The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced a significant change to the way learner drivers can book their driving tests, effective from June 9, 2026. This update aims to tackle the growing backlog and exploitative third-party booking practices that have plagued the system.
From June 9, learners will only be able to reschedule their driving tests at nearby test centres. This new rule is designed to make the booking process fairer and reduce the influence of third-party operators who have been using bots to secure large numbers of test slots unlawfully.
The change comes amid a surge in waiting times for driving tests across Great Britain. Recent figures from the DVSA show that in April 2026, the national average waiting period for a practical driving test was a staggering 22.3 weeks.
READ MORE: HMRC Tax Charges Loom for 9 Million State Pensioners Due to Fiscal Drag
READ MORE: I Was Told I Could Leave Birmingham City but Was Promised a New Contract Within 24 Hours
This backlog has fueled a black market for driving test slots, with individuals and driving instructors struggling to secure timely appointments. Carly Brookfield, Chief Executive of the Driving Instructors Association, acknowledges the efforts made but remains skeptical that the new rules alone will resolve the problem. “There have been things the agency’s done that have been productive to stop the rot of the bots,” she told the BBC. “But the reality is we’ve also got this massive test supply issue that if there’s not enough tests going in, people will still not be able to get a test anywhere.”
In response to these challenges, Simon Lightwood, Minister for Roads and Buses, stressed ongoing government efforts to increase testing capacity. “We’re taking action and seeing results, delivering almost two million tests over the past year, more than 158,000 extra tests since June 2025, and military driving examiners now on the ground helping boost capacity across the country,” he said.
While the new booking restrictions aim to curb unfair practices, the pressing issue remains the availability of test slots to meet rising demand.