To consider flying to Scotland from London just for a driving test!!

[Wouldbedriver]

I’ve had 40 hours of driving lessons so far and passed the theory.

I don’t want to pay for any more lessons without a practical test in sight.

There are no tests available for any date here in the SE.

My instructor says booking one in a distant location, then swapping it for one that’s cancelled at an SE centre, doesn’t work any more. Because nobody’s cancelling a test around here as they’re so hard to get hold of. And bots are instantly hoovering up any new tests that may be released on a Monday morning.

So AIBU to think I should instead just fly up to Scotland and take a test up there? Obviously I wouldn’t know the roads but driving is driving, right? And there are plenty of tests available up there. Maybe make a holiday of it.

Or does my instructor need to be in the back of the car during the test?

The bots must be really annoying.

Surely it can't be too hard to set up a system where you can only book a test if you have a Booking code. And you can only get that code if you've passed your theory test and it's only valid for say 6 months to a year. You have to get a new code if you want to book a new one and your old code's expired.

Ideally you need to have bought a car first and have someone to accompany you.

I think that is the current system but the bot sites are harvesting the codes?

Cettainly when I try to book a test I have to enter my provisional license number.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Tests are available there at the end of February and all through March. Looks like 2 hrs 45min from London.

Do you get a booking code?
Surely there must be an effective way so you pass the theory test, get a code and then that code can only be used with that driving license and code to book a test and must be shown when you take the test.

Bots can't take driving tests. Yet.

Thanks I didn’t realise this. I don’t plan to buy a car but I could get added to a family member’s car insurance. Then they could drive us to the test centre (across the country!) and I’d take the test in their car. It doesn’t matter that it doesn’t have dual controls.

So I wouldn’t need to take any lessons with a local instructor. Would probably need to both stay overnight in a hotel though as it’d be a long drive.

Will float the idea to family member :)

No, people in Scotland also want to sit their driving tests. Get a place in your own area or close to it.
Also, you have to do the Haggis identification test as part of the practical in Scotland. You must also celebrate or commiserate post test with a roll on square sausage, fried tattie scone and runny egg, washed down with a bottle of Red Kola.

I’ve passed my theory test. The code that you enter when you try to book the practical test is just your provisional license number.

The system checks to make sure you’ve passed your theory before it shows you any available dates (or more likely, that there are no available dates).

We have cars in Scotland.

Hah! That test sounds like something I’d enjoy.

There just aren’t any tests available at all at any date in the next 5-6 months in London or the SE. The system has collapsed.

Presumably there's somewhere closer than Inverness though.

They are trying to ban them, but government old
IT makes it difficult to keep up with these apps

Interesting post from the Goverment

How we’re dealing with bots and the reselling of driving tests – Despatch for driver and rider trainers

And the comments are looking at the system instructors use to book tests and how it's exploited.

You should do at least some of the driving on the way there, it would be superb practice.

No, between London and Inverness there’s nothing but dragons!

I went to Dornoch once, so that’s maybe why I’m thinking it’d be a nice place for a combined driving test and holiday :)

I’m well aware there are cars in Scotland! I just have personal experience of the struggle of booking a driving test without an instructors car and also how difficult it is to book lessons with an instructor in some places!!

You don't need to buy a car to take a driving test anywhere, not sure what that PP means. Surely most people don't own a car when they take their test

They need a car to take a test and it very, very unlikely any instructor will let her use their car without having taken lessons with them. Also unlikely their vehicles would be available for the test at short notice.

@Wouldbedriver There is a list on the Gov website that tells you everything you need to do to use your own (borrowed) vehicle to sit your driving test. Including making sure the insurance company will cover it for a driving test. Failure to comply with any of them will result in your test being cancelled (no refund) so make sure you have triple checked before travelling to Inverness. You will need a cover note from insurance stating the clause btw or know where it is on policy.

Hiring a dual control car might be easier (in terms of meeting all the maintenance requirements) but again you would need to confirm that they would cover insurance for a driving test, which they may not.

I'm pretty sure the OP knows you need a car to take a driving test 😂

But as others have pointed out you don't need to own it yourself, there are suggestions of borrowing from a friend or relative or hiring one or finding a local driving instructor .

My DD tried this.

We couldn't get a local test so went somewhere about 2 hours drive away.

She wasn't familiar with the local roads and it showed. She didn't pass.

We've just given up now. She's ready to do the test again but it's just impossible to get slots. We don't want to move to Inverness or somewhere for a month to get it either (she does need time to learn the local roads)

She didn’t, she thought it was provided by the centre. Hence the recommendations, second post in “To be honest I hadn’t even thought about what car I’d drive during the test. I actually thought the examiner provided the car! Ooops.”

Side issue, but I don’t understand how and why ‘bots’ would be taking up driving test spaces??

You know exactly what I meant.
Also, the A9 isn't the best of roads, even for experienced drivers.

Just pay the 15 quid for Testi or Driving Test Now and get a cancellation slot sooner somewhere local

ah, just read this, thanks!

Whoever is running the bots / selling at inflated prices should be criminalised! Ridiculous situation 😡