To want to know why the government hasn’t sorted out the driving test booking mess yet

When I booked my sons test 2 years ago I put his driving instructor’s code in (can’t remember what the official term of the code is) which checks whether they have a test booked at the same time. I thought this was compulsory but when I booked my daughter’s test a couple of weeks back it was only optional - I didn’t check with DD instructor because I saw a really good test time so just booked it as thought I can change it if needed, obviously wouldn’t have done this if we only had 2 chances to change it! I’d checked with DS instructor planned holiday etc before I booked but if you’re having to book 5 months in advance anyway there’s still a risk that they’re not available for some reason! It’s all pretty crap!

@dynamiccactus that’s what the school of motoring that we use do. It works well. High first time pass rate so a very efficient use of the available test slots.

True. It’s difficult to know without figures how much of it down to bots/inflated resellers and how much is simply down to a growing backlog. I would be interested to know what percentage of booked tests have been booked via a third party. Even if the reselling issue is solved, wait times will surely still remain the same.

This could be a bit of an issue. It's no good booking a test and then finding that your instructor is not available at that time slot.

My son's instructor books tests and then moves them round his pupils. He knows he's available and if someone isn't ready or something comes up he can move the slots around.

It's a real shame that so many people out there have abused the system so he will now have to change how he operates.

The fact that there is still a backlog from COVID after nearly 6 years is ludicrous though and not just down to unscrupulous instructors and bots. I wonder if we will still be discussing in a year's time.

Reputable schools wont do that and any who do, the payment details would be business, not individual, which can be blocked.

How will they enforce that I wonder?

If the school of motoring have the learners details what’s stopping them from booking a test for their pupils?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn09v4d2xe7o

As seen on the BBC News website this morning. Your prayers are being answered, OP

It should be easier (compared to Ticketmaster etc) because when you book a test you need to give the reference number from passing your theory test.

This is excellent news - really pleased that only learners will be able to book tests.

As i said on pg 1 or 2, the Govt is dealing with this, hence the announcement today

Only learners can book tests.

Why on earth wasn't this done years ago???

When I passed in 2024 the only thing that worked for me was booking a test months and months in advance far away wherever was available and then using Testi for cancellations where I needed a test

well that's a whole other issue i have with driving instruction in the UK, to be honest.

I had an email saying-

DVSA will:
change the booking service to allow only learner car drivers to book and manage their tests
introduce a limit on the number of times a learner car driver can move or swap a test to twice and also limit the area they can move a test to once booked
make use of Ministry of Defence (MOD) driving examiners for up to 12 months to help tackle driving test waiting times

Apparently this should be in place Spring 2026. Glad they are finally looking at some practical ways to solve this 🙄

If ticketmaster and twickets can’t stop bots, I don’t see how the govt can either.

Just had an email from DVLA to say they are making changes that will come into effect in Spring 2026. Too late for my DD. Hopefully!
But they are making it so only learners can book and limiting the number of moves/swaps to 2 as well as limiting where you can book your test. Also using MOD for 12 months to reduce the wait.

New law to clamp down on driving test bots - BBC News

BBC homepage! Only learners to be allowed to book tests!

Unfortunately they can’t because anyone can take a driving test. They would have to make driving instructors compulsory and that’s not going to happen

Our youngest was able to book a test within about 4 weeks around a year ago. Reading this, seems he was very lucky.

Tbh i think there should be a complete rethink and that only driving instructors or driving schools should be able to book. Then they just put their candidates in a slot when they are ready.

The Chief Executive of DVSA, Loveday Ryder, resigned yesterday. Here’s hoping they will get a new Chief Executive that will actually sort out the issues

They should definitely make the theory test longer than 2 years. Even just temporarily while they sort the issues out.

All because demand is outstripping supply and the booking of tests is centralised. Where I live, the test centre has a lot of elderly bookings for people forced to retake after decades of driving. These then take away slots that might otherwise be available to young people.

That's already part of the issue apparently. People who are not ready are booking tests just to give it a go taking slots away from those who are test ready. There's all sorts going on which results in wasted test slots, even rocking up without a car would you believe!!

Why can’t the stop them? If it asks for evidence of a passed theory test surely it is very easy to stop them?