The UK government has set out a major update to the way learner drivers can book their practical driving tests The aim is to make the system fairer, simplify the booking process and restrict the opportunities that previously allowed online bots and third parties to claim test slots. Long waiting times have been a challenge since the pandemic and recent figures highlight the scale of the issue, with an average waiting time of 21.8 weeks recorded in June 2025 and 642,000 learners holding future bookings by the end of October. This never ending backlog for driving tests is likely a result of the Covid-19 pandemic which saw driving tests stop for a number of months, during the multiple lockdowns that occurred.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the confirmed driving test booking rule changes and the wider measures planned to increase testing capacity over the next year.
One of the main driving test changes is the shift to a learner-only booking system. The Department for Transport confirmed that only those taking the test will be able to reserve a slot. Instructors will no longer be able to book on behalf of pupils although they will still be able to set their availability within the DVSA business service for scheduling purposes.
This change, which is expected to take place in 2026, is intended to stop bots and third-party sellers that have been securing tests and reselling them for inflated prices. The DVSA has highlighted cases of slots being sold for up to £500 despite the official fee being £62 for weekdays or £75 for evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
Another confirmed update is a cap on how many times a learner can amend a booking. Learners will only be able to make two changes in total. This includes moves to alternative dates, test swaps and moving a booking to another location. When the two changes have been used, the test will need to be cancelled and rebooked if further adjustments need to be made. These new driving test booking rules aim to curb the practice where unlimited swaps allowed bots and third parties to dominate available slots.
Learners will only be able to move an existing booking to a centre that is reasonably close to the original location.
Demand for tests has stayed unusually high since the pandemic with DVSA data showing that 182,000 tests took place in October 2025 which is a nine per cent increase on the previous year. At the end of September 2025, more than 668,000 people had a practical test booked.
The DVSA releases new driving test appointments on a rolling basis though in many cases they are booked instantly by bots. They are then resold at high prices which has added another layer of difficulty for learners already faced with long waits. MPs have called for strong action to stop this practice, and the new booking rules are a direct response to those concerns.
To help tackle the backlog quicker, 36 defence driving examiners will join DVSA operations for twelve months. These military MoD examiners normally test service personnel but will conduct one day of civilian car tests each week. They may also support vocational tests for bus and lorry drivers if required. This support is expected to deliver up to 6500 additional tests across the year. They will be deployed to the centres with the highest demand which should improve access for learners where waiting lists are longest.
The DVSA has recruited 316 new examiners but this has resulted in a net gain of only 40 because others have left the role. To improve retention, a payment of £5000 will be offered from next year to new examiners. Even so, the government has confirmed that the aim of cutting waiting times to seven weeks by summer 2026 will not be met.
The DVSA plans to introduce the driving test booking changes in spring 2026 after legislative and technical updates are complete. Learners with a valid theory certificate or a future booking have already been contacted so they understand the upcoming adjustments.
Learners should be ready to take their test before they book since the number of amendments will be limited. It may also help to check availability across several nearby centres early on because it will not be possible to shift bookings to high demand locations later. Instructors will still be able to coordinate their availability through the business service, but learners will now have control and responsibility over their own bookings.
The combined effect of the booking rule changes and the increase in examiner capacity aims to create a more transparent and reliable process with the aim of removing bots and resellers from the system, along with more tests becoming available, learners should find it easier to secure a slot at the official price and focus on getting ready for their driving test.
If you need cover for private practice ahead of your test, Collingwood’s learner driver insurance can help get you on the road today!
You will be logged out in seconds. Do you want to stay signed in?
