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Original poster

Booking driving test

34 replies

ImAGoodPerson · 25/03/2023 10:27

Hi, just wondered if anyone had any tips for booking a practical driving test. My son is taking lessons and will need to do a test in a few months. There seems to be nothing at all, I am trying every day. We can't afford to keep paying for lessons if it takes 6-8 months to get a test so that will have a negative impact on him passing no doubt.

Am I missing something re trying to book?

Thanks

OP posts:
Tickledtrout · 25/03/2023 10:29

We had to book a test - any test, any where, then use the ( pay for apps) to get a cancellation. Testi was the one we used

Original poster
ImAGoodPerson · 25/03/2023 10:36

Tickledtrout · 25/03/2023 10:29

We had to book a test - any test, any where, then use the ( pay for apps) to get a cancellation. Testi was the one we used

So literally any test centre? I was only trying at our one (one of the most densely populate cities so no surprises there are none available)

OP posts:
EverywhereILookIStillSeeYou · 25/03/2023 10:45

My sons driving school guaranteed a test date at your preferred centre within 8 weeks if you paid £40. He only waited 4 weeks in the end. Does your sons instructor offer anything like that?

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Original poster
ImAGoodPerson · 25/03/2023 10:55

EverywhereILookIStillSeeYou · 25/03/2023 10:45

My sons driving school guaranteed a test date at your preferred centre within 8 weeks if you paid £40. He only waited 4 weeks in the end. Does your sons instructor offer anything like that?

I don't think so, he just told us to keep trying and then once we've booked a test to use a cancellation app to get one sooner.

Just wondered if there was a good time to attempt to book really or any other tips. The system is crazy, the fact that a test centre can book it within 8 weeks but a quick Google says average to be able to get one is 6 months is frustrating.

OP posts:
UncomfortableSilence · 25/03/2023 10:56

We've just been through this with DD. Our test centre is also in a very busy area. Tests are released at 6am every Monday morning so you have to be on the DVLA website then ready. Book whatever the first test date is that comes up. DD passed her theory last July and the first available test was January this year.

You can get the Testi app which is for test cancellations and her driving instructor also could swap test between pupils if needed. It's really hard at the minute.

Original poster
ImAGoodPerson · 25/03/2023 11:00

UncomfortableSilence · 25/03/2023 10:56

We've just been through this with DD. Our test centre is also in a very busy area. Tests are released at 6am every Monday morning so you have to be on the DVLA website then ready. Book whatever the first test date is that comes up. DD passed her theory last July and the first available test was January this year.

You can get the Testi app which is for test cancellations and her driving instructor also could swap test between pupils if needed. It's really hard at the minute.

Thank you, will set an alarm for Monday morning (it's about 6 hrs before DS gets up haha). Stupidly I didn't think to book the test straight away so have wasted 4 weeks really.

OP posts:
UncomfortableSilence · 25/03/2023 11:05

Her instructor told her to book as soon as theory was done knowing how long it would take.

It's really hard for them all at the moment apparently there is a reduction in the number of examiners meaning fewer tests available and still a backlog from Covid.

Tickledtrout · 25/03/2023 11:08

Yes book anything. When you have a test booked you can set the app to search for centres you want to use.

Also worth checking on the gov.uk site regularly.. Sometimes they seem to employ a new examiner or somehow gain capacity on a Saturday morning, for example, and a block of relatively short notice tests will appear

kisaki333 · 25/03/2023 11:08

To add to this, check at exactly 6am each morning. That's how i managed to get mine on a friday for the next Monday which was a bank holiday. These would be for instructors that decided to do overtime, for example. They are rare but we have a bunch of bank holidays coming so you might get lucky.
But like others have said, have a test already booked for whenever (i think now they are opening up end of Aug.)

Good luck, it's an absurd situation and it's not getting any better!

Duvetdweller · 25/03/2023 11:10

We paid the instructor £80. He booked as soon as she passed her theory and then pulled it forward when he thought she was ready and she passed 10 weeks after she was 17. Was well worth the £80.

Original poster
ImAGoodPerson · 25/03/2023 11:19

UncomfortableSilence · 25/03/2023 11:05

Her instructor told her to book as soon as theory was done knowing how long it would take.

It's really hard for them all at the moment apparently there is a reduction in the number of examiners meaning fewer tests available and still a backlog from Covid.

It's quite probable that my son was told this!

OP posts:
Yellowishes · 27/03/2023 06:24

I have been on the website every Monday before 6am for the last 8 weeks and there has been nothing available in any test centre near me (within 50 miles, extending into London) in in all that time. I have to join an online queue for 25 minutes so I'm not sure if the places all just go or if they're not releasing any. Either way it's insane.

To those posters who say get on the website at 6am - either their advice is out of date or they live in a very very rural area.

Unfortunately even the test booking apps require premium fees (£80-100) to book immediately, rather than the standard £25-30 to "alert you" to a test becoming available, because they're all snapped up immediately.

Just pay a service £100. It's the only way. I can't believe we've become victims to a racket but that's the state of things now.

Funnyfive · 27/03/2023 06:49

Get the Testi app and book a test somewhere, anywhere even if that’s months in advance. Then you set the alerts (loud alerts on your phone) for the three most convenient test centres to you and when cancellations are released it will notify you. You have to be very quick but then you book a cancellation at the nearer centre, even if, again, it’s months away.

Then you just carry on trying to get a cancellation sooner. Try for a less popular test Centre. You will start to notice when new tests are released too, in my experience it was mid morning on a Monday.

I did this, booked a test centre over 30 miles away for 6 months time, then got a cancellation at the preferred centre, then got another cancellation about two months away which was perfect.

Original poster
ImAGoodPerson · 27/03/2023 06:54

Yellowishes · 27/03/2023 06:24

I have been on the website every Monday before 6am for the last 8 weeks and there has been nothing available in any test centre near me (within 50 miles, extending into London) in in all that time. I have to join an online queue for 25 minutes so I'm not sure if the places all just go or if they're not releasing any. Either way it's insane.

To those posters who say get on the website at 6am - either their advice is out of date or they live in a very very rural area.

Unfortunately even the test booking apps require premium fees (£80-100) to book immediately, rather than the standard £25-30 to "alert you" to a test becoming available, because they're all snapped up immediately.

Just pay a service £100. It's the only way. I can't believe we've become victims to a racket but that's the state of things now.

I got in the queue at 5.57 then refreshed at 6am, got a test for August, i was 32nd in the queue and it took a few seconds. We are a very populated city so possibly just a bit if luck. There were 2 tests for this week but he's not ready yet to do it so soon.

I will get the testi app now.

OP posts:
MymateDave · 27/03/2023 06:58

I downloaded the driving test now app. Twice brought my tests forward within a couple of days. You can set it to auto book. I got a refund on testi it was awful

Yellowishes · 27/03/2023 07:00

ImAGoodPerson · 27/03/2023 06:54

I got in the queue at 5.57 then refreshed at 6am, got a test for August, i was 32nd in the queue and it took a few seconds. We are a very populated city so possibly just a bit if luck. There were 2 tests for this week but he's not ready yet to do it so soon.

I will get the testi app now.

Show quote history

This morning I was in the queue at 5:58 and was number >4900! I was allowed in at 6:15 and nothing left within 50 miles.
You can't be describing your experience this morning, right?! I live in an urban area too, about 30 miles from London.

Another post has said this is a serious problem in the London area, so I'm assuming you're up north?

Original poster
ImAGoodPerson · 27/03/2023 07:07

Yellowishes · 27/03/2023 07:00

This morning I was in the queue at 5:58 and was number >4900! I was allowed in at 6:15 and nothing left within 50 miles.
You can't be describing your experience this morning, right?! I live in an urban area too, about 30 miles from London.

Another post has said this is a serious problem in the London area, so I'm assuming you're up north?

Show quote history

I'm southern city but not London, this was this morning. Small city but densely populated. Must have been sheer luck.

So strange you were so far down the queue, it makes no sense at all. Dead on 6am I refreshed as it went blank and I was still 32nd in the queue and it almost immediately let me in. Obv this was before putting in test centre info.

OP posts:
Original poster
ImAGoodPerson · 27/03/2023 07:07

MymateDave · 27/03/2023 06:58

I downloaded the driving test now app. Twice brought my tests forward within a couple of days. You can set it to auto book. I got a refund on testi it was awful

Thank you, I will look at that one also

OP posts:
Yellowishes · 27/03/2023 07:28

ImAGoodPerson · 27/03/2023 07:07

I'm southern city but not London, this was this morning. Small city but densely populated. Must have been sheer luck.

So strange you were so far down the queue, it makes no sense at all. Dead on 6am I refreshed as it went blank and I was still 32nd in the queue and it almost immediately let me in. Obv this was before putting in test centre info.

Show quote history

I wish this made at least a tiny bit of sense.

Original poster
ImAGoodPerson · 27/03/2023 07:33

Yellowishes · 27/03/2023 07:28

I wish this made at least a tiny bit of sense.

Show quote history

Its crazy isn't it. It's not even the test centre you're trying is it as you don't put that in till after you're on the website. Could you clear the cookies/cache for that site and see if that works. I can message you the test centre I used also, its a bit further than 50 miles away though.

As others have said though, it doesn't matter what test centre you book as you can use the cancellations apps but obviously I'd be panicking nothing came up closer by.

OP posts:
PickledPurplePickle · 27/03/2023 07:34

The system is still hugely backlogged from covid

The instructors who people are paying £40. - £80 to get tests are just using the apps too, I’m sure - to book cancellations

Nice little earner for them

BrainOnFire · 27/03/2023 07:37

My DS is taking his test at a centre miles away from us, it was the only one that had any availability.

blebbleb · 27/03/2023 07:37

Book anywhere and use a cancellation app. I set up auto booking and blanked out the dates I couldn't do. The dates that are free go as soon as soon as you get the notification so you won't get them unless you auto book.

Oblomov23 · 27/03/2023 07:42

Book anywhere and then use one if the £25 app's. Not ide

Oblomov23 · 27/03/2023 07:42

Not ideal but needs must.