Page 2 | To consider flying to Scotland from London just for a driving test!!

Wouldbedriver · 2024-10-26T17:37:51+00:00

I’ve had 40 hours of driving lessons so far and passed the theory. I don’t want to pay for any more lessons without a practical test in sight. There are no tests available for any date here in the SE. My instructor says booking one in a distant location, then swapping it for one that’s cancelled at an SE centre, doesn’t work any more. Because nobody’s cancelling a test around here as they’re so hard to get hold of. And bots are instantly hoovering up any new tests that may be released on a Monday morning. So AIBU to think I should instead just fly up to Scotland and take a test up there? Obviously I wouldn’t know the roads but driving is driving, right? And there are plenty of tests available up there. Maybe make a holiday of it. Or does my instructor need to be in the back of the car during the test?

wiesowarum · 28/10/2024 05:08

Wouldbedriver · 27/10/2024 19:23

Thanks, yes, I was imagining Inverness to be a lot quieter than it sounds like it actually is!

It’s a long time since I was up there and the place we spent time was a lot further north (Dornoch). I remember being driven along beautiful coastal roads.

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Inverness is the main city in the Highlands. It's quieter than many big cities but definitely not quiet by any means. I grew up near and passed my test in a bigger Scottish* *city, and am glad I did, because a lot of folk who pass where I live now (very rural) are freaked out when they come to a city like Inverness.

Fundays12 · 27/10/2024 21:30

TipsyBrickPanda · 27/10/2024 19:19

I wouldn’t recommend coming here for your driving test, there’s a roundabout that’s pretty much unavoidable and trips a lot of people up even when they have been practicing here.

Also everyone drives everywhere so don’t expect quiet roads 🤣

Lol as an Inverness local I can imagine which roundabout you mean. I drive it most days and its a total hassle with endless near misses on it.

TipsyBrickPanda · 27/10/2024 19:27

Yes the road to Dornoch is a lovely one, I do like it over there! I hope you pass your test and can get a wee trip up north in soon 🤞🏼

Original poster

Wouldbedriver · 27/10/2024 19:23

TipsyBrickPanda · 27/10/2024 19:19

I wouldn’t recommend coming here for your driving test, there’s a roundabout that’s pretty much unavoidable and trips a lot of people up even when they have been practicing here.

Also everyone drives everywhere so don’t expect quiet roads 🤣

Thanks, yes, I was imagining Inverness to be a lot quieter than it sounds like it actually is!

It’s a long time since I was up there and the place we spent time was a lot further north (Dornoch). I remember being driven along beautiful coastal roads.

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TipsyBrickPanda · 27/10/2024 19:19

I wouldn’t recommend coming here for your driving test, there’s a roundabout that’s pretty much unavoidable and trips a lot of people up even when they have been practicing here.

Also everyone drives everywhere so don’t expect quiet roads 🤣

MayaPinion · 27/10/2024 19:14

My DD bought an app for about £15. Her original test date when she booked in June 2022 was end of November, but using the app she was able to get moved back until the middle of August 2022, so it was really worth it.

Thistooshallpass. · 27/10/2024 12:20

Here in the south east tests locally are now only available mid next year .
There is now a black market in tests - an agent who you contact via Snapchat resells tests from driving instructors who have bulk booked . Lots of availability quickly at your chosen centre.
The catch £250 - £300 for the test .
It's how all of my daughters year group have got tests recently.
Wrong - but with no intervention to do anything about tests and the cost of keep having lessons you can see why people are doing it .

ny20005 · 27/10/2024 12:18

People are statistically more likely to fail a test away from their local area so it may end up costing you far more in the long run

Original poster

Wouldbedriver · 27/10/2024 12:17

Catza · 27/10/2024 12:08

I am really not sure where you are getting this bot conspiracy information. The new slots are "hoovered up" by people who log into the system at 5.50 on Monday morning and click refresh until they are let in. They then book a slot 6 months ahead of the time and pray that there is a cancellation

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There’s literally a government article about this, so it is not a conspiracy theory:

https://despatch.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/29/how-were-dealing-with-bots-and-the-reselling-of-driving-tests/

How we’re dealing with bots and the reselling of driving tests – Despatch for driver and rider trainers

Official advice and information for driver and rider trainers from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

https://despatch.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/29/how-were-dealing-with-bots-and-the-reselling-of-driving-tests

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GargoylesofBeelzebub · 27/10/2024 12:13

cakeorwine · 27/10/2024 08:18

The bots must be really annoying.

Surely it can't be too hard to set up a system where you can only book a test if you have a Booking code. And you can only get that code if you've passed your theory test and it's only valid for say 6 months to a year. You have to get a new code if you want to book a new one and your old code's expired.

Er that's exactly how it works.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 27/10/2024 12:13

Book one elsewhere and then pay for an app. That's what I had to do for DS. It doesn't book it for you just notifies you when there's cancellations.

dottiedodah · 27/10/2024 12:12

Dorchester (Dorset) is apparently an easier test route than average.Also 15.39 average wait for a test there .I would try to avoid a trip to Scotland ! Also if you didnt pass you would have to take it again with more costs!

vdbfamily · 27/10/2024 12:10

My daughter booked a test on Wales and managed to swap it to South coast. That was only in September so it does still work.

Catza · 27/10/2024 12:08

Wouldbedriver · 27/10/2024 11:13

Thanks, I’m going to give that a try. But aren’t those newly released SE tests the ones that are getting hoovered up by bots / money-making people with examiner’s accounts, each Monday morning? So I’m not sure if there will be any.

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I am really not sure where you are getting this bot conspiracy information. The new slots are "hoovered up" by people who log into the system at 5.50 on Monday morning and click refresh until they are let in. They then book a slot 6 months ahead of the time and pray that there is a cancellation

PrimalLass · 27/10/2024 12:05

I did mine in the West End of Glasgow and it was pretty easy because the roads are really wide and straight.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 27/10/2024 12:05

DustyAmuseAlien · 26/10/2024 18:47

Sounds good but you should get a driving instructor local to the test and pay them for 2 hours of lesson to familiarise yourself with the local roads and for use of they car.

Yes I would do that. Book a test, then book a 2 hour lesson with a local instructor and then obviously the test time too.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 27/10/2024 12:02

@Wouldbedriver its really sad the youngsters cannot get tests booked easily nowadays. my daughter passed her theory on her 17th birthday and didnt have any lessons till 14th may due to exams. we managed to get her a test for 10 days later and just gave her double lessons every second day. she passed her test on 25th may, just over three weeks after her birthday. this was back in 1987.

Original poster

Wouldbedriver · 27/10/2024 11:35

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 27/10/2024 11:29

@Wouldbedriver I honestly dont know how companies manage to book driving tests to sell on without knowing the driving licence number of the person taking the test. can someone tell me how they manage it please. according to the government booking site, this number has to be provided first!!

Edited

The comment section here is quite informative:

https://despatch.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/29/how-were-dealing-with-bots-and-the-reselling-of-driving-tests/

I think dodgy companies are using the provisional driving numbers of every learner driver currently learning with them. And also using numbers of people who’ve had a provisional license issued but aren’t doing anything with it. They use these to block book all the tests that are released.

They then sell these test slots on to other people who have booked tests in Inverness for example. The swap system allows them to be swapped around. That means that the Inverness test will be a no-show (bad news for Inverness) while the second person gets their earlier slot in the location they wanted. But it’s cost them £250 or so instead of £62.

How we’re dealing with bots and the reselling of driving tests – Despatch for driver and rider trainers

Official advice and information for driver and rider trainers from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

https://despatch.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/29/how-were-dealing-with-bots-and-the-reselling-of-driving-tests

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allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 27/10/2024 11:29

@Wouldbedriver I honestly dont know how companies manage to book driving tests to sell on without knowing the driving licence number of the person taking the test. can someone tell me how they manage it please. according to the government booking site, this number has to be provided first!!

Original poster

Wouldbedriver · 27/10/2024 11:29

Detchi · 27/10/2024 11:18

My experience in the last month is I logged on about 5 50am, and got a choice of 3 timeslots at my preferred test centre in the SE, first try. Friends' children have also booked them at 3 different local test centres recently. No matter where you are, new tests get released each week and they can be booked by real people.

The only problem - and it's a big one - was that it was some months off. But the bots have not made it literally impossible to book a test in the SE.

ETA - as long as you book it between 6.00am and 6.03 on a Monday morning 🙄Ridiculous I know.

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Thanks - I’ll try tomorrow!

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Murfmeister · 27/10/2024 11:22

billycorn · 27/10/2024 08:18

Book a test at Worksop, it's an excellent test centre with excellent examiners. The pass rate is high too.
I live in the SE and our son had to take his test there (his gran lives nearby). He passed first time.

I think this is the first time anyone has ever recommended visiting Worksop!!!

MymateDave · 27/10/2024 11:22

Chippenham test centre is a hour or so train ride from London. I see people asking on Facebook daily for instructors for a lesson and test on certain dates as they are travelling from another area. Good luck op x

Detchi · 27/10/2024 11:18

Wouldbedriver · 27/10/2024 11:13

Thanks, I’m going to give that a try. But aren’t those newly released SE tests the ones that are getting hoovered up by bots / money-making people with examiner’s accounts, each Monday morning? So I’m not sure if there will be any.

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My experience in the last month is I logged on about 5 50am, and got a choice of 3 timeslots at my preferred test centre in the SE, first try. Friends' children have also booked them at 3 different local test centres recently. No matter where you are, new tests get released each week and they can be booked by real people.

The only problem - and it's a big one - was that it was some months off. But the bots have not made it literally impossible to book a test in the SE.

ETA - as long as you book it between 6.00am and 6.03 on a Monday morning 🙄Ridiculous I know.

Floralnomad · 27/10/2024 11:17

You have to go on the system at 6am on a Monday , but everyone else is doing the same . Please be aware that if you take the test in your own car there are certain requirements like extra mirrors so check the list and make sure the car is ok . Can your driving instructor not find a quicker test ? We are SE a and when my daughter was learning last year her instructor was very proactive at swapping tests with other instructors etc and getting us a short notice test , particularly after she failed the first one and needed a retest .

Original poster

Wouldbedriver · 27/10/2024 11:13

Detchi · 27/10/2024 11:00

You can get a test at a local centre by getting up v early on a Monday - it will just be several months off.

You're right the system has collapsed and it's very unfair on people. But you do have less extreme options. Book something local-ish in tomorrow morning and then use a combo of the apps and your family member's support to try to swap it for something sooner, but perhaps further away.

Thanks, I’m going to give that a try. But aren’t those newly released SE tests the ones that are getting hoovered up by bots / money-making people with examiner’s accounts, each Monday morning? So I’m not sure if there will be any.

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