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Original poster

Driving test booking madness

34 replies

blobbyshouse · 25/10/2025 21:07

Anybody else frustrated with this?
Failed my test earlier this week (disappointingly messed up my manoeuvre, did well on the actual driving part with only 1 minor)
Went to book another test and absolutely no slots available. Looked up other test centres across the country and also nothing. I will have to look at 6AM Monday and hope I am fast enough to grab one in six months time.
I understand there’s a backlog but, looking online, there are third-party sites with plenty of slots available in coming weeks and months. All for at least 3x the cost. I have also found news articles from over 2 years ago promising the government are going to crackdown and solve the issue of bots buying tests 🤨
Just very frustrating! 😩

OP posts:
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Original poster
blobbyshouse · 27/10/2025 14:57

CryMyEyesViolet · 27/10/2025 14:44

It’s such a solveable problem that it means no one is trying to crack down on it. There’s absolutely no need for a test to be transferable to someone else. You book it, you then take it or cancel it. If you cancel you get a refund and it becomes available to be rebooked.

If they stopped people being able to change the driver on a test booking this would stop overnight.

Thats so true. At this point why on earth won’t they do this?

OP posts:
WWomble · 27/10/2025 14:52

Testi app worked for us last summer. 5 or 6 month wait for a local test so booked that and used Testi to move it forward several times before getting a very last minute one with 12 hours notice, which she passed!

CryMyEyesViolet · 27/10/2025 14:44

It’s such a solveable problem that it means no one is trying to crack down on it. There’s absolutely no need for a test to be transferable to someone else. You book it, you then take it or cancel it. If you cancel you get a refund and it becomes available to be rebooked.

If they stopped people being able to change the driver on a test booking this would stop overnight.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 27/10/2025 14:40

blobbyshouse · 27/10/2025 12:33

I don’t understand it! You do need to put in your provisional licence number so I have no idea how they are being bought by bots. Like I said, I’ve found articles online from two and a half years ago saying the government are determined to crack down on the issue, and it has got way worse since then!

Show quote history

Basically, when you sign up to the app, you give them your provisional licence number. They then use that ASAP to book a random test anywhere in the country. When the app then get hold of a test in your area (bot booked using someone elses provisional number), they swap the two licence numbers over and there you are, booked in for a test in your area.

Basically, if we all boycotted the apps, then they wouldn't be able to use our provisional numbers to book tests, and the whole situation would resolve itself. Or you know, the government could just pull their finger out of their ass and deal with it.

Harassedmum123 · 27/10/2025 14:17

@ChangecrossI know, it’s a nightmare . We logged at 6am on a Monday morning and got a test for six months later. We did download the Testi app too but after six weeks, we gave up on it. TestShift worked far better in my opinion and holds the test for 15 mins ( I think) The Government should have intervened years ago.

Nobodysaiditwouldbeeasy88 · 27/10/2025 14:13

I've been through the same for my daughter this morning (she's abroad and cannot get online) after failing her first test.

Had 10,000 people ahead of me when I logged on this morning at 6am.

Managed to book a test for March - 100 miles away and her instructor will change it to a cancellation at our location test centre. Booked the test at 10am.

The instructors have cancellations before they are released to the general public so he will move it for us.

There should be a change in the law in regards to the theory test expiring and unable to get a practical test

DiscoBeat · 27/10/2025 14:06

I think the individual should be able to book directly through the DVLA, so one slot per person, and stop all this grabbing of slots by companies 🤬

Changecross · 27/10/2025 14:05

Harassedmum123 · 27/10/2025 13:40

TestShift worked for us recently. Had to get the test in the first place from the government website but used TestShift app to bring it forward by three months and saved in the region of £700 on unnecessary extra lessons. Think the app is a one off cost of £17.

It just seems to be impossible to get a test anywhere in the whole of Britain at any time or on any day just now. I wouldn’t mind paying one of these bots, but from what I understand you need a test date in the first place. The bots just bring that date forward for you.

Harassedmum123 · 27/10/2025 13:57

@PhuckTrumpi can’t remember, sorry. The app had been recommended to us by lots of people though who had all booked tests successfully. We booked his test , changed it using TestShift for two weeks later. There were ones for the following day, two days later etc.

PhuckTrump · 27/10/2025 13:53

Harassedmum123 · 27/10/2025 13:40

TestShift worked for us recently. Had to get the test in the first place from the government website but used TestShift app to bring it forward by three months and saved in the region of £700 on unnecessary extra lessons. Think the app is a one off cost of £17.

Were you able to see whether they had secured spots local to you before you paid the app fee?

Harassedmum123 · 27/10/2025 13:40

TestShift worked for us recently. Had to get the test in the first place from the government website but used TestShift app to bring it forward by three months and saved in the region of £700 on unnecessary extra lessons. Think the app is a one off cost of £17.

Original poster
blobbyshouse · 27/10/2025 12:33

PhuckTrump · 27/10/2025 12:18

It’s so wrong on so many levels. You should not be allowed to buy bundles of a government service and sell them for a profit. Why do the government allow this? You should have to input the provisional license holder’s name into the booking on the official site to secure the test spot. End of.

Image if we did this with other services—block booking GP appointments, school placements, A&E slots, etc—and selling them for a profit! Bonkers.

Edited

I don’t understand it! You do need to put in your provisional licence number so I have no idea how they are being bought by bots. Like I said, I’ve found articles online from two and a half years ago saying the government are determined to crack down on the issue, and it has got way worse since then!

OP posts:
Original poster
blobbyshouse · 27/10/2025 12:26

@MightyGoldBear It’s just so frustrating isn’t it.
I gave up on driving lessons when I was young because I just found it so difficult coupled with anxiety.
Then I had this sudden realisation in my 30s that I need to stop limiting myself (for my own job prospects, for my children etc)
Ive worked so hard, spent £1000s of pounds on lessons, passed my theory, managed to overcome the anxiety, finally got to the point where I’m a capable driver… and can’t book a test. I’m going to keep trying on Monday mornings, but it’s just feeling like all that effort, determination and money spent was for nothing.

OP posts:
PhuckTrump · 27/10/2025 12:18

It’s so wrong on so many levels. You should not be allowed to buy bundles of a government service and sell them for a profit. Why do the government allow this? You should have to input the provisional license holder’s name into the booking on the official site to secure the test spot. End of.

Image if we did this with other services—block booking GP appointments, school placements, A&E slots, etc—and selling them for a profit! Bonkers.

Original poster
blobbyshouse · 27/10/2025 12:17

Annoyeddd · 27/10/2025 12:11

Aren't you blocked from booking for ten working days after failing

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you can’t rebook for your test to be within that time period (as if that would even be an option 😂) but can book for further ahead.

OP posts:
ExtraOnions · 27/10/2025 12:13

As long as people continue to use third party scalping sites, the longer the situation will go on.

Annoyeddd · 27/10/2025 12:11

blobbyshouse · 25/10/2025 21:07

Anybody else frustrated with this?
Failed my test earlier this week (disappointingly messed up my manoeuvre, did well on the actual driving part with only 1 minor)
Went to book another test and absolutely no slots available. Looked up other test centres across the country and also nothing. I will have to look at 6AM Monday and hope I am fast enough to grab one in six months time.
I understand there’s a backlog but, looking online, there are third-party sites with plenty of slots available in coming weeks and months. All for at least 3x the cost. I have also found news articles from over 2 years ago promising the government are going to crackdown and solve the issue of bots buying tests 🤨
Just very frustrating! 😩

Aren't you blocked from booking for ten working days after failing

Annoyeddd · 27/10/2025 12:10

Why is mummy booking the test. If someone is old enough to drive they are old enough to get out of bed and do it themselves

MightyGoldBear · 27/10/2025 11:55

I've had to give up learning to drive for now. I just can't afford the ongoing expense and no end in sight. Not to mention the pressure and stress of it all. It's infuriating to have to keep starting from scratch again. They at the very least need to increase the time your theory last for. Mine expired before I could get a test again.

Original poster
blobbyshouse · 27/10/2025 10:18

Well tried this morning, was in a queue of 20000+ people at 6am and no slots left by the time I got in 😤

OP posts:
Sunshineandrainbow · 26/10/2025 18:06

Shocking that nothing has been done about this shite system

Original poster
blobbyshouse · 26/10/2025 18:04

olderthanyouthink · 26/10/2025 17:25

how did you get the first test without noticing this problem?

I had success with the book any test and the. Use apps to move it, test shift did it in the end but it still took a while.

I was able to book it on the gov website, it was still a 5/6 month wait and limited slots available so I knew there was issues but assumed I would at least be able to book something this time round even with a similar wait. Didn’t expect it to have worsened in the past half a year.

I also don’t understand how exactly bots are able to block book slots. You have to put in your details as well as a valid provisional number! If they were certain they would be able to improve things over 2 years ago, and it’s got significantly worse, is it ever going to change.

OP posts:
Muchtoomuchtodo · 26/10/2025 18:01

Changecross · 26/10/2025 16:53

It’d the most frustrating thing ever. It should allow you to show which test centres have appointments rather than have no appointments. And why the hell hasn’t the government stopped the bots yet??? It should be the easiest thing ever!!! You book a test. You’re not allowed to cancel or change it, or change the driver taking it. That’s all they have to do to stop the bots. Why don’t they do this???

Does anyone know if you are more likely to get a test date if you use an instructor? We don’t want to have to use an instructor purely to get a test date but are coming up against a brick wall on this. My child just wants to be able to sit a driving test.

Ds1’s driving school booked his test for him as soon as he passed his theory. It was still 6 months away - the soonest that they could book. However as they are a big driving school, they could somehow change who was taking the test booked so ds’s test was brought forward a couple of months from the original date as they thought that he was was ready. He passed first time - phew!

we’re hoping that the same will be possible for ds2 who has got a test booked at the end of December but he’s had a bit of a hiatus due to breaking his wrist

Original poster
blobbyshouse · 26/10/2025 17:57

Shinyandnew1 · 26/10/2025 17:47

Is that £50 + test fee every time you have to book a test, or is the £50 a one-off?

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Looks like each time you book a test. Some test areas are £100 extra but mine is 50. I’m willing to try it as theory expires in a few months and I really don’t want to pay for that and sit it again 😩

OP posts:
NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 26/10/2025 17:49

Chiseltip · 26/10/2025 16:58

The government have absolutely no intention of doing anything about this. The less people who can drive the better, as it fits with their Net Zero goal.

They don't want you having the ability to drive.

You don't actually believe that do you 😁