Driving Test Bot Crackdown: Instructors Face Booking Ban

Driving instructors could be banned from booking tests and swapping slots between candidates as the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) proposes drastic measures to combat automated 'bots' that are mass-booking and reselling driving test slots at inflated prices.

The DVSA is launching a consultation aimed at disrupting the black market for driving tests, which has contributed to a massive backlog. As of the end of April, a staggering 603,000 future tests were booked, a significant increase from 521,000 just a year prior. This bottleneck is being exacerbated by sophisticated bots that reserve new slots en masse, only for them to be resold unofficially at inflated prices.

A recent call for evidence by the DVSA revealed the scale of the problem: nearly a third of learners, newly qualified drivers, or their parents/guardians admitted to using an unofficial booking service to secure earlier test dates. On average, they paid an additional £122 for these services, a stark contrast to the official DVSA booking fees of £62 for weekday tests and £75 for evenings, weekends, or bank holidays.

Currently, driving instructors have the ability to book and manage tests for their pupils, and tests can also be swapped between learners. The DVSA's consultation proposes removing these functionalities, stating its intent to "stop the mechanisms that make reselling possible." The agency believes that "preventing reselling rather than an outright ban is a better approach."

Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, emphasized the importance of this consultation, stating, "This consultation is an important move towards giving learners more say over how and where they can book, alongside setting out options to better enable DVSA to block bots from stealing slots, so learners can get on the road without unnecessary delays." She added, "Working with the DVSA, we want to make driving test booking fairer, protect all learners from exploitation and reduce lengthy waiting times."

DVSA chief executive Loveday Ryder affirmed the agency's commitment to tackling the issue. "DVSA’s goal is to make booking a driving test easier and fairer for everyone while preventing excessive charges for learner drivers," she stated, noting that the agency has been "working tirelessly" to reduce current waiting times. The proposed changes aim to create a more equitable and efficient system for all aspiring drivers.