Starting from next month, learner drivers will face new restrictions. They will be tied to just two amendments to their original driving test appointment, including alterations to the date, time or venue, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed.
The authority has outlined the modifications, which are designed to tackle bulk bookings orchestrated by fraudsters. The DVSA clarified that these fresh regulations solely cover car driving tests across England, Scotland and Wales.
They won't affect other categories of examinations. Additionally from this spring, learners must arrange their car driving test directly through GOV.UK.
Their driving instructor won't have the authority to schedule it on their behalf. The DVSA emphasised that learners ought to book exclusively at a test centre they genuinely plan to attend, and they'll only be permitted to transfer their test to neighbouring centres.
They should book solely when their instructor confirms they're prepared, and must provide their instructor's reference number during booking to prevent the instructor from being double-booked.
Lastly, after selecting a date they realistically anticipate being ready for, learners will be limited to making just two modifications to their slot.
Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com, said: "In just over a month's time, new rules will come into force limiting how often learner drivers can change their test and where they can move it to. This is another big shift for learners trying to get on the roads.
"Allowing only two changes and learners only being able to move their original test booking within the local area could make things even harder for learners who live in areas with historically low pass rates.
"Our research shows that since 2021, around six million driving tests have been taken. And only about half resulted in a pass.
"Pass rates can also vary hugely between test centres, ranging from around 33% to as high as 80%. For learners in lower-performing areas, having less flexibility to move their test after waiting so long could mean more retakes, more waiting and higher overall costs.
"With these changes in mind, it's more important than ever for learners to think before they book their test. Plan carefully, only take the test when really prepared and understand how local test centres perform before booking in.
"Our driving test pass rate calculator helps learners compare nearby centres so they can make an informed decision before booking their test for the first time."