Learner drivers now have to follow a new set of rules when booking their driving tests as the Driving Standards Agency (DVSA) cracks down on bots auto-booking them.
The DVSA opted to change its rules as average waiting times for a practical examination now exceed 22 weeks, with individuals using automated programmes – known as ‘bots’ – to secure available slots rapidly and resell them at inflated prices.
A National Audit Office (NAO) report published in December found that learners were paying up to £500 to book a black market slot, far in excess of the standard £62 booking fee.
Under new laws, it’ll be against the law for driving instructors, or anyone else, to book tests for pupils. They will not be able to change, swap or cancel a test for someone else either.
Emma Bush, managing director of AA Driving School, said that these changes wouldn’t solve all the issues currently facing learner drivers, as more test examiners are needed.
“Learner drivers continue to face unacceptable delays in accessing driving tests,” she said.
“The data clearly shows more needs to be done to really get a handle on the situation and start to push waiting times back. To really improve waiting times over a prolonged period, there needs to be unrelenting focus from the DVSA on retaining and recruiting driving test examiners.”
Here is what the changes mean for learner drivers.
Who can book a driving test?
From Tuesday, only learner drivers can book and manage their driving test. This is a change from previously, where driving instructors could take control of these bookings. Tests already booked by instructors are unaffected.
How many times can a booking be changed?
Learner drivers will only be able to change their booking twice, in a rule that’s been in place since 31 March. Prior to this, learner drivers had up to six changes.
People can change the date or time, test centre or swap appointments with other learner drivers. Changing more than one thing at once – such as the date and test centre – counts as one change.
What doesn’t count towards the change limit includes:
- Updating your address or contact details
- Adding or removing your driving instructor’s reference number
- Any changes the DVSA needs to make to your test
If the DVSA changed your test due to bad weather, your changes would be reset, but you would only be able to make these extra changes by phone.
If a learner needs to make more changes after using up the two, they will need to cancel their test and book a new one. Prospective motorists have up to 10 working days before the test date to cancel the test and get a full refund.
Where can a test be moved to?
From 9 June, learner drivers will only be able to change their booking to the three nearest test centres. You can also use your second change to revert back to the test centre you first booked at on that current booking. Current rules stipulate that learners can move their test to any available centre in the country.
