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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Driving tests

15 replies

Timeforanotheraliasnow · 08/01/2024 09:11

DS2(18) has been learning to drive since May 2022 (17th birthday) with lots of pauses for exams etc. Passed theory test last September, after which I tried EVERY SINGLE DAY to book a driving test. Finally got a cancellation on 4th January so basically spent every day of Christmas holiday practicing driving with him. Instructor said he had a good chance. He failed. I'm not (very) cross with him for failing but now I'm back in the hell of trying to book a test. New appointments for 5/6/2024 were released today but all gone when I got on the site. I've spoken to DVSA staff who say they're all taken by bots for resale. No replies needed, just wanted to rant. Thanks.

OP posts:
crazycatladie · 08/01/2024 09:15

There's an app you can purchase, I think it's around £5 and you can get cancellations on it. My daughter is going to do her third test and the next one at her test centre was June but then she got a cancellation for the middle of this month via the app.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 08/01/2024 09:17

we were lucky that the fairly big SOM that our eldest dc learnt with do all of the test booking. They can then juggle around between themselves if someone has a date but isn’t quite ready and another instructor has someone who is. Dc was booked for May but was ready sooner so took their test in March and passed.

There’s an app I think it’s called Testi that will you whenever there’s a cancellation at your chosen centre. Is it possible to use any other test centres? From where we are one is convenient but another 3 are do-able.

HaggisPakora · 08/01/2024 10:30

Yes I have been through this recently with two of mine - my eldest turned 17 a week before the first lockdown, had one lesson then the world went mad. In Scotland it was even worse, they couldn't even get slots for the computer test and loads of his friends were going to England to get their theory certificates. Things slightly better when DD started to learn but there is still a HUGE backlog. Also tests are regularly being cancelled at the moment due to weather.

Agree with Testi, it's worth paying for it. You can be logged into the same account on multiple devices so three of us had it on our phones. It's then just a case of setting up the notifications and being on it the second it bings. Also if you are in a city with multiple test venues, being flexible about where you want to book a slot.

HaggisPakora · 08/01/2024 10:32

oh and to add - to get a cancellation you have to have a slot booked. So get a slot booked ANYWHERE, doesn't matter if it;s nowhere near you.

PatriciaHolm · 08/01/2024 10:50

DS managed to get one by logging on at the first moment possible on a Monday am, for about 5 months time, and not at the closest centre - it's about 20 miles away but either his dad or I will take him (no instructor atm though might top up with some lessons nearer the time, dad has taught him so far)

MaloneMeadow · 08/01/2024 12:51

OP he’s 18! If he’s mature enough to drive surely he could be doing it himself instead of relying on you? I left DD to it, she booked a spot at a random test centre on the advice of her instructor to make it easier to get a cancellation. She religiously logged in each day the new tests were released and every few hours in case she was able to grab a cancellation and relatively quickly she got one.

Started lessons in May, passed theory in June, test booked for December in August and thankfully passed first time. Please don’t be cross with him for failing, some of the things that they can be failed for are absolutely ludicrous and do not accurately represent real life driving at all. A friend of DD’s failed for forgetting to use a bus lane for 30 seconds! The increased pressure on them to pass these days due to fear of not being able to get another test for months is awful and definitely really contributes to nerves and silly mistakes

Original poster
Timeforanotheraliasnow · 08/01/2024 13:53

Thanks all, I'll look into the app. And yes I know I should leave him to do it himself but experience shows that he won't, and as we live in rural area with totally crappy public transport it's important he gets a licence asap to apply for jobs.

OP posts:
NoTouch · 08/01/2024 18:40

Absolutely nothing wrong with helping your son to find a test slot. No idea why some posters feel the need to criticise absolutely normal parental support and the ops children's maturity, they are as bad as the grammar pendants.

When ds needed a test slot (just after lockdown lifted), I was checking for slots regularly throughout the day too (while on boring work calls 🤣) and the slot I got him, and then the earlier ones I managed to change to did appear throughout the day (when he was at school so wouldn't have been able to do himself anyway!)

MaloneMeadow · 08/01/2024 21:05

@NoTouch Helping out is one thing and I did try my best with DD (she was the one that succeeded in the end!) but an 18 year old relying solely on their mum to book their driving test is a bit much. I really don’t think that’s an unreasonable opinion!

MrsBlondie · 08/01/2024 22:55

You need the testi app.
Got a test booked.
Testi app sends alerts and my son got a second test 2.5 weeks after his 1st woth the app.
It's £12

sondot · 08/01/2024 23:04

OP he’s 18! If he’s mature enough to drive surely he could be doing it himself

I have been driving over 20 years but still can't do admin effectively.

The whole 'you can do X becsue you do Y' is nonsense.

OP I would pay for the apps, if you can't beat them and all...

Original poster
Timeforanotheraliasnow · 08/01/2024 23:53

Thanks again all for the advice, and @MaloneMeadow well done for adding to my depression by your judgement.

OP posts:
NoTouch · 08/01/2024 23:54

MaloneMeadow · 08/01/2024 21:05

@NoTouch Helping out is one thing and I did try my best with DD (she was the one that succeeded in the end!) but an 18 year old relying solely on their mum to book their driving test is a bit much. I really don’t think that’s an unreasonable opinion!

I did try my best with DD (she was the one that succeeded in the end!)

I left DD to it

Make you mind up, did you try or did you leave her to it?

Regardless of the reasonableness of your opinion on ops parenting, or her ds's competence it was not asked for.

Would you really say that to someones face - your child should be doing it, they are immature and mine is not only better but passed first time..... totally tone deaf.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 08/01/2024 23:57

Book a test, anywhere, for a few months time, sign up to one of the paid for apps (we used driving test now) and set it to notify you of tests at your preferred centres and hopefully one will come up.

CourtneyB123 · 08/01/2024 23:58

There's an app I use called Testi, £13 pay for the premium. Cancellations come up all the time, I'm talking like days away in most cases. So book a random test, even if it's April then wait for a cancellation notification on the app they always come through. Good luck for your son

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