Driving Test Shake-Up: Major DVSA Changes Arrive April 8th

Are you a learner driver gearing up for your practical test? If so, get ready for a significant shift in how you manage your bookings. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is implementing crucial changes starting April 8th, designed to streamline the testing process and reduce frustrating waiting times.

Learner drivers in Britain will soon need to give more notice when canceling or rescheduling their practical driving tests in an effort to reduce the backlog.

From April 8, the Department for Transport (DfT) will require changes to be made at least 10 working days before a test, instead of the current three days.

DfT officials believe this will encourage learners to book tests only when they are fully prepared and to cancel earlier if necessary, allowing others to take available slots. The change is part of a seven-point plan aimed at cutting driving test waiting times.

Additional measures include hiring and training 450 new examiners and tightening the rules for the booking system used by driving instructors.

As of December 18, waiting times for a test stood at nearly 21 weeks in England, over 15 weeks in Scotland, and 13 weeks in Wales. The backlog has been attributed to factors such as COVID-19 lockdowns and industrial action by examiners.

Lilian Greenwood, minister for the future of roads, said: “The measures announced today are another vital step in tackling the driving test backlog and ensuring that more learners who are ready to take their test can do so without unnecessary delays. These new measures will ensure that driving test appointments are used efficiently, encouraging learners to make adjustments to their schedules sooner, should they not be fully prepared.”

Driving tests cost £62 during weekday daytimes and £75 during evenings, weekends and bank holidays. But many slots are being sold by third parties for several times the official price.

Investigations found some people are using software to block-book tests as soon as they become available on the Government’s website, and then re-selling them to learners desperate to pass. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has been given a target of reducing waiting times to seven weeks by December.

DVSA chief executive Loveday Ryder said: “We remain committed to reducing driving test waiting times and supporting learners in getting on the road when they are truly ready and safe to do so.”

Government figures show 93,204 practical car driving tests taken in the year to the end of March 2024 were at least the candidate’s sixth attempt at passing.