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Original poster

Surely the current situation with regard to driving tests is unsustainable?

121 replies

lilacclementine · 13/03/2023 10:31

I know of seven people trying to book a driving test whose lives are being negatively impacted by the fact that there are no tests available. We live in London and there is NOTHING to book between now and September (last visible date) at any of the sites. Everyone has registered on the booking apps and gets nothing. I was up at 5.50 am this morning before the new slots drop at 6.00 am- nearly managed to book the only slot in London at Mill Hill at the end of August but it vanished before I could complete the booking.

-3 are apprentice plumbers who work for my cousin. He part funds their lessons as being able to drive the van to the suppliers to grab bits they need is a big part of being an apprentice. You can’t be a tradesperson without being able to drive
-1 is my neighbour. Her husband had a small stroke and was suddenly not cleared to drive- they have young children plus sick elderly parents who live a 40 min drive away (2 hours on the bus or train). She’s been desperately having lessons and is ready for her test
-2 are friends of my daughter doing A levels. They are great kids who are funding their lessons and tests themselves via part time work – the inability to book a test means that they need to keep paying for lessons they don’t need to keep themselves test ready
-1 is my daughter who I’m funding and is also ready for her test but I’m having to keep paying for lessons while we find a slot.

How can we be in a situation where no one can book a driving test? This is utterly ridiculous. How are people in rural communities managing? Those who need a car to get employment? My daughter’s instructor says that he has 20 people trying to book slots and no one has managed to book anything in the past 3 weeks. I could live with a long wait (perhaps stagger or reduce lessons etc) but the fact is you can’t even book anything even months in advance. If you get a test and then fail (which lots of people do) then its back to the drawing board for another massive wait. The theory test expires after 2 years- it’s not inconceivable that people will in fact have to pay for and resit their theory test because they’ve not been able to book an actual test.

I am baffled that this appears to be one more shit thing that we’re all just putting up with. There’s a few articles I can find complaining about this and the government are saying it’ll all get better soon- but how can it? There’s a big pandemic backlog plus our driving instructor says that it’s lies that they’ve recruited more instructors- apparently the local test centre used to have 13 testers, they’re now down to 7 and no sign of any more.

If anyone has any suggestions about how to get a test let me know. We’re on a booking app but don’t seem to have any success.

OP posts:
Runnerduck34 · 13/03/2023 10:41

It's waiting times are horrendous and as you say if you fail, which lots if people do it's back to square one. The only advice I was given was to to book a test anywhere in the country then using one of those cancellation apps try and change it to a local test centre.
I have heard of people having to resit theory test as they've failed 2 or 3 tests and 2 year period has run out.

Overthebow · 13/03/2023 10:46

It’s always been bad but seems awful now. How can those waits be acceptable?

When I learnt to drive I booked a test early on in my lessons instead of waiting until I was ready as there were long waits. Doesn’t help those who are ready now but may help others who are just starting to learn.

PeekAtYou · 13/03/2023 10:50

I had 2 kids needing tests during the pandemic and it was hell. #3 turns 17 this summer and I will book any test date as soon as he passes theory.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
Alannahxx · 13/03/2023 10:50

The what's app groups seem to be the only way to get a test now. But they charge anywhere from £80- £200 on top of the price of the test. Its terrible.

Original poster
lilacclementine · 13/03/2023 10:54

On the advice of her instructor we started trying to book a test hours after she passed her theory test. It's been 2 months now and we've not found anything. As per the advice upthread I've managed to book one just now in Plymouth for Sept and I'm now registered on the apps to move the test - fingers crossed as Plymouth isn't possible! Also- poor people in Plymouth are now missing a slot someone local could book.

Im so cross. It's just so shit and the government do nothing. My daughter's instructor says a big part of the problem is testers pay- so we need to pay them more, offer incentives to get people who left to come back and start clearing the backlog.

OP posts:
Original poster
lilacclementine · 13/03/2023 10:55

PeekAtYou · 13/03/2023 10:50

I had 2 kids needing tests during the pandemic and it was hell. #3 turns 17 this summer and I will book any test date as soon as he passes theory.

That was our plan- there's nothing available anywhere though!

OP posts:
Original poster
lilacclementine · 13/03/2023 10:56

Alannahxx · 13/03/2023 10:50

The what's app groups seem to be the only way to get a test now. But they charge anywhere from £80- £200 on top of the price of the test. Its terrible.

How do I get onto a group like this? Tbh I'm paying £40 per hour for lessons weekly to keep her test ready- shelling out a few hundred is still cheaper in the long run.

OP posts:
Tree543 · 13/03/2023 10:57

Keep trying throughout Monday. Cancellations do appear throughout the day.

Yoloohno · 13/03/2023 10:57

I think it must be luck of the drawer, where I am in the Midlands it’s been easy for my Dd and her friends to find tests at our local test centre including the ones that have failed getting one about 2 weeks later.

We never bought an app, we just refreshed throughout the day until an initial date came up and then kept on looking for a new test. Thankfully she passed on her 3rd attempt since January.

I can’t believe how different the situation is in different parts of the country.

blackheartsgirl · 13/03/2023 10:58

My daughter can’t even get driving lessons let alone a test. Every single instructor/ school is fully booked up for the unforseable future and believe me we have phoned/emailed a hell of a lot.

she’s been trying for over a year.

she’s given up now.

peonyjam · 13/03/2023 10:58

I second the advice to book a test anywhere in the country at any time just to get into the system and set up a cancellation app with autobook. It is awful and absolutely unsustainable though. I'm racing to try and get a test and pass before my due date and the pressure of knowing it's basically my only shot for some time is terrible.

Alannahxx · 13/03/2023 11:02

lilacclementine · 13/03/2023 10:56

How do I get onto a group like this? Tbh I'm paying £40 per hour for lessons weekly to keep her test ready- shelling out a few hundred is still cheaper in the long run.

Show quote history

chat.whatsapp.com/JZ5SjaO1k9JByxyFk3AB9n

This is the one we used. You need to have a test booked anywhere in the UK then they change it for you. You dont pay until you can see its changed on dvla website. And it costs different amounts for different test centres. London being most expensive it seems!

Alannahxx · 13/03/2023 11:04

That link doesn't seem to work anymore, my dc found out about it from kids at school!

ChrissyHynde · 13/03/2023 11:07

Try the Testi app. You have to pay for it but once you're in you can set it up to prompt for certain areas and it used to ping all the time for me. You have to be on the ball though , I was lucky to be able to gave my phone with me all the time and reduced my DSs waiting time from end of august to mid May - he passed first timeSmile

MirabelMax · 13/03/2023 11:10

The situation definitely seems to vary across the country. We didn't have any thing like these issues in South Wales... We were able to book one, just too far in advance. We then used the testi app to move it forward.

They definitely are recruiting but struggling because the pay isn't great.

I can see why people join those WhatsApp groups but unfortunately they are part of the problem. They use bots to buy up great swathes of test slots then sell them on at inflated prices. Dvsa are trying to stop it but apparently not getting very far. Driving examiners are complaining of huge numbers of no shows as a result which is insanely frustrating for people like the op.

Whendovescry03 · 13/03/2023 11:15

A friend of mine gave up and has instead bought an electric bike to get around for work and doing the school run. Not suitable for everyone but it's done the job.

We're also on a recruitment drive at work and most younger people don't have a driving license now, which isn't a big deal for the job however it means we're becoming limited on drivers when it comes to attending work events. I'm wondering at what point it will all go back to normal because as you've said, it's not sustainable.

SmileyClare · 13/03/2023 11:16

I agree it’s awful. My eldest had to pass up a promotion at work because he doesn’t have a license despite being ready to take his test.

He has booked an intensive (week long) driving course simply because he is guaranteed a test at the end at a local test centre. He is using PassMeFast at a cost of £650 😩

GoodChat · 13/03/2023 11:17

OP just be aware there's a limit to the amount of times you can move the test on the app. I think it's 5.

BenCoopersSupportWren · 13/03/2023 11:17

blackheartsgirl · 13/03/2023 10:58

My daughter can’t even get driving lessons let alone a test. Every single instructor/ school is fully booked up for the unforseable future and believe me we have phoned/emailed a hell of a lot.

she’s been trying for over a year.

she’s given up now.

Covid absolutely hammered driving instructors and then the hike in petrol prices last year finished off more. I had two in the family; one has given up because it had become economically unviable.

exexpat · 13/03/2023 11:21

A young London-based relative of mine went up to stay with another family member at the other end of the country to do his test - plenty of slots available up there. He went for a few days and booked a lesson or two with a local instructor to familiarise himself with the likely routes. It sounds like London is the worst-affected place.

Original poster
lilacclementine · 13/03/2023 11:32

peonyjam · 13/03/2023 10:58

I second the advice to book a test anywhere in the country at any time just to get into the system and set up a cancellation app with autobook. It is awful and absolutely unsustainable though. I'm racing to try and get a test and pass before my due date and the pressure of knowing it's basically my only shot for some time is terrible.

I'm so sorry. That's dreadful. Fingers crossed for you.

OP posts:
L1ttledrummergirl · 13/03/2023 11:40

Ds2 took his in a test centre a couple of hours away. We went there the day before and booked a hotel. We found an app which had a selection of possible routes and drove 6 of them the day we were there so that he had a feel of the roads.

ClivePowermax · 13/03/2023 11:40

@exexpat where abouts? There are none at all in Greater Manchester or Merseyside as of an hour ago. It's disgraceful. Hope your relative passed and is enjoying life on the road. Not that they should have to have gone so far away to do it!

ClivePowermax · 13/03/2023 11:41

None Lancashire or Cheshire either.

SundaySundaySunday · 13/03/2023 11:45

OP, I passed my test recently at a very popular test centre. I was unable to find a test at all - even the apps were ineffective. My instructor has a contact who was able to find me a test date within 3 weeks, though I had to pay a lot for it. Where are you located?