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.

@reversegearyes she has her theory. I’ve downloaded testi app but don’t see auto move? They are sending me notifications only.

I still don't understand how this can be when you have to put a driving licence number and theory test certificate in to book one.

Driving instructors know about the 6am thing and will be telling their pupils. You say she’s learning through a company, they will have told her not you, since they’d assume if you’re old enough to drive, you’re old enough not to need Mummy to book a test for you.

Harsh but true! That's what I always take from these threads. Can't believe how many people baby their children nowadays. Same with all the university threads with parents asking loads of questions their children should be looking into themselves. Would never have happened years ago.

My DS booked his own test, which is soon, if he fails and needs another one he'll do the initial booking again but it will probably be me with the Testi app purely because I work in an environment where I can respond to alerts instantly and he doesn't. Sometimes you just have to help each other out.

Exactly this. Fortunately DS passed his test recently, but if not I would have had the app as I can respond to it more often through the day than DS. Nothing about babying tyem, despite what some MNetters might want to believe, and everything to do with practicalities.

Really @Gingertam @CloverPyramid? Of course she’s old enough to book the test herself, but you know I have the time and she is still working hard at uni, so I decided that I would help her out, plus I’m paying for the test. She hasn’t actually started with her lessons, so no one has told her anything. And as there’s a six month wait it seems one should book as soon as they pass their theory before taking any lessons anyway. I asked for others experience and advice, and that’s what I got, thanks to those who don’t feel the need to pass judgement on situations they know nothing about.
I certainly don’t baby her, but if I feel I can do a bit of annoying admin while she’s busy elsewhere I see no issue with that.
And do you not think it’s a very sensible idea that the test booking website should say at the start: to get latest available slots we advise you apply at 6am Mondays when we release the next dates??? Why make it harder? Why waste people’s time?
So thank you both for bringing what was a useful thread to an unnecessarily mean spirited conclusion.

yes - my thoughts too- why am i booking!? especially when in my stressful state while in the queue this morning I snapped at dd and was called bad-tempered
i was particularly bad tempered when i realised i would have to pay for it,
i just happened to be available at 6 am whereas dd was travelling to work, on the bus
its done now

OP, this is being discussed on You and Yours with Winifred Robinson on Radio 4 right at this moment. Sorry, I'm rushing out, or I'd try and link to it.
All the best!

dd's driving instructor changes the book for her, i have booked it in a different location and far into the future, however she is confident her instructor will sort it

Does the driving instructor drive you back home after the test?

It's been so long I can't remember 🫣

i should imagine so, if you are learning in the instructors car and taking the test in their car

Yes - both mine were driven home (as was I 40 years ago!).
Don't know if it's something to do with insurance, or whether instructors think just passed students will be too excited and do something stupid 😆

Yes because if you've passed then you're no longer a learner on their insurance. If you fail, obviously it just gets you home quicker.

The driving instructors are buying them all up and selling on for ridiculous profit😡

how can the instructors be selling them? you dont buy them from the instructors

Have a read of this.

https://news.sky.com/story/its-become-almost-impossible-to-book-a-driving-test-instructors-say-13339039

That’s why there are no tests as all these 3rd party apps use them all up! The government said they will crack down on this issue.

A few years ago, I just religiously sat on the official DVLA website until I got a test for my son.

The government published their plans for how they’re going to improve the service last December and ended it by saying “The actions being taken will help DVSA to provide 1.95 million car driving tests between April 2024 and March 2025 and to reduce the waiting time to 7 weeks by December 2025”.

I don’t think it’s going to plan though as wait times seem to be increasing.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dvsa-sets-out-plan-to-reduce-driving-test-waiting-times?utm_source=dvsa&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=reducing-driving-test-waiting-times&utm_content=driving-test-candidate

They have definitely changed the process in the last year, there is a captcha to complete and other things to try to stop bots.

If students pass their test the learners insurance is invalid hence why the instructor drives them home. If they fail, the student will normally drive home.