The DVSA is looking into cracking down on car driving tests to ensure learner drivers aren’t exploited by fake accounts. The DVSA is gathering views from the driver training industry and learner drivers on changes aimed at beating bots who buy up slots in bulk.
A series of new proposals aimed at changing who should be allowed to book and manage driving tests is being considered. Also, how tests can be managed and if the DVSA should limit or remove the ability to swap tests between different learners or locations is also being looked at. The new rules aim to tackle the increasing backlog to secure a driving test with over 600,000 individuals understood to be waiting in line.
Lillian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads stressed: “Driving isn’t just about getting from A to B — it’s a vital link to jobs, social opportunities, and a stronger economy, which helps to deliver our Plan for Change.
"This consultation is an important move towards giving learners more say over how and where they can book, alongside setting out options to better enable DVSA to block bots from stealing slots, so learners can get on the road without unnecessary delays.
"Working with the DVSA, we want to make driving test booking fairer, protect all learners from exploitation, and reduce lengthy waiting times."
Under the current rules, instructors are able to book tests for their pupils with assessments swapped between learner drivers.
However, the DVSA is looking to remove these abilities and “stop the mechanisms that make reselling possible”. A recent DVSA poll found almost a third of learners, newly-qualified drivers and their parents said they had used an unofficial booking service in a bid to get earlier test dates.
According to the DVSA, waiting times remain long owing to an increase in demand to get on the roads. Meanwhile, there is also low learner driver confidence in driving test availability, resulting in changes in booking behaviour.
Loveday Ruder, DVSA Chief Executive explained: “We’ve been working tirelessly to bring down the driving test waiting times. To help tackle this, in December 2024 we announced a new plan, on which we’re making good progress.
“DVSA’s goal is to make booking a driving test easier and fairer for everyone while preventing excessive charges for learner drivers.
However, the DVSA has stressed the new proposals will only be applied to practical car driving tests.
It means, all other tests such as checks on driving instructors, as well as motorcycle and theory assessments will not change.
A spokesperson for the National Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP) said: "The Driver Training industry welcomes this consultation as a key step in improving accessibility and usability of the test booking system for legitimate users, but equally, as an important step towards preventing access by those seeking to exploit learners through the illegitimate sale of test slots at extortionate prices.
“We urge pupils, parents and trainers to respond to the consultation and ensure they are part of enabling better, more efficient and fairer solutions for booking driving tests in the future."
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