Driving instructors have been prohibited from scheduling practical tests on behalf of their students, as learner drivers currently endure waiting periods of up to 22 weeks for appointments. Under new regulations, driving tests can now only be booked and managed by the learners themselves, in response to concerns over substantial backlogs and reports that some individuals were being charged double for earlier slots by unofficial brokers.
Soaring Wait Times Since Pandemic
Average wait times have surged dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic, when learners typically waited only five weeks for their practical tests. The government hopes that these new measures will make it more difficult for people to profit by using automated programs, known as bots, which many currently use to quickly reserve available slots and resell them at inflated prices.
A BBC investigation in December uncovered that some driving test touts were offering instructors up to £250 per month in exchange for access to their booking website login credentials. While the standard fee for a test is £62, a National Audit Office (NAO) report published in December found that learners were paying as much as £500 to secure a slot on the black market.
It is now illegal to book a driving test for anyone other than yourself, as the government seeks to reduce the enormous backlogs. Driving instructors have been banned from booking tests for their students, with learners facing an average wait of 22 weeks for an appointment.
Data Reveals Extent of Delays
According to Freedom of Information data, the average waiting time to book a test increased from 20.8 weeks in January to 22.4 weeks by April 6. Some desperate drivers have been forced to book tests hundreds of miles away just to secure an appointment. In February 2020, the average wait time was merely five weeks.
From June 12, it will only be possible to move a slot to one of the three test centres nearest to the original booking. This measure aims to prevent individuals from booking a test regardless of location with no intention of using the slot, only to later attempt to switch to a more convenient location if a place becomes available. Such practices make it challenging for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to plan the required capacity at specific test centres.
The number of changes allowed per booking was reduced from six to two on March 31, another step intended to enhance fairness in the system.
Official Reactions
Beverley Warmington, chief executive of the DVSA, stated: '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.'
Roads minister Simon Lightwood commented: '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, remarked: '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 acknowledged they 'mark a shift towards overhauling the booking system for the better.' She added: '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 reported having 1,604 full-time equivalent driving examiners last month, the highest number since March 2018.
