Plans aim to reduce long waiting lists and prevent inflated resale of driving test slots. New measures will limit who can book tests and introduce additional examiners.

At a glance

Changes to Booking Rules

The UK government is implementing new rules for booking driving tests to combat long waiting times and the resale of slots by third parties. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced that only learner drivers will be permitted to book tests, aiming to prevent exploitation by online bots that quickly secure slots. This change comes as the average waiting time for a driving test reached 21.8 weeks, significantly longer than the previously set target of seven weeks by summer 2026. Additionally, the government plans to limit the number of times a driver can reschedule their test and restrict the areas to which they can move their bookings. These measures are designed to streamline the process and reduce the backlog of tests.

Support from Military Examiners

To address the growing backlog, the Department for Transport will enlist 36 driving examiners from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to conduct tests in England one day a week for a year. This initiative is expected to cost around £100,000. The MoD examiners are civil servants, not military personnel, and their involvement is seen as a crucial step in alleviating pressure on the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The DVSA has also recruited 316 new examiners, but the net gain is only 40 due to departures. To retain existing examiners, a "retention payment" of £5,000 will be offered starting next year. These efforts aim to stabilize the workforce and improve the availability of driving tests.

Impact of Bots on Test Availability

The DVSA has been making more test slots available each week, but many are quickly booked by automated bots. These bots can secure appointments faster than human users, leading to a situation where desperate candidates are forced to turn to third-party sellers. Reports indicate that some of these sellers charge up to £500 for a test slot, significantly higher than the standard fee of £62 for weekdays and £75 for evenings and weekends. In April, a BBC Verify report highlighted that the average waiting time across 319 driving test centers in Great Britain was 22 weeks, with many centers reaching the maximum wait time of 24 weeks. This situation has prompted 38 MPs to call for urgent government action to address the issue of test reselling.

Reactions from Driving Schools

Driving instructors and organizations have expressed concern over the excessive waiting times faced by learner drivers. Emma Bush, managing director of AA Driving School, noted that the new measures should help alleviate some of the pressure on the system. She emphasized that tightening the booking process could reduce opportunities for unscrupulous resellers to profit from learners. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, welcomed the government's actions, stating that they should help ensure that candidates are not unfairly sidelined by those looking to profit from the situation. As the government implements these changes, the hope is to create a fairer and more efficient system for learner drivers across the UK.