This week the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) brought in new rules in an attempt to crackdown on last-minute driving test cancellations, commencing from April 8.
Learners wishing to cancel or change their test without forgetting the fee will now have to give 10 full working days notice, reports the Mirror.
The significant increase from the previous three-days notice aims to tackle an increased problem of people cancelling at the ‘eleventh hour’. It comes after the earlier news that driving test waiting times have soared to a record high.
As many learner drivers are aware, the current system is undoubtedly facing a huge backlog - exacerbated by the Covid pandemic. So when it comes to booking a test learners are facing a number of constraints already. That is if they are even able to book a test.
Shocking figures published in March revealed the average wait time for a practical test slot is now 20-weeks in February 2025, up from 14-weeks a year earlier, DVSA figures obtained from the AA Driving School show.
It's a problem I found out when discovering the closest test available to book was in Scarborough, 94 miles away from Newcastle. Not only was this test no where near my home - the only available date was in September, 24-weeks away from the time of search in March.
At first I thought there must have been a glitch with the booking website when it was unable to show me any available dates at either my preferred or three closest test sites.
As I kept scrolling down the list of closest test centres to me, the same message of ‘no tests found on any date’ reappeared. This continued until I had widened my search beyond the North East and after almost giving up hope found a slot in Scarborough.
Learner drivers desperate to book a test will be all too familiar with the Monday morning 6am scramble - when the DVSA release the new batch of slots. I’ve even seen people jokingly compare the mad-dash to booking tickets to Glastonbury.
However those unable to secure a spot will know the system is concernedly overrun by bots. The only official way to book a test is through the DVSA website.
But companies using software designed to mimic human behaviour programmed to search and reserve tests much faster than us are block-booking tests to be resold at a profit. Although not illegal - this does violate the DVSA’s terms of use.
The DVSA has published its own blog on how they’re dealing with bots claiming ‘we work hard to stop bots, and it’s very technical work' but admits as they step up measures ‘the technologies the profiteers are using continue to advance.’
All this has left learners in frustration over the impossibility of trying to book a test. I know many others share the same sentiments, hoping to secure a test preferably close to home and where they have been taking lessons.
A friend in a similar situation also unable to book a practical test is faced with potentially having to resit their theory test due to expire within the current six-month wait unless they are able to secure a quicker slot.
The new rules by the DVSA and the introduction of a further campaign to recruit and train 450 new driving examiners is a welcomed relief, however I do wonder whether the impact will be felt quick enough.
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