To think the government need to pull their fingers out of their backsides with regards to driving tests?

[NotTonightDeidre]

DS has a test booked for the end of October. It was the earliest test we could get after he passed his theory.

He's ready to take his practical test now (has been for a few weeks) but I can't get an earlier test for love nor money!

Except that's a lie - if I'm willing to shell out over the odds or pay to sign up to an app, I might get a test sooner! But, I refuse to become part of the problem.

I've seen several slots come up, but, every time I click to book the slot is taken! No doubt by a goddamn sniper app.

Why are the government allowing this BS to continue? They're quick to block my access to the booking site because I manually refreshed the screen a dozen times, but yet the bots can book multiple slots!!

This won't get better until the powers that be put a stop to unscrupulous companies making a fast profit on selling tests at an inflated rate. And stop the apps.

I get there's a backlog. Recruitment & retention issues with driving instructors. However the lack of action against questionable bookings is only compounding the issue.

If only ranting on mumsnet could expedite the process.

Exactly. How has this not been changed?

A lot of the responses are worries about the theory test running out because the person has failed 2 or 3 times. Surely if someone has failed the driving test once then anything then helps them to be a better driver (such as re taking the theory) is no bad thing. Also the argument about booking a test miles away in an area that they don't know is unfair, sorry but if you can only pass the test in a place that is familiar maybe not being allowed to be in charge of 2 tonnes of dangerous metal isn't a bad thing either.

Is it possible to take a test abroad?
I don’t know the rules on transferring a foreign licence to a British licence but I believe people do it.

So people could qualify as an instructor to set up a scam buying and selling test slots?
There would be harder ways of being a criminal I guess.

I’d happily become an examiner. I’m not sure what the process is but why aren’t they really pushing courses etc to become one?

This is happening not only for booking driving test but also on booking slots for other type of appointments (e.g., visa). It is all because of the prevalence of bots and people who created these bots then sell the bookeds slots by bots through various apps.

It is true that the booked slots price is not inflated. However, people still need to pay for these apps to book slots. The higher the number of people using apps, the difficulties of booking slots without apps will also increase. It doesn't matter how many slots are available, because as soon as they are made available, they are booked by these bots. Here is a good article explaining about bots: crucible.law/insights/bots-and-touts-a-summary-of-offences-potentially-committed-by-bot-owners-and-ticket-resellers

The only way to avoid this is to make sure that booking system can't be exploited by bots.

This would actually work for us too! DS has his own car & we don't live far from our closest test centre. He'd happily do a "sit & wait" one day in the summer holidays.

Could his instructor look at cancellations, I’m sure they have access to a different system.
My DC booked their test for August but got a cancellation in April through their instructor.
I agree something needs done with the system though, it’s ridiculous

Yep it annoys me that people are blaming bots. Bots only allow you to book or rebook your own test, so the net effect is zero. You aren’t taking away tests from someone else it just means you’re the quickest.

The problem is entirely caused by driving instructors booking tests with a dummy learner who never actually takes the test and then changing the name on it to whoever buys the slot off them.

My ex’s instructor offered him test slots and my colleague bought one. It’s a massive scam!

Yes. Why hasn't it been done? Nobody knows.

I think most of us hoped the new government would sort out what has been allowed to become an inept and corrupt system. But so far, nothing much has changed.

I completed a survey for the DVSA about this issue and I mentioned that driving instructors are selling on tests for ££££. They are even selling tests to other instructors, who then pass the test info to their students. It's ridiculous. The only people who should habe the ability to book tests are the learner drivers themselves.

I refuse to pay hundreds for a test that I might not even pass. I also like the idea of turning up on the day to try and get in someone's cancelled/no show slot. That would surely help ease the backlog?

No, that isn't a good idea. Instructors book up slots for their own pupils, when they know they are available (or can make themselves available) and they can swap slots around depending on how ready a pupil is.

If you stop them doing that, people will book tests and then their instructor will be on holiday or just have another test at that time!

The problem with there being too few slots has two causes:

the shut down during covid which caused a massive backlog

the fact that bots are hoovering up slots because the powers that be can't or won't use Cloudflare or similar.

Where's the idea coming from that it's instructors causing this problem? It isn't! There may be a few of them doing it but they are not the root cause of the issue.

I also like the idea of turning up on the day to try and get in someone's cancelled/no show slot. That would surely help ease the backlog

I agree with this part of your comment - don't penalise people if they cancel at short notice, encourage them to do so and make it easy for them!

And maybe they should do the eye test at the theory test stage. In fact shouldn't instructors be doing this at the first lesson?

Instructors are allowed to book multiple tests. Individuals can only book one test and need to provide their driving licence number and theory test pass code. You can use apps to help you cancel and re-book tests (eg to postpone a test or bring it forward), but you can't book multiple tests. That's why I think instructors are the problem - some dodgy instructors are booking more than they need and selling on the spares.

@dynamiccactus the fact that bots are hoovering up slots - I don't think this is happening because of needing to provide your driving licence number etc when you book. How could a bot do this?

Not really sure how being ND is relevant. Either they're safe to drive or they're not. If they're safe they'll pass the test

On Facebook there are these posts with hundreds of tests for sale. Look up ukdrivingtestslotfinder. They have a huge list of tests for resale. It's completely corrupt now. An absolute disgrace. A real disservice to the younger generations.

Both of my sons have FINALLY Managed to book practical exams ... for December and January. After weeks and weeks of trying to book.

Absolutely shocking how fucking hard it is to get them test slots. And yet young people can't even look for jobs of any distance without driving around here!

My son is trying to get a test , he got Liverpool, he lives on the south coast..hoping to get a cancellation closer! He is 36! He needs to drive for work. He couldn't afford it when he was younger, promotions have now made it a) necessary b)affordable

My dc had to drive up a motorway for her test (you're allowed in a dual control car) to a place she'd never been. Then told to "turn right" on a six lane roundabout. Failed as she didn't work out which lane to change into going round, not knowing the A road number. She waited a year to get that test and couldn't change to a nearer one. Had to pay her instructor for three lessons. Had to do her theory test twice. I just don't think people realise how bad it is until it affects them, Rural people need to drive for work.

Who would fix this? Is it down to the gov?

This is ridiculous. I don’t even know why it’s just a thread on here and not fixed.

The MP of our nearest city did have a questionnaire about people's experiences a while back. We filled it in. But nothing seems to have changed.

I suppose the reason nothing is done is because the MPs and senior civil servants don’t care because they live in London where there is public transport so it doesn’t affect them or their kids in the same way as those of us who live away from big cities.

Or they have shares in the test swap apps?