The driving test booking system is an utter shambles isn't it?

[shrinkwrappt]

DS has been learning to drive for nearly a year and failed his driving test for the second time yesterday. The examiner told him he's a good driver, but he made one mistake that she couldn't overlook, so that's fair enough. He had been lucky to get that test slot - it was a cancellation from his instructor, and the first offered since his previous test in January (when he also failed for a single mistake, ironically one which stopped being a mistake when the Highway Code changed a week later). So he has been unlucky, and hopefully will pass next time. But next time is potentially a long way off. The only test he was able to book when we looked today is in mid-September, and 300 miles away near his grandparents house. So, fingers are crossed for an earlier cancellation closer to home. We were already signed up for the Testi app, which gives cancellation alerts, but found it useless - too many people chasing too few cancellations. Today I tried the DrivingTestCancellations4All app but they're so swamped that they have a waiting list. The DVSA really need to add capacity to the testing system, or their backlog will never be cleared.

They will blame covid - they always do. Thing is that once you have passed your test you dont need to do it again.

Its a government dept. They will use all sorts of excuses as to why people are waiting so long.

Thing is that once you have passed your test you dont need to do it again

If you don't pass the practical within 2 years of the theory test, you have to do the theory test again. That seems unfair, because - if you do pass you never have to think about theory ever again which suggests it's not something which really needs to be repeatedly tested in order to drive safely.

DS was 17 in November 2020. In retrospect would have made him attempt his theory sooner but he did it in May and then we started the booking a practical test game. Started with one in December a distance away and then managed to get one at local test centre for November then paid for an app (think Testi) and got one for September. He failed that one - managed to get one for October again using an app. He failed again. Got one for 1st December in the end and hooray he passed!

DD is 17 in September. She intends to take her theory test sooner

I used www.drivingtestgenie.co.uk when DD failed first time. I re-booked originally for 1st August but within a week of having the App got offered 21st March. You get notified of a date and then just text ‘book’ within 10 minutes if you want it. They hold it for you for that 10 minute slot but if you don’t want the date you just keep the original booking. I highly recommend it.

Oh, she passed second time btw 😀

@Franklin12

They will blame covid - they always do. Thing is that once you have passed your test you dont need to do it again.

Its a government dept. They will use all sorts of excuses as to why people are waiting so long.

But you need to pass your practical within two years of passing your theory or you need to re-do your theory test.

It is a nightmare. DD is ready for her test, she drives around everywhere in her car with me, and has had several lessons, but can't get a test locally until August.

I've booked one miles away in June.

The cancellation booking system is now so saturated with apps that it has ground to a halt. I'm on a waiting list for one app, and another app would only take my money for a different test centre.

There are still thousands and thousands of 18 and 19 year olds trying to get their tests. Like previous posters DD had had so many lessons, over the last two years. Stopping for lockdown, re-starting. Cancellations due to Covid, both at the test centre, and her instructor getting Covid. Then she went to Uni. She is only doing her first test next week. I hope she passes. We have spent so much on lessons, and is getting desperate to pass, especially as she now sees so many 17/18 years joining the queue (and passing tests).

Some children are so lucky to be able to have lessons at 17 and then test booked soon after. (Judging from this thread)

I think adult drivers should be prioritised for tests. They are more likely to have responsibilities and be paying for their own lessons too.

Drivers aged 17 who are being funded by parents probably have a car to practice in aswell.

I think examiners are harsher than they used to be. Ad I said earlier, DS failed his first test for a fault that stopped being a fault just a week later when the Highway Code changed, and he failed the second test because the examiner told him to take the next right, at a forked junction, so the next right was actually no entry (ok, so he should have seen the no-entry sign earlier and driven confidently on to the next-next right, but he was in "I must obey" mode until the examiner intervened to stop him turning). I bet she catches a lot of people out at the same junction.

@Rainbowx

I had to get up 6am on a Monday to get in first spent 2 hours refreshing booked one,a bit too far then went straight back on it to change place another 30 mins of refreshing got one for my son,July in our local centre. knackered me but worth it!

Why didn't your son do this himself? Surely he's not responsible enough to drive if he can't be bothered to do this?

These all sound like nightmares, it must be regional. We are in Scotland and ds and his friends have not had too much of a delay.

@CharityShopChic have you tried the Ayrshire test centers? They are less than an hours drive from Glasgow, but probably very different road types and routes than he has experience on.

ds(18) turned 17 last February. Started lessons when lockdown lifted in April. Had theory in July. It was a bit of a pain to get a theory test date, took a couple of weeks of constant trying. Booked test in July as soon as theory passed and got slot in November which was perfect timing after 27 lessons.

He was first of his co-hort to turn 17. The rest of them have worked through lessons and tests in similar timescales. One took 3 goes to pass and there was only 2-4 weeks between attempts before he passed in February.

Still, some of them have lost their licenses/written off cars quicker than it took them to get them! Thankfully noone seriously hurt and ds is very sensible in his!

Totally agree. Grandson's test in December was cancelled as he arrived for it as it was TOO DARK! Who'd have thought, dark in Yorkshire in November at 4 pm! Next one cancelled day before due to Covid, fine, rebooking a nightmare. He used one of the apps that search out cancellations, finally passed 3 months after the 'too dark' test.

@shrinkwrappt

I think examiners are harsher than they used to be. Ad I said earlier, DS failed his first test for a fault that stopped being a fault just a week later when the Highway Code changed, and he failed the second test because the examiner told him to take the next right, at a forked junction, so the next right was actually no entry (ok, so he should have seen the no-entry sign earlier and driven confidently on to the next-next right, but he was in "I must obey" mode until the examiner intervened to stop him turning). I bet she catches a lot of people out at the same junction.

I don't think it is catching people out expecting them to notice "no entry" signs. Presumably the whole time your son was learning to drive the Highway Code was the same, so why is the fact it changed a week later relevant?

Tildo,because of a private reason not anyone's business on here,and I'm a fantastic mum who helps her son.

The DVLA is a waste of space like so much of the public sector most of their staff were sat at home on full pay doing no work during lockdown.

@Rainbowx

Tildo,because of a private reason not anyone's business on here,and I'm a fantastic mum who helps her son.

You dont need to explain yourself @Rainbowx, there is always one that comes on the with boring repeatitive critical comment to make you feel inferior without knowing the context and has fuck all to do with the actual thread. Best ignoredl

I spent the time refreshing the booking site for ds too. No particular reason, he was upstairs concentrating on studying, or getting sleep in the run up to exams, and it was no bother for me to do it while watching tv, even got a couple of his friends slots while refreshing for an earlier one for ds. We are a team, I help him out with some things and he helps me out with some things and it works well.

I used test geni it reserves the test for 10 mins to give you time to accept via text .

Blanketpolicy
Thank you I appreciate that! Yes exactly a team x

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@Rainbowx
I did my sons too. , I had time he didn't

@brainhurts ah fantastic !

@Rainbowx me too... I'm the tenacious one in the family, DS is naturally laid back, like his lovely dad, and definitely doesn't need any more distractions from his A Level revision.