DVSA confirms dates for major driving test changes for new motorists

Significant changes to the driving test booking system are set to be rolled out this month, aiming to curb widespread misuse.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) announced that from March 31, learners will be limited to just two booking changes, down from the current six.

As of 12 May, only the learner themselves will be permitted to book or modify a car driving test, removing the current ability for instructors to do so.

A further restriction, effective on 9 June, will cap location changes for booked tests to the three closest test centres.

These measures are designed to thwart individuals who exploit automated programmes, or ‘bots’, to snap up available slots and resell them at inflated prices.

While the official test fee stands at £62, a National Audit Office (NAO) report from December revealed learners are being forced to pay up to £500 for black market bookings.

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Roads minister Simon Lightwood said: “Learning to drive is hard enough without an unfair booking system.

“Learners deserve clear, honest access to tests – not being ripped off by third-party sites.

“These changes put learners back in control, stop the system being gamed, and help make sure tests go to those who really need them.”

Beverley Warmington, the DVSA’s new chief executive, said: “Our priority is to stop learners being exploited by third parties and put them in control of booking their driving test.

“The changes announced today will help us achieve that goal and build on the more than 149,000 additional tests delivered between April 2025 and February 2026.”

The changes follow a public consultation which ran from May to July last year.

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Learners in Britain have faced a huge backlog to book driving tests.

The average waiting time for a test in Britain was 22 weeks in September 2025, compared with about five weeks in February 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic.

The NAO report said the DVSA failed to appoint sufficient new examiners to enable it to increase test slots despite several recruitment drives.

Mr Lightwood said the Government is “seeing progress” on its pledge to increase the number of tests.

Some 88,672 people passed their test last month, which was the highest February figure since records began in 2008.