Changes to the Driving Test Booking System - I'm Voting for NO CHANGE!

1. Who Can Book and Manage Driving Tests

🔸 Option A: Only learners can book/manage tests

• Instructors can no longer book tests.

• Instructors can still set their availability in the system to prevent clashes.

🔸 Option B: Learners and instructors can book, but only learners can make changes

• Instructors can book, but only learners can swap/change tests.

• Instructors still manage their availability.

🔸 Option C: Keep current system

• Both learners and instructors (and instructor-led businesses) continue to book and manage tests.

📌 Support Measures if A or B is chosen:

• Accessible digital platform.

• Clear guidance and phone support.

• Help options for family/friends and those with disabilities or limited digital skills.

2. How Tests Can Be Managed

🔸 Option A: Remove swaps and location changes

• Learners can only make 2 changes to the date/time at the same test centre.

• No swaps or location changes allowed.

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🔸 Option B: Limit swaps and changes

• Max 2 total changes/swaps per test.

• Moves only allowed within a local geographic area.

• Limits may be tightened during high-demand periods.

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🔸 Option C: Keep current rules

• Up to 6 changes.

• Unlimited swaps and location changes allowed.

Why These Changes Are Proposed

• System misuse has led to unfair practices and high fees from resellers.

• Goal: Make the system fairer, reduce test reselling, and improve access for genuine learners.

Stopping Test Reselling Without Banning It

• Resellers use learner info to book tests and swap them for a profit.

• Proposed changes aim to remove the tools (like unlimited swaps) that enable reselling.

• Why this works:

  • Tackles the root cause (system design) rather than enforcing new laws.

  • More effective and immediate than a legal ban.

Why I'm Voting for no Change!

I put a lot of time and effort into booking my students driving tests. Getting them to a level where they are able to hopefully pass first time. This requires a lot of time and planning and aspects of the day to day working that is very involved. Students over the course of their training cannot cover all their lessons. Its a long period which requires dedication from the student and instructor. Along with the instructor needing to plan ahead some 6 months to establish their readiness to take the driving test. Not one student is the same.

Swapping tests between students is an essential part of this process. No business would want to cancel/change a clients booking without having an alternative option. Managing a driving test booking into your diary requires additional planning. We tend to give priority to tests but you also need to give priority to those with tests coming up. Birthday surprises. Its not fair to cancel lessons on a regular basis, and this information cannot just be forwarded to clients booking their own tests. Students cannot swap tests. Unless they have permission from the person they are swapping with. An instructor cannot hand over a students information to someone they don't know. I strongly believe if Driving Instructors did more to help their clients then the problems would go away. I also strongly believe we need a better standard of student who is sitting the driving test. We also need more examiners providing more tests. But this is not just a case of employing more examiners as this just fuels the problem of people booking more tests when they are not ready. What will the DVSA do?

Without a doubt the DVSA will chose either option A or B. Most likely a variation of B. They need to be seen to be doing something. At the same time too many restrictions will make it harder for everyone. The solutions are there I just do not feel they are looking for the right ones.