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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask is anyone else trying to book a f@@@ing driving test??

33 replies

Gameofbones · 28/06/2021 17:58

I’m using Testi the second I click on the test it’s gone. It’s driving me crazy!

Is there a different better app? Any tips? Advice?

OP posts:
mrsbyers · 28/06/2021 18:03

Can you set up for cancellation alerts ?

Original poster
Gameofbones · 28/06/2021 18:04

Done that. As they are coming through within a second or two I click already gone.

OP posts:
Todaytomorrowyesterday · 28/06/2021 18:06

I’m struggling to for my daughter :( they appear and disappear

CastawayQueen · 28/06/2021 18:07

There are several apps/websites OP and it’s not that expensive so you might as well get several.
I had both Testi and SpeedyTests.Booked my current suitable test with SpeedyTests - just had to reply to text message and they can even book immediately without having to ask if you authorise them. Testi has given me fuck all .
I’ve also seen drivingcancellations4u recommended.
Get 3 or 4.

finallyme2018 · 28/06/2021 18:07

Ones called Driving test cancellations now. You can get the app to book for you so you don't miss out.

CastawayQueen · 28/06/2021 18:08

*have not had

Original poster
Gameofbones · 28/06/2021 18:14

Ok will do!

OP posts:
Minfilia · 28/06/2021 18:48

Good luck!

My DS is 17 and 8 months…. Had his provisional from the first moment he could, but due to Covid all the local driving instructors are booked up and he’s on a waiting list.

The backlog must be horrific, I remember when I took my test 10 years ago centres were booked up 3 months in advance so it must be hideous now!

Todaytomorrowyesterday · 07/07/2021 14:25

Has anyone had any luck with booking a cancelled test?

What app are you using?

I have Testi - a couple come up & gone within seconds
I have used driving test now - paid - & they haven’t picked anything up :(
I’m sat on the government website refreshing regularly…

Daughter failed test a few weeks ago (bloody nerves) been test ready since November when her test was cancelled :(

GoWalkabout · 07/07/2021 14:32

I've just swapped yesterday from Testi (couldn't get them fast enough) to 'driving test cancellations 4 all' and they book it automatically for you - its found me the test centre I want and a date in December and just now it bought that forward 6 days. Its done the job for us, but you can reactivate each time for free so might still get a better one.

GoWalkabout · 07/07/2021 14:33

Don't get me started on how shit the system is that makes this necessary! Huge sympathy for them trying to clear the backlog but the booking system is painful!

PeteWicksSexyPirate · 07/07/2021 14:36

Use drivingtestcancancellations4all, upgrade to premium and put it on autobook! Everytime it moves your test forward reactive the auto booking so it keeps moving your test forward!
Good luck Smile

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 07/07/2021 14:42

I wonder if it’s as bad as in 1996 when they brought in the theory test Grin I was 17 and you couldn’t get a test for months for love nor money as everyone wanted to get theirs done first.

pastaislife · 07/07/2021 14:49

I've had luck with Testi, originally booked for Nov a while ago but managed to get a slot a few months sooner. In my area the ones that seem to come up are for next week for example, so could wait until you're ready then get a last minute slot?

Katshouldnotswim · 07/07/2021 14:51

What’s the average time to wait ?

Todaytomorrowyesterday · 07/07/2021 14:56

Dates come up for this week (2 or 3 available) but we seem to not be quick enough to book them.

I’m going to try the driving rest cancellations 4 All app.

Missc2001 · 07/07/2021 15:08

We used driving test now and it works. Notifies you immediately and also has option for auto booking. Had testi and notifications always too late. Got my money back from the app store.

MummytoCSJH · 07/07/2021 15:10

This is such a joke, I have been test ready since last year when I had my test booked for March 2020. They cancelled/rearranged it so many times my theory has now expired, by the time I've done that and book a practical it's going to be 2022. Had enough I really feel for everyone else in a similar boat.

Meme69 · 07/07/2021 15:23

This is such a terrible situation. My son passed his theory in Sept 2019 and so it runs out soon. He's had 5 tests cancelled in the past 16 months. His theory is going to run out if he doesn't pass his test (or it's cancelled) this month. The situation is outrageous, the government should extend the validity of the theory as its making it worse that people are having to resit them.

littledrummergirl · 07/07/2021 15:27

We've been using driving cancellations4all. So far it's found 2 dates in our local centre but ds2 couldn't reply fast enough. Since we've set it to automatically book (2 weeks ago), we've had nothing.
Ds is currently booked in a test centre in a town we've never been to in November. Fortunately we were able to get that slot as he was originally booked at a centre on the wrong side of Birmingham.

It's a shit situation for them to be in and ds2 has had a difficult start to driving.
He now has 1 year no claims bonus on his insurance as a learner driver as its taken so bloody long.
The government need to get their act together and sort it the fuck out.

Lachimolala · 07/07/2021 16:18

I managed to get a cancellation for November, I didn’t use any apps just randomly tried in the middle of the night and managed to get one.

I started my lessons in July 2020 and took my theory in august 2020. Ive only had 23 lessons though because of various lockdowns. My lesson today was a disaster and I’m really panicking that I won’t be test ready and will fail.

It’s a nightmare right now, I’m really hoping they extend the validity of the theory tests for people at the very least.

newnortherner111 · 07/07/2021 16:34

Perhaps accept there are long waits and try again in a few weeks?

Dobbyisahouseelf · 07/07/2021 16:56

There is a huge wait time for driving tests and not helped but a rubbish website. My DD took her theory last month, was meant to be in November.

I knew from friends that their DC weren't getting a driving test until October/November but I couldn't get any date for 2021. So frustrating! I inadvertently paid for the test and put put in 'on hold' which you are not meant to do. It took me 3 days of clicking on to various dates to re-arrange and I managed to get a cancellation for August, one very happy DD. I found logging on at 8am worked best. So not sure this is the best route though. Friends have used various cancellation apps but unless your Internet is great the cancellation has gone before you can act on it.

Allinprogress · 07/07/2021 17:16

Use drivingtestcancancellations4all, upgrade to premium and put it on autobook! Everytime it moves your test forward reactive the auto booking so it keeps moving your test forward!

This. My kid failed on 10 June, rebooked for 16 nov as earliest date then using this app and the auto book function, got a new date for 2 July within 24 hours of failing his first test. You need to have the auto book switched on. Also book literally anywhere in the country if you’d chosen test centre is showing no availability but set your test centre on the app to your chosen one only

LumpyandBumps · 07/07/2021 18:05

My DD unfortunately failed 2 tests ( no reason except maybe nerves, her driving instructor says she was ‘more than ready’.)
Re booking has been a nightmare. The first time we had to pay for a ‘hold” test and should have waited for DVSA to allocate when one was available.
I used an app called ‘Driving Test Now’, which cost about £17 ( a bit of a no brainer when each lesson is costing £50+).
They check available tests every 30 seconds or so.
At first they couldn’t re book the second one as it was just a ‘hold’ test, so I scoured the country for ANY available test date, and found one miles away. They were then able to get a local test for June.
On the third booking I couldn’t even get a ‘hold’ test, so again tried lots of other places ( Birmingham South had several), got one for December, and the app worked again and she now has one later this month.
The app costs one fee for as many times as you need to use it.
The only time it couldn’t help was when the local test centre put on an extra 6 tests on a Saturday. They couldn’t auto book as I hadn’t paid the Saturday premium. I haven’t found a way yet of including Saturday tests. I hope I don’t need to!