DVSA upcoming changes to booking driving tests.

The DVSA have announced this week that they are implementing some changes to the way in which practical test bookings can be made. The changes will come into force by Spring 2026 and mean that only learners drivers can book their own practical driving test. There will also be a restriction on how many times you can change the test once booked limiting this to only 2 times, and a limit to the area they can change it to once booked.

Currently driving schools and driving instructors can book practical tests on behalf of their pupils using their own online booking system (OBS) and currently our semi / intensive driving courses include the booking of the practical test. From Spring next year this will not be possible and only the pupil will be able to book the test. In time we will adjust our driving course packages to reflect this change by removing the tests part and adjust the price of our courses to reflect this.

We will still offer intensive and semi intensive driving course packages, but these will be just the practical driving lessons and we will need to work together with pupils purchasing these to ensure the practical lessons match up with the practical test booking the pupil will book. We would appreciate it if pupils arrange the practical driving lessons first and discuss with us timescales and proposed dates for lessons, before going to book a practical test, to ensure we have availability with an instructor so you are not left with a driving test that you will not be ready for or don’t have an instructor to take you to.

The aim for these changes are to assist in bringing down the test waiting times which is currently at a six month wait to get a driving test booking appointment. DVSA have said they aim to bring this down to a seven week wait but do not know how long it will take to achieve this goal, and are not expecting this to happen over the next year.

We will keep you posted on changes as they develop or any other industry news and updates as we get them.