AIBU to ask why my son can't book a driving test?

[SpanThatWorld]

My son is 18 and has just started an apprenticeship. He needs to be able to drive and has completed a course of lessons.

We've just tried to book a test. There are literally no tests available at any centre within 50 miles. We live in London so this a lot of test centres.

AIBU to ask WTF is going on?

Do you mean the Theory test because he has to do that first? When DD did hers we booked a test in Norfolk (we're in London) and then could apply for cancellations. She got one in London.

Get one anywhere for anytime then look for cancellations

Apparently there's widespread bulk booking by 3rd parties, who then sell the test appointments on at a price. Maybe something that the government should do something about!

Guardian article

You can sign up with an app to check for cancellations in your area and they send you an alert. We got one earlier that way.

The system is completely broken. I can’t believe that not more is being said about this. I have had the same for my DD and if we do manage to get a test they are all miles away and that just isn’t practical. It’s ridiculous :(

Monday 6am is your way to go.
Good luck.

I have just been through this pain.
Book any test anywhere and then use 'Testi' (yes really!) to let you know when cancellations come up at your chosen test centres.
You have to act pretty quickly when they do come up but this way you can book an earlier test.

New tests for each week get released at 6am on Monday mornings. Set your alarm, get one booked. But you have to be quick, don't stop to dither about what time would be better. When I did it for DD, I was only looking at 1 test centre, but they were all gone by 6.03am. Once you have a test booked, you can then sign up for cancellations to try and get an earlier one.

We had similar with DD recently. We booked the closest available test which was about 200 miles away, then paid £17.99 for the Driving Test Now app, which constantly checks for closer tests. We got one at the centre we wanted within a few days.

And there will be patterns. Friday lunchtime was the best time for the centre near us

6am Monday. Marvellous. Thank you for the tips.

The system is indeed ridiculous

We used Driving Test Now app. It puts a lot of pressure on new drivers to pass their test. My ds took his first test in March, second in October and third the next June. This was with using an app to find cancellations. Because he wanted the same test centre it took ages to find cancellations it's probably easier if you can be flexible with locations.

OP, book a tentative test center like Ipswich which has loads of dates for Feb '25. You can then change should a cancellation come up or he can give it a go there if he likes supposedly a center with a high pass rate.

@SpanThatWorld I dont understand how third parties can buy block booking tests when you need to provide your driving licence number to book a test in the first place! can someone tell me how they manage it??

@SpanThatWorld what area are you in? is he willing to travel? parts of scotland are only 6 week wait!

I’ve booked mine 6 months in advance - literally the only slot I could get.

it’s a joke. Worried that if I fail I will be forced to wait another 6 months

London

I think Scotland might be pushing it a bit

This is a fine question 🤔

We're going through this too with my DD. She failed her test in July and pretty much straight away, tried to rebook and she's got January! I mean wtf?!!!
She hasn't had any luck with the Monday morning 6am malarkey. Still nothing earlier. She's now downloaded the Testi app to be notified of cancellations.
Our local BBC radio covered this a few weeks ago and apparently, brokers are using Bots to buy up lots of tests. There's clearly a loophole in the system somewhere for them to be able to do this but I haven't heard that the government are doing anything about it. It's so annoying!
I've also heard that these 'Bots/brokers' then sell the tests on for very inflated prices. Of course some people will go down that route and therefore, the cycle continues. It's maddening!

His instructor knows people who can get him a test - for a fee.

It really is outrageous

I had to use the Testi app to get a test in my local centre, and even that was a 6 month wait. Otherwise the nearest test was 120
miles away.

*His instructor knows people who can get him a test - for a fee.

It really is outrageous*

It really is! Something should be done to stop these corrupt bastards

Ds has had two tests within the space of a month (failed on silly mistakes). He is learning with a school that does intensive courses. They are in and out of the system all the time and get cancellations easier than we can. They are going to book his third one on our behalf, and the test fee will be normal price.