To be livid at the Govs lack of action over the shambles around driving tests

[WynterQueen]

longer than expected

DS passed his theory test, and we booked his practical test. The first test was five months away at a random location, and I watched DVSA like a hawk to get a change to our preferred centre; the date was about the same.

In desperation, as he was nearer to ready to take a test, I used a black market site to get a change and nearly lost my money. These sites will only let you pay via PayPal and using friends and family, so there is no buyer protection. I refused, used goods and services and they wouldn't deal with me. Paypal paid me back after 28 days.

I tried another site and got a change, in my preferred centre for 6 weeks earlier. Cost £120 + £62 original test cost.

He failed, not through a lack of lessons, just an idiot van driver ... anyway he failed. That's life, only 47% pass first time. The odds were against him that morning.

I rebooked on DVSA. The first test anywhere in the country wasi halfway up the country in mid-April 2025. I took it.

Now I'm back on the black market again, the 'safe' place I used before has nothing until early March.

I found another site, but again, they will only accept payments from friends and family (no buyer protection). I am now sitting here with bated breath to see if I have been scammed out of another £122. I have 20 mins before I know

Anyway, my AIBU is, why are the Government doing nothing about this? Why can't they go back to the system of one learner who can book one test at a time and stop the bot's bulk buying tests using the Driving Instructor system bypass?

The place I have just used has offered me four different PayPal addresses and a bank account, all in different names. I hold little hope they are genuine. Particularly las they kept calling me Ma'am. WTF. Nobody in the UK addresses me like that.

Perhaps we need an MN list of black market sites with which we have had genuine transactions to help others feel more secure when working on the underbelly of the driving test market to get our children's tests.

Your are NOT BU
The Gov need to act

You are BU
Its a free market let scammers make money

I logged on with my teenage babysitter to see what she's up against, out of curiosity. No test available until the 61st nearest test centre, and that test is not until May.
It's bonkers.
We did find one at a centre 2 hours away next week, but it was gone by the time we clicked on it.

This just hasn't been our experience at all. We must be very lucky. DS booked 4 weeks in advance and there was lots of availability. We are North West England.

but that doesn’t get people the tests they need, when they need them - how does that solve the problem of not being able to get a test?

It stops the secondary selling sites from buying up test dates in bulk or whatever they're doing.

But there still aren’t enough tests. That’s why the situation with the black market arose.

The problem needs to be fixed at its root, which is quite simply that there aren’t enough tests/test centres/examiners.

Lots of people who are not directly involved in trying to get tests for their children have no idea of the current situation. I'm not interested in how you booked your test years ago; it simply isn't relevant to the conversation.

Since ADIs have been able to book tests, a black market has sprung up. to blaming ADIs, many have set themselves up to profit from this new market.

Then along come the scammers; they advertise fake tests, ask for details and money and then block you. You have no idea who is genuine and who is fake. Both are taking £120 on top of the test cost.

It's nearly impossible to get a test unless it's booked 24 weeks in advance and you don't care which test centre. If you fail your first test and don't need another 24 weeks of lessons before another attempt, you are in trouble. the Gov allows a retry after ten working days, but the market doesn't.

Rather than booking through a site profiting scammers, use an ADI then. Have a couple of lessons, get the test booked when ready and job done.

Both DD and DS passed this summer with a test within 4 weeks of being ready to book.

In Northern Ireland, our MOT tests are done at the same centre driving tests start from. By the time we receive a reminder to book our annual test, it’s too late as the first available tests to book are 6 months out. You can keep trying for cancellations, but there is no incentive to really as you won’t get prosecuted for no MOT as long as your test is booked as long as your tax doesn’t expire before you pass, and the test is valid for 12 months from the test date, so you’re basically getting some free months. No action has been taken over that either.

At least you only have to do the driving test once. I know if I was doing it now, I would book the practical test after passing the theory though.

When did you take your test? I did mine 8 years ago (twice, failed my first) and both were available within weeks.

It wasn't actually - before covid it was about 6 weeks at most.

A lot of people fail a test because they are nervous, not because they aren't capable, so they just need to have another go.

It will push independent driving instructors out of business. I chose to use an independent instructor to support small businesses. Are you suggesting I taught my DC to drive myself? I certainly did not. Perhaps I should have engaged the services of a big company that pays their instructors less with no guarantee of the same instructor each week just to secure a test

Absolutely this .Stop going on dodgy sites

Are you suggesting I taught my DC to drive myself?

literally nowhere did I suggest anything of the sort.

My DC used a small, independent one man band so no, you don't need to use a a big company that pays their instructors less with no guarantee of the same instructor each week just to secure a test. Stop making shit up that I never said.

Great News. This link allows those affected by the great driving test rip off to tell the Gov what is happening. Perfect for anyone affected by the current chaos.

Tell The Gov

Thanks OP. Bumping for the morning crowd.

I had the same issue with booking my son's test 3 years ago - I guess it's not changed.
You are being unreasonable expecting a government who inherited this shambles to have resolved it in 6 months!
Write to your MP.

Ah good! Just saw your update!

Slough is the worst test site for trying to get test full of scammers and profiteers

I don't live in the UK and people have to book a long way in advance to take tests here, and often have to go out of their region, so it's not just a UK thing.

No-one forced you to go onto dodgy sites OP, you've only yourself to blame.

I thought I saw something in Parliament about this and looked it up- the govt announced earlier this week the steps they are taking to address this problem. For those interested in the detail here's the link to the Ministerial statement-
hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-12-18/debates/24121844000022/PracticalDrivingTestWaitingTimes

This might be of interest too: DVSA sets out plan to reduce driving test waiting times - GOV.UK

I took my test about 17 years ago, instructor booked mine too, failed the first time and booked another 2 weeks later and passed. People are waiting months if they fail now it's madness.

Of all the things the government needs to sort I imagine this is a very long way down the list 😂

Can you not book your test until you have passed the theory? I know way back when I took mine, (30+ years ago), there were months long waits, but you could book before you started learning - I booked my test before I turned 17!

No. And you can't book back up tests im case you fail either.

You can take your theory from your 17th birthday but can't book the practical until that is passed.