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Original poster

Get driving test sooner?

35 replies

Freyagillian · 04/06/2025 14:57

DVLA cancelled my granddaughter’s test the day of her test with no explanation or an apology, they gave her another test date for months away, to say she was upset is an understatement. Her test was a Thursday so her instructor put her in for a lesson fir Tuesday/Wed/ and Thursday a lesson before her test so in total it was £160 with hire of instructors car for sitting her test, she saw the cancellation when she was sitting in the car waiting for examiner to appear when she saw the message cancelling her test. We have tried the apps that are available but they are offering even later than her new test date. Her instructor has said she is more than ready for her test so having to keep paying £40 a week for extra months is a struggle for her mum who is a single parent, her granddad has gave her loads of lessons as well but feel she still should be with instructor as she is use to her car. The DVLA seem to be a law unto themselves with no explanation why they cancelled. Constantly hearing about touts buying up block books of tests and selling for extortionate prices. She has added other towns to give a better chance to get a test soon but nothing coming forth. Her instructor is also trying to get an earlier date for her but she says this is so common of DVLA and doesn’t hold out much hope. This is a typically government run business who does not give two hoots how they treat people. Any advice would be greatly appreciated to put a smile on my granddaughter’s face! Thanks in advance.

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Original poster
Freyagillian · 07/06/2025 12:16

pinkstripeycat · 05/06/2025 23:06

I am an Approved Driving Instructor.

It is unreasonable for a replacement test to be months in advance. Ring the DVSA and ask for a test date that is closer. They DO have them and definitely do provide them. Your granddaughter’s instructor will know this.

My town is one of the business test centres in the UK and replacement tests are never more than a month away.

Also lots of towns have test swap groups amongst instructors where they can swap pupils tests where some are more ready than others.

Just phoned DVSA and says nothing available and phone back Monday but it does not open until 8 by that time it’s open on line at 6 but we have tried that a lot but even the waiting time to speak to someone is horrendous so many people in front of you and that’s phoning before 6am. Like banging you head of a brick wall trying to get a date. Also have 2 apps we paid for but no luck there either.

OP posts:
Original poster
Freyagillian · 07/06/2025 12:09

Mitchyp · 06/06/2025 09:58

Hi my husband is a driving instructor, no touts can block book, since covid they have struggled to get ahead of the back log of driving tests, sadly if a examiner suddenly becomes poorly it's not just your granddaughters test being cancelled the best thing she can do is speak to her driving instructor and ask them what days they arnt available to take her for a test ie other pupils tests or their holidays then go on to the dvla website and check every day for new allocations, this happens several times a week good luck to her.

Her instructor says cancellations are constantly happening and she has been trying to get her another date changed with someone else as the date she got cancelled was one that had been someone else’s already, so she is on her 3rd date but to far away. Tried phoning DVSA this morning but they have none available but said to try on Monday but they don’t open until 8 by phone and because online opens at 6 am, we have tried that which is a nightmare even to get in the queue to speak to someone and then still nothing. I have watched programmes regarding block bookings and said it’s an on going problem and calling for the government to get it stopped like they did with ticket touts. Her instructor has put her in with 2 towns near to us to get a better chance, obviously she would prefer her own town but would happily go elsewhere. We have 2 different apps as well to notify us when anything is available, but seems a waste of money so far. Thank you for responding.

OP posts:
VibeCurator · 07/06/2025 11:35

It’s so bad, and makes taking the test even more nerve-wracking when you know you’ll only be able to retake in 6 months if you fail

Kimdek · 07/06/2025 11:33

Usernamesarenoteasy · 06/06/2025 10:50

Just as an aside, if you wanted to, you can take your driving test in your own car, so no need to book and pay loads of money for your instructors car.

This is what we did in the end (2 failed tests in instructor cars) as DD preferred driving her own car. Hadn't used an instructor for a few weeks by the time she took her final test.

We used testi but it looks like other apps are better now.

Original poster
Freyagillian · 06/06/2025 20:09

HatesHorsesLovesShein · 06/06/2025 16:06

I got the money back from Apple for both the apps as they didn’t find me a test!

Really! Shocked at that but really good for you.

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HatesHorsesLovesShein · 06/06/2025 16:06

I got the money back from Apple for both the apps as they didn’t find me a test!

Hadalifeonce · 06/06/2025 13:13

If her grandfather is happy for her to use his car, I would continue with that. We did this with DS, he was obviously ready to take his test so getting practice any way he could was our priority. It also meant, when his test eventually came, after months of checking several times a day, and having to travel 80 miles to take it. We didn't have to ensure the instructor was available.

Ponyfootymama · 06/06/2025 13:08

Freyagillian · 06/06/2025 09:30

Have 2 apps but no lunch with either.😩

Show quote history

Just asked him, it was Testi and he paid £12 extra he said to get notifications of cancellations (don’t know if he had to pay for app in first place?). He moved his test in about 3 or 4 steps forward by 4 1/2 months, and thankfully passed despite it being during morning rush hour (not that rushed really here though I don’t suppose🤔). I don’t know anymore than that as he sorted it all himself and I just kept saying ‘well done love’ every time he told me he’d got a new slot!

Usernamesarenoteasy · 06/06/2025 10:50

Just as an aside, if you wanted to, you can take your driving test in your own car, so no need to book and pay loads of money for your instructors car.

Mitchyp · 06/06/2025 09:58

Hi my husband is a driving instructor, no touts can block book, since covid they have struggled to get ahead of the back log of driving tests, sadly if a examiner suddenly becomes poorly it's not just your granddaughters test being cancelled the best thing she can do is speak to her driving instructor and ask them what days they arnt available to take her for a test ie other pupils tests or their holidays then go on to the dvla website and check every day for new allocations, this happens several times a week good luck to her.

Original poster
Freyagillian · 06/06/2025 09:52

Mouldwarp · 05/06/2025 23:48

We had bought 2 apps including Testi which didn’t work for us. Driving instructor recommended Test Shift and it was great, DD moved hers from September to yesterday and she passed. Worth the money imo. Good luck!

We have 2 apps including Testi 😩. Will have a look at Test shift. Thank you.

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Original poster
Freyagillian · 06/06/2025 09:49

jljlj · 04/06/2025 15:25

Impossible to get tests at the moment. My dd is also ready but hers is in Sept. I have had Testi installed for a couple of month - very few notifications and the two times I’ve tried to click, the earlier tests had already vanished. It’s been like this for years now, although lately it has got much worse. My eldest took his in 2023. Still bad, but not this bad.

So annoying for them when they are ready to sit test now but have to wait months. It worries me that if my GD gets another date what’s to say they won’t cancel on her again🤷‍♀️. That week cost £160 with extra lessons and hire of instructors car so don’t want to have to pay that again.

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Original poster
Freyagillian · 06/06/2025 09:45

HatesHorsesLovesShein · 05/06/2025 23:25

I had two apps and I didn’t get any cancellations, not once.

I booked a test in a different city and hired a car. Apparently some test centres have hire cars. It seemed mad at the time but like you, I couldn’t afford lessons every week for months.

So annoying paying that money for nothing, same here 2 apps and nothing from them. She is down for another 2 towns if they were available but would obviously prefer her own town.

OP posts:
Original poster
Freyagillian · 06/06/2025 09:41

Freyagillian · 06/06/2025 09:30

Have 2 apps but no lunch with either.😩

Show quote history

Sorry luck😜

OP posts:
Original poster
Freyagillian · 06/06/2025 09:40

pinkstripeycat · 05/06/2025 23:06

I am an Approved Driving Instructor.

It is unreasonable for a replacement test to be months in advance. Ring the DVSA and ask for a test date that is closer. They DO have them and definitely do provide them. Your granddaughter’s instructor will know this.

My town is one of the business test centres in the UK and replacement tests are never more than a month away.

Also lots of towns have test swap groups amongst instructors where they can swap pupils tests where some are more ready than others.

Hi, thanks for advice. Her original test was end of September and her instructor managed to swap it for the test they cancelled last week and now they have gave her the end of July, her instructor put her down for 2 towns near to us as well although would prefer one in her own town. We have paid for 2 different apps but no luck so far. Tried the going on at 6am Monday morning, waiting time on that to even get in the queue😩 but nothing either. I have passed your advice to my daughter so she will phone. Is it just the DVLA number you use? Thanks again.

OP posts:
FrangipaniBlue · 06/06/2025 09:31

Sayithowiseeit · 05/06/2025 23:55

You have to literally sit and refresh the page all day, maybe a 2 or more days. Start at 6am.

Don’t do this - they have software that detects bots, if you keep refreshing it thinks you’re a bot!. I tried it and kept getting my IP blocked and had to wait until the next day to try again 😂

Original poster
Freyagillian · 06/06/2025 09:30

Ponyfootymama · 05/06/2025 23:18

Pretty sure you can use an app for cancellations...my DS had a date for late September initially (booked end of April) but over course of about 36 hours managed to bring it forward in steps until it was within 3 weeks. We do live in a bit of a far flung spot though so maybe that was helpful. Good luck.

Have 2 apps but no lunch with either.😩

OP posts:
Original poster
Freyagillian · 06/06/2025 09:28

pinkstripeycat · 05/06/2025 23:08

Be careful doing this as it’s shortly going to be banned. Most instructors have voted for the ban. If you book a test in another town you may be stuck with it. The reason for the ban is that it limits the availability of tests for people who actually live in that area.

Show quote history

She got a later test when they cancelled hers last week but it’s ages away. Have tried the 6 am several times as she had another date which was September but no luck trying on Monday morning. Her instructor managed to swap dates for last week but like I said DVLA cancelled at last minute and has gave her another late date. Got Testi app but nothing so far. She has put for other towns as well. Ridiculous you have to do this.

OP posts:
Original poster
Freyagillian · 06/06/2025 09:22

FrangipaniBlue · 04/06/2025 23:27

She doesn’t need to have weekly lessons with an instructor if she has access to drive her own/family members car on a regular basis?

DS hasn’t had any for over a month now but has been driving with me and is booked in for one with his instructor just before his test.

We used Testi, you can set it to only give notifications before her test date but do make sure you have the notifications set up in the app AND enabled in your phone settings.

i know someone who got one for July through Testi only today.

There seems to be certain times of day the cancellations get released, usually mid morning so try and be near your phone to watch for the notifications around then.

She has her own car which she has been using for lessons in between ones with her instructor so she is still using that and just going to do her instructor once a month, as like her instructor said she is more than ready for her test so no need to get lesson every week thank goodness. Daughters bought Testi app but nothing.

OP posts:
Sayithowiseeit · 05/06/2025 23:55

You have to literally sit and refresh the page all day, maybe a 2 or more days. Start at 6am.

Mouldwarp · 05/06/2025 23:48

We had bought 2 apps including Testi which didn’t work for us. Driving instructor recommended Test Shift and it was great, DD moved hers from September to yesterday and she passed. Worth the money imo. Good luck!

HatesHorsesLovesShein · 05/06/2025 23:25

I had two apps and I didn’t get any cancellations, not once.

I booked a test in a different city and hired a car. Apparently some test centres have hire cars. It seemed mad at the time but like you, I couldn’t afford lessons every week for months.

Ponyfootymama · 05/06/2025 23:18

Pretty sure you can use an app for cancellations...my DS had a date for late September initially (booked end of April) but over course of about 36 hours managed to bring it forward in steps until it was within 3 weeks. We do live in a bit of a far flung spot though so maybe that was helpful. Good luck.

pinkstripeycat · 05/06/2025 23:08

Overshareswhendrunk · 05/06/2025 22:24

We had the app but found that tests were already taken. The only way my son got a test was to book one anywhere in the country at some future date. Once you have a test booked you can go on DVLA website and get a cancellation but you need to do this at 6am on Monday mornings when they get released. We were unsuccessful the first time we tried this but the following Monday we managed to get him a test for the following week at our local test centre. He passed, thankfully. Good luck!

Be careful doing this as it’s shortly going to be banned. Most instructors have voted for the ban. If you book a test in another town you may be stuck with it. The reason for the ban is that it limits the availability of tests for people who actually live in that area.