The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has introduced a significant change to the process of booking and managing driving tests in England, effective from May 12. Under the new rules, only the learner driver themselves can book or make changes to their driving test appointments.
This shift impacts both future bookings and those previously arranged by third parties, such as driving instructors. While tests already booked by instructors will remain unaffected, moving forward, learners must take full control. The change aims to streamline the booking process, reduce the backlog of test appointments, and combat unfair practices.
Previously, some driving instructors booked tests on behalf of learners, but concerns arose after a BBC investigation revealed that some instructors were receiving kickbacks to sell their official test-booking login details to third parties. These ‘touts’ then booked tests in bulk and sold them to learners for inflated prices, sometimes as high as £500.
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In addition to requiring that learners manage their own bookings, new rules limit the number of permissible booking changes to two. Furthermore, test centre selection is now restricted to one of the three closest centres to the learner’s address, replacing the previous option to choose any test centre in the country.
Learners must personally book their driving tests through the official GOV.UK website. They will be required to confirm their identity as the individual taking the test and agree to the updated terms and conditions. Booking a driving test on behalf of someone else is now against the law.
Standard test fees remain £62 for weekday tests and £75 for evenings, weekends, and bank holidays. By taking direct control of their bookings, learners can stay informed about their test status and avoid being exploited by third-party resellers.