Significant changes to booking driving tests have been introduced today in a bid to tackle a backlog that has left some learners waiting half a year to sit the test. The new regulations, which took effect today, May 12, mean only learners themselves are permitted to book tests.
Previously, driving instructors were also able to book tests, but a BBC investigation last year revealed some teachers had been selling their login credentials to the booking website for as much as £250 monthly. Consequently, automated bots had been reserving slots and reselling them at inflated rates, with some learners paying out £500 for a test. The standard fee is £62.
According to the AA Driving School, the current average waiting time for a test stands at 22.4 weeks, or nearly six months. Now one driving instructor has outlined how the changes will impact learners.
The man, who operates Echo Driving School in South London, shared a TikTok video on Monday explaining the changes. "Tomorrow, May 12, is the big day," he said. "This is the day where, allegedly, it's going to make it easier for everybody to book a test.
"On a serious note, tomorrow's the day where no more driving instructors will be able to book your test for you. No more third parties.
"Yes, third parties will have, you know, their tests that they're doing. But, from tomorrow, only students can book their test. And you can only book locally to you, and you can only change it twice.
"You will still be able to swap test, now the way to do it is you would have the phone up the DVSA, where they'll do your random checks for you, security checks and so forth, and then what will happen is you would give the reference number of the test you want to change to. So maybe your friend has got a test some time six months down the line and you know your one is even later so you will be able to change it, but you have to call the DVSA.
"I'm hoping that this will clear the backlog, but only time will tell and no one really knows whether it's going to work or not. But let's just hope, fingers crossed that this helps."
Another new rule taking effect on June 12 means appointments can only be transferred to one of the three nearest test centres to the original booking. This aims to prevent people reserving slots irrespective of location before trying to switch to a more suitable venue afterwards, reports Birmingham Live.
The number of amendments permitted for a single booking will also be reduced from six to two from March 31. Beverley Warmington, DVSA's chief executive, said: "Our priority is to stop learners being exploited by third parties, put them in control of their driving test and make the process fairer by clamping down on businesses that resell tests at inflated prices.
"These new measures help bring a halt to a system where the use of bots and third parties increases the amount some learners pay for a test and blocks test availability for many others. These measures will help free up appointments for genuine learners who are ready to take their test."
Emma Bush, managing director of AA Driving School, stated that today's changes are "unlikely to be the silver bullet which turns the tide on long waiting times", but conceded they "mark a shift towards overhauling the booking system for the better".
She continued: "It is only part of the solution though. To really improve waiting times over a prolonged period, there needs to be unrelenting focus from the DVSA on retaining and recruiting driving test examiners."
The DVSA revealed it had 1,604 full-time equivalent driving examiners last month, representing the highest figure since March 2018.