Dates confirmed for new driving test booking rules

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced new regulations set to be introduced within the coming months, aiming to improve the fairness of the driving test booking process. These alterations will impose tighter controls on who can interact with the online booking system, particularly focusing on empowering learner drivers themselves.

Starting from 12 May, only learner drivers will have the authority to book, alter, or swap their car driving test appointments. Then, as of 9 June, additional constraints will limit changes to test locations, allowing moves only to the three closest centres relative to the originally scheduled venue. These measures are designed to tackle issues surrounding test availability and accessibility.

Roads Minister Simon Lightwood emphasized that the reforms are intended to cut down lengthy waiting periods and curb the inflated resale of test slots by third parties. “Learners deserve clear, honest access to tests – not being ripped off by third-party sites,” he stated. Lightwood further explained that the new rules “put learners back in control, stop the system being gamed, and help make sure tests go to those who really need them.” He also praised the DVSA for taking action to support learners in gaining safe and confident driving skills.

Under the existing system, driving instructors have had the ability to book tests for their pupils, but this privilege will be removed with the implementation of these changes. Previously, some fraudulent actors exploited instructors’ login credentials to bulk purchase test slots, which were then sold to learners at excessive prices—sometimes up to £500—well above the official fees of £62 on weekdays and £75 during evenings, weekends, or bank holidays. The DVSA stressed that these updates will apply solely to car driving tests; vocational and motorcycle test bookings will see no changes. The agency acknowledged that while the reforms represent a significant shift, the majority of learners have expressed support for having greater control over their test bookings, despite some professional disagreement.

Criticism has been voiced by some political figures, including Conservative shadow transport secretary Richard Holden, who argued that these steps fail to address the broader issues causing widespread delays. He accused the government of “overpromising, underdelivering, and leaving Britons stuck in the slow lane.” Nevertheless, the DVSA confirmed that with these new arrangements, learners should only pay the standard fees set by the agency. Beverley Warmington, the DVSA’s chief executive, emphasized that the priority is to protect learners from exploitation by third parties and give them full control of their test bookings.

These reforms follow earlier measures introduced on 31 March, which reduced the number of permitted amendments to a car driving test booking from six down to two. The overarching goal is to prevent profit-driven misuse of the booking system, particularly the use of automated bots to quickly snatch available slots for resale. This comes in the context of a significant backlog, with the National Audit Office reporting that 1.1 million tests were missed during the 2020/21 financial year due to disruptions caused by the pandemic

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