Driving Test unavailability

[wildfellhall]

AIBU to expect my son to be able to book a driving test?

I can't tell you how much of a grim time he had over Covid and after. He took tests in areas he didn't know and now, 2 theory tests later and he can't get a test in his local area. Now he's working full time it's even harder.

Why is the system so completely inadequate?

Is it true that people are booking tests to sell on? That can't be true surely?

My niece did an intensive course with a test at the end so I assume some companies are allowed to block book lessons?

How does this support a modern economy - it's baffling. Why can't the government intervene to improve the situation? We are so dependent on cars and public transport is inadequate. Is everyone who gets a test doing something which we don't know how to do?

Should we just tell him to give up? He has spent a fortune on lessons and now drives really well. What are our options?

It’s quite simple to do if you know the right strategy, I have booked 9 tests in the last 3 years doing it

pay for the app, book a test anywhere but as far into the future as you can. Set the app to book a test at your chosen centre and ONLY your chosen centre, set it to auto book within dates selected and set it running

Recheck it regularly to ensure it’s not paused ( if did this once) it will eventually bot into a slot, if you want one sooner re-enable it and it will hold your slot till it finds a better one

Ive never had to wait longer than 2 weeks for a slot to be picked up and have botted it forward a number of times, just ensure that you don’t leave too short a time frame (min is 5 days) to throw it back if you can’t get a car available for driving in as then you’ll end up paying again

The app we used is driving test now but I believe others are available

Thank you all for your patience.

So it sounds like the app will always be quicker than a human logging on? Because ds's DI says you can get a cancellation without. I think I'm not going to understand it until I start logging on and trying.

It's nearly broken my son, he can't even talk about it as he's had such a horrendous time and has been failed on such slight things but in places he didn't know well.

I don't see why the government can't obviate this so it's fairer? It's so weird that the gov have all our data and we are supposed to trust them but they can't even protect their own system for this official, legal process. It's so hard to understand!

Clusterf* doesn't even begin to describe it.

I did for my first DC but only after booking a test hundreds of miles away and trying and failing to get a cancellation.
with my second DC, I just booked their theory test 6 months before their birthday (for on their birthday) then booked the practical test the same day they passed the theory test. Managed to get one in 5 months. It's about a month too long, but better to be over prepared.

The app constantly monitors for cancellation slots and sends push notifications as soon as they are released to all the people waiting for one. So they get snapped up before people log on to the website to find them 'naturally'. It makes it very hard to find a slot yourself, but it's not impossible if you check regularly. Cancellation slots are released at various times of day, it's the regular slots that are released early on Monday.

I had to go through this four times with my son (he passed 4th time!) all whilst having to get a test around his very tight work schedule and no annual leave left ! It was hell ish so I empathise!

I got up at 6 on a Monday (he was travelling to work at this time) and booked a test for whenever - usually at least 4-5 months in the future. I then downloaded testi, paid for premium and practically sat on it refreshing constantly until a cancellation came up. It is fastest finger first but there is a testi extension you can download so it logs you in automatically so you are slightly ahead of the game. It tells you how to do it on the app.

I managed to get two Saturday morning tests this way and he finally passed on his 4th test on a Saturday. I told him he needs to guard his driving license with his life as I am never doing that again!

So you can book 5months ahead? I wasn't sure they opened up that far ahead - again excuse my ignorance but my ds is about to give up so I'm taking over for him as his present DI says he's completely ready - he just needs a test date.
I can't face him having to do another theory test.. it's beyond punitive and also such a racket.

It does seem bizarre that a very ready student is blocked in booking a test by a speculative student?

They open slots 6 months ahead. So every Monday they release ALL slots for week on Monday 6 months ahead of the date you are logging to book. Which is why you should log in at exactly 6am next Monday to be able to book slots for the week 25th-31st of August.
Once you have done that, you get an app and set your actual preferred dates for cancellations. If no cancellations come up, you still have a test in 6 months time.

You can't keep refreshing now as they have security on their site which blocks you for a couple of hours, it is utterly crap!

Also I have been incredibly fast when cancellations have come through and still not managed to get them. It is really awful

So it sounds like you have to use an app despite the gov guidance not to do so.

I don't understand why private companies have access to these bookings - it's so weird but I guess the whole DVSA is just not funded to be fit for purpose.

www.theguardian.com/money/article/2024/jul/04/they-have-you-over-a-barrel-how-scammers-touts-and-bots-took-over-driving-tests

Now I understand; the government could stop it but won't.

How far ahead can you book them? dS has just turned 16. I’m thinking of booking him a test for six months after his 17th birthday in the hopes he passes first time. Surely several months ahead would mean getting a test locally would be doable? Or is the issue where people fail and have to rebook and wait ages?

edit to add I’ve just seen @Catza reply. So I’ll book him a test on his 17th birthday and hope for the best!!

You can't book a test until you have a theory test pass. You can't take the theory test until your 17th birthday. So you need to book the theory test 6 months before the 17th birthday, hope they pass first time then book a practical test immediately.

DD used an app, it did make it easier. Her first was cancelled due to strikes and she managed to get another for the next week (unfortunately didn't pass) she eventually passed on her 3rd attempt 6 months later.

Dd used the Testi app.

You don't need the app to get a cancellation no. I booked my own test last year without an instructor. Booked a test for 2 months away, then changed it to one 3 months away when I wasn't quite ready. You just have to check back regularly to see what is available, as others have said morning's are best. Lots of people book and cancel so loads of dates come up regularly.

Gotcha. Daft system but good to know in advance how it works, thanks

I’ve just passed my test in January. I had the slot booked 6 months in advance as it was the only way I could get a slot. I only managed to get that one by checking 6am every Monday morning, and also sporadically incase there were any cancellations.
unfortunately because tests are so hard to get people aren’t tending to cancel as it’s then another 6 month wait for the next test.

The Government realise there's a backlog and have said they'd be recruiting another 500 Test Examiners this year. Don't think that's enough, but anyway... I was looking to retire later this year and retrain to be a Examiner but they say there are no vacancies! Waiting lists in my area, South East, are still 6-8 months.

@wildfellhall he needs to use the app.

I went through the same issue and this is how I finally got a test booked

Firstly book a test in any area that's available doesn't matter where

Secondly download app and then swap your existing test for the test in your area u have to check every Monday ideally 6am tests are released and then just constantly!

Good luck

I agree it's stupid and frustrating but you said he drives well so no he should not give up!

I used Testi app and it didn't pay for it, or pay any extra for a test. All it did was notify me of cancellations which I could then book if I was VERY quick getting to the Gov website. I used it a few times each time getting tests within a couple of weeks, the complicating factor for us was not lack of tests, but lack of tests tying in with instructors availability which restricted our options a lot.

Its very frustrating. Thank goodness most of us only need to take it once. Many yaers ago I booked in my local area and then all the driving lessons were done around that area. There were also 5-6 normal test run routes so you could practise that too.

Now its a free for all and if you want a test in a reasonable time scale then you have to take it in any area whether you knew it or not. We used the APP with first child and a test came up for the following week. I took it on the assumption that if he passed it wouldnt be an issue anymore and if he didnt then we would have to rebook.

He wasnt ready and didnt pass but did the second time but did have moan that the only test I booked for him was at 0830!

Same issue with my DD. We used an app which was rubbish, then switched to Test shift after a friend recommended it, and she now has a test in 3 weeks at our local centre. At least we know better for DS in a few years.

I agree it's rubbish using the apps but as others have said everyone is doing it as bots are hoovering up the tests,

I passed my test on the third attempt, managing to get tests roughly three weeks apart.

You can do it by frequently refreshing a page, but in my experience the website might lock you out, which is scary because you think you might not be able to book a test at all.

What I did was to book a test six months away, then used the Driving Test Cancellations Now app to scan for cancellations and autobook when it found one. Someone I know used Test Genie; I tried that, and it would find me a slot, but when I tried to book it, it would be gone, despite Test Genie supposedly holding onto it. I also had a free Testi app which gave me an idea of which local test centres had the most slots coming free.

I think it depends on the test centre. Mine, in the East Midlands, seems to have had a relatively high number of slots. The examiner told me that people were coming from all over the country. They'd often come in unsuitable cars, and not knowing the routes, so they were more likely to fail.

At the time, examiners were working extra time to address the backlog. I assume they still are. But what they really need is more examiners.

I also thought I noticed a pattern of more people cancelling tests on a Wednesday afternoon. Probably coincidence, but I wondered if it was people who had a test next week and knew they couldn't make it, were more likely to cancel it a couple of days before the weekend?

unfortunately because tests are so hard to get people aren’t tending to cancel as it’s then another 6 month wait for the next test.

What happens is they cancel because an earlier slot becomes available. If you're using an app, and you have a test in three months, the app might grab one a month away. The appointment three months away then comes free, so chances are another app will grab it for someone else.