can find it without looking and hold it steady.

A hill start goes wrong when the biting point is missed. Too little gas and the engine stalls. Too much clutch and gas, and you jump forward. A balanced start feels calm. If you stall, you have not failed. Secure the car, restart and start the checks again.

What about an automatic car?

In an automatic there is no clutch to control. Hold the car with the footbrake or handbrake, check all around and signal, then release the handbrake and move your foot to the accelerator as the car begins to go. The car can still roll back if you take too long, so do your checks first and keep the move-off smooth.

Passing a test in an automatic gives a licence restricted to automatic cars (code 78). A manual licence needs a new permit and a test in a manual car.

What does the tester look for?

The RSA marking guidelines count the hill start under vehicle controls and observation. They do not give it a heading of its own. On the hill start the car must be secured with the handbrake. The tester watches whether you:

• use the handbrake properly to hold the car
• control the clutch and accelerator without stalling or rolling back
• take full observation before moving off
• signal if it is needed

A fault for stalling is not usually marked twice. If the car stalls and you restart, your next move-off needs a full set of checks again. Learners say that if someone beeps behind you after a stall, you should ignore it and still do your full observation before you go.

Vehicle controls and observation are both on the RSA list of common reasons for being unsuccessful. Look at how faults are graded to see what counts as a grade 2 or grade 3.

What if the car rolls back or stalls?

Stay calm and secure the car. Apply the handbrake and put the gear lever in neutral if you are not already stopped. Then restart the engine, select first gear and begin the process again from the checks. Treat it as a fresh move-off, with a full look around and a signal if one is needed.

Rolling back a little on a clear road is a control fault at worst. Rolling back towards another vehicle is a safety problem, so keep the handbrake on until you feel the car bite. If another driver is close behind you, do not let their presence rush you. Learners often say the rush is what causes the second stall.

What are the common mistakes?

• Rolling back. Releasing the handbrake before the clutch bites. Find the biting point first.
• Stalling. Too little gas or too fast a clutch. Add a little more gas before you lift.
• Skipping the blind spot. A frequent observation miss on a move-off. Turn your head.
• Racing the engine. Too much gas makes the car lurch. Use only as much as you need.
• Hurrying. Nerves push you to rush. A short pause gives you time to see clearly. The driving test nerves guide covers ways to settle down.

How do you practise it?

Start on a gentle slope on a quiet road with an instructor or sponsor. Use steeper hills as you gain confidence. Practise stopping, securing the car and moving off ten times in a row, with every check each time. Vary the hills: a rise on a main road, a hill with parked cars and a short, steep side road each need different timing.

Turas marks the likely hill-start spots on each practice route, on a climb, with the gradient shown where a route has a noticeable slope (for example about a 9% climb). That helps you find real hills near your test centre. See the centres and routes to find yours. The tester picks the place on the day.

Next, practise the reverse around a corner and the turnabout so all three manoeuvres feel familiar.