How on earth do people get driving tests??

[2468KMNP]

D has been trying to book for weeks now - on her laptop at 6am Mondays but there are never any.

The only option seems to be to pay over the odds to a company that scoops them all up, her driving instructor actually told her this was the best way to get one. They cost about £250😧

Is this what everyone has to do now to get a test? Seems outrageous to me!

Any tips on what to do very welcome 😁

there is an app that informs you, in advance, of upcoming cancellation slots

Do not pay these scalpers, it just makes the situation worse. I'd also seriously question the professionalism of your daughter's driving instructor if he is saying this to her. My instructor would never entertain having a pupil pay that much for a test.

Use this free chrome extension https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnerDriverUK/s/kdCStxWQb2 I've moved the same test back 4 times using this and managed to find one within 2/3 weeks every time. It just requires some patience, you have the extension running automatic searches from the list of test centres page, on a separate computer while watching TV/working/etc. Pay attention to all the instructions, especially on how to get back in once you get an Error 15 IP block from DVSA. It's easy and it works - it has only taken me up to 5/6 hrs of running it in the background to find a test, and sometimes I find one in less than 2 hours.

I used both Testi and Driving Test Now apps and they never found me a cancellation, but this method did.

When you get locked out, I suggest clearing all data like they say, closing the browser & then switching between mobile hotspot on your phone and your WiFi. That let me get back in every time.

It's ridiculous. There needs to be a new IT system overhaul where tests are only booked online using your provisional licence number, which has to be produced at the time of the test. The same number cannot be used to book more tests, and the slots can be cancelled if needed, and then those slots made available.

@andHelenknowsimmiserablenow You do need your provisional license number to book the test, and it does need to be produced at the time of your test.

The problem is of course the backlog from covid and lack of examiner capacity, but another issue is the block booking service for instructors - which is misused and loads of tests are held, traded and sold. Pupils who are nowhere test ready have their license used by an unscrupulous instructor or others to book tests and then swap them around.

The DVSA are doing a consultation currently on how to improve the driving test wait time situation, but one of the things they could do to improve things is shut that instructor booking service down completely. There's no need for an instructor to book a test for a pupil, they can do it themselves and check their instructor's availability.

I've heard of ppl swapping tests , via fb iirc. Maybe a fb page dedicated to this.

Dd - failed twice and has another in Feb. She goes on on Monday at 6. She can usually get one 5/6 months away, then logs on at random times and has managed to get cancellations. It is so bloody hard because she is on training placements all over the place and has to have a specific day, or outside work hours if placement is close to home.

Is she waiting just before 6am and ready to click the button the second it clicks 6am? Then you have to be fast working through the pages. I got DS's first time that way, it was 6 months away but better than nothing.
I know some areas seem to be wiped out though. It's very tough.

It obviously depends on the area but I used the testi app and found tests fairly easily.

It’s a free app but I paid about a tenner for the premium version.

With the app you need to book a driving test first on the dvsa website. Book a test at any driving centre where you can find one, even if you have no intention of travelling to that test centre.

Then you enter your details and select your preferred driving test centre on the app, and it will show you slots for that and you obviously book one of them.

Thanks all for the advice

I have passed on your tip @beezlebubnicky thank you!

Yes she has the Testi app and pre fills in the pages before clicking at 6am, still nothing anywhere.

Another vote for this, DP managed to get one today after booking it 2 weeks ago! Should add he literally had to have a second laptop with it running constantly, all day everyday for about 10 days.

Spoke to an instructor and it seems that the problem is that instructors are allowed to change the name on the tests (everyone else can only change the test itself). This means that there are dodgy instructors getting the slots and selling them.

Also there are just more people that want them than tests available, they are hiring more examiners now.

Book a test for a long time in the future, it may be at a location other than where you live
Then use Testi to track the location you want your test at. You get notifications when one becomes available.
Have your theory test pass number ready. Or even better, be signed in to DVSA already.
However these go quickly so do check Testi at random points as well.

I did all this and got the preferred driving test within a week of trying, for a hugely oversubscribed test centre.

Is she trying via the .gov.uk website?

Ah that’s annoying your daughter can’t find tests via testi. I guess it depends on the area.

I think it’s shocking that instructors actually recommend that their learners buy from one of the test companies that charge 3/4 times as much as the normal test. I had one now former instructor do that. He actually gave me the contact number to get a “test quicker” without telling me how much it would cost so I got a bit of a shock to find out it was going to be over £200.

Since I’ve already done a lot of hours but have had a gap in learning since the summer, I ended up booking an intensive course for February as a refresh and they’ve found me a test as part of that.

Slightly off topic but I think learner drivers are being fleeced in general nowadays. Lessons are often over £40 an hour than if you can’t find a test when you’re ready you may need to take more lessons to maintain the progress. and it’s hard to get a decent instructor despite the prices they’re charging.