No driving tests AT ALL

[mondaytosunday]

hi I must be doing something wrong. My DD is learning to drive and I was looking to book her a test for September. No joy at our nearest centre (we are in London) so looked at the next nearest four. Then the next then the next. Ok so looked at where she’s at uni for October (up north). Nope. Nothing there in the four or five test centres. So I checked November (DVLA website says you can only book up to 24 weeks in advance). Nothing at any centre anywhere in the next 24 weeks! Surely this can’t be right? I’ve even checked the Isle of Wight!
The company she’s learning through says it’s our responsibility to book it. The only thing I’ve left off the form is her instructor number as that’s optional (and I don’t know what it it). I googled it and it says normal wait is 12-16 weeks for a test so I can’t understand why I’m getting no availability at all. Help! Edited to add she passed her theory last summer so still valid.

I signed up to 2 different apps that find the tests for you, one is called Testi and the other was called Test Cancellations I think. Cost me about £50 for both apps but we were offered an abundance of test dates through them despite not being able to find anything without having the apps!

As PP said, I logged into DVLA at 5.30am on the Monday morning, booked a test for November and then paid for the Testi app and managed to get a cancellation for the following Monday. You've got to be fast with it though, whenever a cancellation comes through click and just keep trying
Good luck x

Apparently the driving tests are being bought by bots and sold on for profit

I have the Testi app but have had no luck! I literally respond immediately when I get a notification but have never been successful. How are you all doing it? I have an extension set up on my phone so all the details are pre saved. Any tips?

New tests are released at 6am on a Monday, I would recommend logging on 10/15 mins before, get whatever test is available and then using the testi app and keep looking for cancellations. I failed my test mid May and managed to get a new test 2 weeks after which surprised my instructor

Bots and apps block book them and resell them on the black market

My son has had his test, early July, booked since mid January. It's just the way it is atm, unless you're prepared to pay a premium to get a test next week. I know several people who have paid a premium.

My son passed his test last week. He passed his theory in February. The Monday after her passed his theory I logged onto the government website at 5.50am and got in the queue for the new tests to be released. I managed to get a test at one of the local test centres, but not our preferred one for mid August. I then got the test shift app and paid for the premium where it auto books a cancellation in the dates and test centre you specify. Within 24 hours we had the date move forward 2 months to last week at our preferred centre.

Whatever you do, don't use Testi. My son used it fine 4 months ago but his girlfriend had her account blocked by DVSA for using it.

Are you all using your own car for the test then? I thought the instructor booked because the test is usually taken in their car and only they know their availability.

We are having to travel 3 hours for my son’s test. There are absolutely no tests at our local centre, he booked in March and even using two test shift apps (!) can’t get it closer. The original test he booked was in a city he doesn’t know, and the app has found him one elsewhere, but still 3 hours drive away. Unfortunately our centre has a high pass rate so everyone is booking it. I dread him failing it, as trying to get another one will be so stressful! He is more than ready to pass now, but hope the nerves don’t get him.

You have to call the booking number at 6am on a Monday morning and be prepared to wait in a long queue (I was nearly 19000 in the queue when I phoned). The waiting list was nearly 6 months but DS got one of those apps and managed to get a very last minute cancellation. It's a nightmare and it seems to be right across the UK.

There is a National backlog of hundreds of thousands of tests. They just brought in new rules as well. I suggest googling.

They get released 7am on a Monday morning you have to be online then

No?!! Everyone I know has had cars and lessons as soon as they've turned 17! Public transport is appalling, and train fares are ridiculous so as soon as they can drive they are

a shortage of driving examiners I think plus they keep striking

Only way I managed to get one was through the Testi app.. booked one somewhere random (anywhere that was showing availability) and then waited till a cancellation came up in my preferred centre. Worked out great 👍🏻

We are in Sheffield and waited 6 months for a test date . Cost me a fortune in extra lessons but she did pass first time. I agree with pp who say switch to an instructor who books for you. They will be in touch with other instructors who can liaise when tests are cancelled

Partly examiner shortage as others mention. The starting salary is similar to new nurses and teachers. But remember that while most teachers and nurses will start pretty early in life (thus with typically lower salary expectations - regardless of what you think of the actual salaries), examiners are typically mid working life with different salary requirements.

Also, regardless of what you're thoughts on immigration are, we have increased the population by 3 million or so in 5 years. The majority of whom are adults, many already driving in their countries of origin. Guess what they want to do when they arrive here?

Round us there is a shortage of examiners, plus according to the local driving instructors a lot of the examiners have holidays booked so are on AL (especially between now and October). Its causing a backlog in the driving instructors availability as students ready for tests now cannot get a test and so are not stopping lessons so new students can't start. Its going to get interesting in the next few years as the big birthrate years come up to driving age.

DIL had her test booked for her by her instructor after her second lesson. Started lessons in October, passed 21st May.

In my area I understand from other frustrated parents that tests aren’t available until 2027!!! So they are looking in the towns where grandparents live etc and travelling out of country for sooner tests. It’s ridiculous.

Testi and the other app were not accepting new registrations when I checked last week. THAT is how bad it’s gotten.

DS passed his theory this week, he was 17 a fortnight ago and has had 2 lessons so far. As soon as he'd passed his theory we tried to book a test, he is our third child to learn and we had a total nightmare with the other two as well, more so with the oldest who was 17 in March 2020 and even getting a theory for him in Scotland at the time was awful.

We managed to get a slot on 27th November, nowhere near where we live, but once you have as slot booked you can swap.

This - and the fact that driving examining is pretty poorly paid when you consider that with the same qualifications you could earn more teaching people.