Improving Car Driving Test Booking Rules

🔹 Purpose of the Consultation

• Objective: To improve and simplify the car driving test booking system.

• Key Goals:

  • Make booking fairer.

  • Prevent excessive charges by third-party services.

  • Help learners and instructors manage tests more easily.

🔹 Background

• DVSA 7-Point Plan: This consultation is part of action 2 to reduce test wait times.

• Previous Steps: A call for evidence (Dec 2024–Feb 2025) received ~27,000 responses informing these proposals.

🔹 Current Booking System

• Services Offered:

  • Learner drivers can book their own tests.

  • Instructors can book/manage tests for pupils.

• Rules:

  • Only one active test per licence.

  • Tests can be changed up to 6 times.

  • Appointments can be swapped between learners.

🔹 Issues Identified

Learners:

• Many use the system as intended.

• ~1/3 use unofficial services to get earlier slots—often paying double the standard fee.

• Some use these services on instructor recommendation.

Instructors:

• 60% have swapped tests between their own pupils.

• Some operate or recommend unofficial booking services.

• A portion charge extra fees for booking management.

Unofficial Booking Services:

• Use instructor/learner details to bulk book and resell tests.

• Use automation to scan for available slots.

• Often charge well above the standard fee.

🔹 Data Insights (2024)

• 327,377 tests were swapped.

• 29,000+ tests were swapped more than 10 times.

• Some users book placeholder tests solely to enable swaps.

• Automation tools strain the system and reduce fairness.