New driving test rules came into effect on Tuesday, May 12, banning third parties from booking tests on behalf of learners. The measures are designed to make the system fairer and combat the use of automated software, known as bots, which have been used to secure and resell test slots at inflated prices.
Ban on instructor bookings
Previously, driving instructors could book tests for their students. Now, only individual learner drivers are permitted to book and manage their own driving tests. This change aims to prevent touts from exploiting the system. A BBC investigation in December revealed that some touts offered instructors up to £250 per month for access to their booking login credentials.
Waiting times and black market
The standard test fee is £62, but a National Audit Office report from December found that learners were paying up to £500 on the black market. Waiting times have soared, with AA Driving School data showing an average of 22.4 weeks by April 6, up from 20.8 weeks in January. Before the pandemic in February 2020, the wait was just five weeks.
Further measures from June 12
From June 12, learners will only be able to reschedule a test to one of the three test centres closest to the original booking location. This aims to prevent individuals from booking tests anywhere with no intention of attending, then trying to move them to a more convenient centre later. Such practices made it difficult for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to calculate capacity needs.
Reduced amendments
From March 31, the number of amendments allowed for individual bookings has been reduced from six to two, further streamlining the system.
Official reactions
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."
Roads minister Simon Lightwood added: "This Government inherited a huge backlog of learners facing record waiting times but we've taken action and are seeing results – delivering almost two million tests in a year, with over 158,000 extra tests since June 2025."
Emma Bush, managing director of AA Driving School, commented: "Learner drivers continue to face unacceptable delays in accessing driving tests. The data clearly shows more needs to be done to really get a handle on the situation and start to push waiting times back." She noted that Tuesday's changes are "unlikely to be the silver bullet which turns the tide on long waiting times" but "mark a shift towards overhauling the booking system for the better." She stressed the need for continued focus on retaining and recruiting examiners.
The DVSA reported employing 1,604 full-time equivalent driving examiners last month, the highest figure since March 2018.
