Driving examiner strike: March 2023
Some driving tests might be affected by strike action at times during March 2023.
Some driving examiners who are members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are planning to take strike action at times during March 2023.
The strike action is part of national industrial action by the PCS union over pay, pensions, jobs and redundancy terms.
There is different guidance about vehicle tester and traffic examiner strikes in March 2023.
What types of tests might be affected
The strike action might affect:
car driving tests
motorcycle tests
lorry, bus, coach and minibus driving tests (these are known as vocational tests)
tractor or specialist vehicle driving tests
approved driving instructor (ADI) part 2 (driving ability) or part 3 (instructional ability) tests
ADI standards checks
moped and motorcycle compulsory basic training (CBT) checks - but not the training courses themselves
The strike action will not affect theory tests.
Driving tests with private test providers
Your test will not be affected by the strike action if you’re taking it with a private test provider. This includes some:
Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 3a (off-road exercise) tests
Driver CPC part 4 (practical demonstration) tests
When the strikes will be held The strikes will affect driving test centres in different parts of Great Britain at different times.
Monday 6 March and Tuesday 7 March London and south-east England
Thursday 9 March and Friday 10 March South-west England and Wales
Wednesday 15 March All areas of Great Britain
Monday 20 March and Tuesday 21 March East of England, East Midlands, West Midlands and parts of London
Thursday 23 March and Friday 24 March North-west England and Yorkshire and the Humber
Monday 27 March and Tuesday 28 March North-east England and Scotland
Check which driving test centres are affected
The PCS union has told DVSA the strike action will affect driving examiners employed at the driving test centres listed on this page.
Tests might also be affected at other driving test centres that are not listed. DVSA will not know this until the day of the strike action.
London and south-east England
These areas include these test centres:
Ashford (Kent), Aylesbury, Banbury, Basingstoke, Belvedere (London), Bletchley, Burgess Hill, Canterbury, Chertsey (London), Chichester, Chingford (London), Crawley, Eastbourne, Enfield (Brancroft Way), Enfield (Innova Business Park), Erith (London), Farnborough, Folkestone, Gillingham, Gillingham LGV, Greenford (London), Greenham, Guildford, Hastings (Ore), Hendon (London), Herne Bay, Hither Green (London), Isleworth (Fleming Way), Lancing, Lee On The Solent, Maidstone, Mill Hill (London), Mitcham (London), Morden (London), Newbury (Hambridge Lane), Newport (Isle Of Wight), Not found, Oxford (Cowley), Pinner (London), Portsmouth, Reading, Redhill Aerodrome, Sevenoaks, Sidcup (London), Slough (London), Southall (London), Southampton (Maybush), Southampton LGV, Tolworth (London), Tottenham, Tunbridge Wells, Uxbridge (London), Wanstead (London), West Wickham (London), Winchester, Wood Green (London), and Yeading (London).
Other parts of London include Barnet & Borehamwood.
If you want to change your driving test date now
Not all examiners are PCS union members, and even if they are, they might choose not to go on strike.
However, you can change your test to another date if you want to.
You must give at least 3 clear working days’ notice to change your test date, or you’ll have to pay again.
What to do if you do not change your test
You should go to your driving test appointment as planned if it’s on the date of strike action, unless DVSA contacts you to tell you not to go.
DVSA will call you to tell you what to do if you’re taking an instructor test including:
ADI part 2 (driving ability) tests
ADI part 3 (instructional ability) tests
ADI standards checks
You will lose your fee for the test if you do not go for your appointment, and you’ll have to rebook your test yourself.
If your driving test cannot go ahead
DVSA will automatically rebook your driving test for you if it cannot go ahead because of the strike action.
You’ll be sent the new details within 5 to 10 working days. You do not need to contact DVSA.
You’ll also be able to claim out-of-pocket expenses.
If your trainer booked your motorcycle or vocational driving test, DVSA will refund your trainer instead. Your trainer will need to book a new appointment for you.
How to claim out-of-pocket expenses
You can claim out-of-pocket expenses if your test is cancelled. You must have turned up for your test to be able to do this.
The application form and guidance tell you what you can claim for.
DVSA is sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.