My name is Christian Oreschnick. I've recently become the service development lead in learn to drive/ride and it's my job to work with others in the agency to improve the service we offer you. You can find out more about my background in my bio.
Last week Pauline Reeves (DVSA’s Director of Driver Services) explained some of the factors that helped inform ours and the ministers' decision-making when announcing the outcome of the driving test consultation.
She also explained how we are taking a more service-led approach to managing our’ services.
Publishing the full consultation report
Today (Tuesday, 9 December) we have published the full results of our consultation on improving the rules for booking a driving test.
I want to thank the 11,000 approved driving instructors (ADI) who responded to the consultation, alongside learners, parents, and other stakeholders. The expertise held by the driver training industry is key to getting the right decisions from the consultation.
I want to reassure you that we reviewed responses by audience group – learners, ADIs, driving schools, parents – and considered the reasoning behind views, not just numbers.
The outcomes have already been announced, but I know those of you who book and manage tests for your pupils will be looking for answers and clarity to help you, your business and customers prepare. I want to reassure you we will keep you updated on this work and are committed to supporting you with the introduction of these changes.
We understand you will need time to prepare, and we will continue working with representatives from our driver training forum (NASP, AA driving school and RED) to make sure we get our engagement right and provide the guidance and support you need.
We know that these changes will require instructors and driving schools to adapt how they work with their pupils, which is why we wrote to you recently to explain the consultation process.
We are committed to working closely with the driver training industry and representative bodies to help prepare for the implementation of these changes.
The direction has been set
Before getting into details I wanted to reaffirm one important point: the decisions have been made using the views and feedback gathered from the consultation.
We know that those who wanted a different outcome will be disappointed. However, we think these changes will improve how driving tests are booked and stop learner drivers being exploited by the small number of people gaming the system.
We recognise these changes will impact some business models, particularly those who offer intensive courses and have built their services around managing the booking process for pupils and customers.
I want you to know we hear your concerns about the economic implications and the impact these changes will have on business models. We are working with the industry to develop a pupil toolkit and guidance to support you and your pupils to prepare for these changes.
Restricting who can book and manage tests
The first question was about who can book and manage driving tests, with 3 options:
A. Only learner drivers can book and manage tests
B. Both learners and instructors can book, but only learners can make changes
C. Keep the current system
What you told us
The majority of people who responded agreed we should introduce option A – 70.7% overall, including almost half of the driving instructors who provided their views.
For option C, 54.6% of ADIs and 69.8% of driving schools who responded agreed and wanted to keep the current system.
The table below shows the level of agreement from the main audiences for options A, B and C of this question.
| Learner driver | ADI / trainee licence holder | Driving school | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % who agree or strongly agree with option A | 79.6% | 47.8% | 31.1% | 70.7% |
| % who agree or strongly agree with option B | 45.0% | 23.0% | 7.0% | 38.8% |
| % who agree or strongly agree with option C | 34.0% | 54.6% | 69.8% | 40.0% |
What we're changing
We will introduce option A.
This will restrict the booking and management of practical car driving tests to learner drivers only, meaning third parties, including driving instructors will no longer be able to book or manage tests on behalf of pupils.
Why this option was chosen
One of our main objectives is to make the booking system fairer. This measure ensures learner drivers can book their test at the prescribed fee, as third parties will no longer be able to book tests to resell at inflated costs. Crucially, this change will disrupt cancellation finding services from scanning the system to book tests ahead of learner drivers. This will make the booking system fairer for all.
This decision is not about instructor conduct or blaming you or customers for long waiting times. We know the vast majority of you who use the online business service (OBS) do so legitimately to provide an excellent service to your pupils. When the change comes into force, ADIs will still be able to use OBS to show when they are available for tests.
You will still be able to access the Ready to Pass? resources to support difficult conversations with pupils who want to take a test when you don't think they're ready. We will support you where you use reasonable judgement to decide that a learner is not ready to take their test and refuse to take them in their car.
We will continue to do work through the Ready to Pass? campaign to encourage learner drivers to be guided by their driving instructor on when they are ready for test.
Until the changes come in, ADIs can still book tests for their pupils, and we will give plenty of notice ahead of the change.
The consultation found that having control over their own booking is important to learner drivers. This measure will give them this control, whilst ADIs continue to play their crucial role in advising learners when they're ready.
We're aware some learners will need support to book tests, particularly those with accessibility requirements or learning difficulties. We're working through the details to ensure no one is disadvantaged, and we'll discuss practical solutions with you ahead of implementation.
Limiting test swaps and location changes
The second question was about test management, with 3 options:
A. Remove the ability to swap tests or change test locations
B. Limit test swaps and location changes to 2 and limit the location of swaps
C. Keep current swapping rules and location change rules
What you told us
Responses were mixed. A slightly higher proportion of respondents overall preferred to keep the current rules. However, a higher proportion of learner drivers and driving instructors – those most affected by the test booking system – favoured option 2B.
The table below shows the level of agreement from the main audiences for options A, B and C of this question.
| Learner driver | ADI / trainee licence holder | Driving school | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % who agree or strongly agree with option A | 20.2% | 26.2% | 7.4% | 20.1% |
| % who agree or strongly agree with option B | 44.6% | 50.8% | 12.7% | 42.4% |
| % who agree or strongly agree with option C | 41.6% | 48.4% | 87.3% | 46.0% |
What we're doing
We will introduce option B.
This will limit the number of times a test can be swapped or changed to 2 and restrict the locations booked tests can be moved to.
Why this option was chosen
Choosing option B offers a balance between allowing learners the flexibility to make changes to their test booking whilst creating a fairer system.
This change will help stop unfair practices by a small number of OBS users who exploit existing rules to exploit learner drivers. A small proportion of ADIs, in their call for evidence responses, confirmed they're not using the swap feature for its intended purpose: 0.3% admitted to using it to resell tests and 8.1% admitted to using it to hold potential test dates.
Introducing a geographical restriction will stop tests being booked at a test centre with lower demand and then moved to a higher demand centre using a third party. This change will help reduce waiting times at lower demand centres but will make it more challenging for learner driver in high demand areas to book a test.
Having a clearer view on which areas have high and low demand will make it easier for DVSA to manage its examiner workforce and focus resource at higher demand centres. This will help us offer more tests at centres where demand is highest whilst still meeting demand at other centres.
We are still working through the detail on how these geographic restrictions will work from a technical and process perspective and will share regular updates with you as we progress.
Next steps
We know we need to work quickly to introduce these changes to the current booking system from spring 2026. So, we don’t yet have answers to all of your questions about how this will work. As soon as we have the detail around this, we will share it with you.
These changes will be replicated in the new booking system, which is currently being developed.
We will also need legislative changes which will be implemented in the spring in line with the technical changes.
We will keep you updated and give you as much notice as possible before the changes come into effect. In the new year we'll invite you to webinars so we can update you about the progress on the upcoming changes.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to this consultation. Your views have been essential to help inform and design our modern service that helps provide a safer, fairer experience for all learners and instructors.
12 comments
Comment by Rob Fenn posted on
I believe that we still need more driving tests available to clear the huge backlog.
Comment by John Mitchell posted on
Pre Covid there was no problem with the driving test.
There were NO third parties offering tests at hugely inflated prices. You are not fixing the problem. The problem is the excessive waiting lists. People will pay excessive amounts for the sooner test date.
The target set for test availability pre covid was 6 - 8 weeks. What is it now?
When are you going to improve the availability of tests?
Comment by Judy Hale posted on
Im not totally sure you have made the correct decision. One thing for sure, it seems a slap in the face for ADIs. That they are being penalised thru no fault of their own.
Comment by Emma Nicholas posted on
Amazing! Was just about to write to my local MP as I am beyond frustrated that scalpers have been abel to get away with this for SO long. I am trying to log into to change my Drivers Test location as I have NEVER seen a test available near me so had to book one miles away. For 2 days now I have been unable to even access the DVSA webpage? IS says I am a bot as I alogging on too quickly?! For goodness sakes! What is going on? I am desperate to get a test and trying to do the right thing by using the DVSA website...help?
Comment by Kay Begum posted on
I am so happy that the dvsa has finally got a grip on this & pupils can book directly themselves and not get charged extortionate amounts to get a practical test date. Hopefully this new law will deter organisations from learners & driving instructors. Well done dvsa
Comment by Shaon Ahmed posted on
Great writing. Thank you for clarifying. I strongly agree
Comment by Sindy Collins posted on
Cannot wait for these changes to be implemented. Every Monday morning my son is trying to secure a test date. Total disarray and disappointment each time. Will have to pay more than planned in driving lessons to keep fresh. Working with the unknown as who knows when a test date will finally be able to be secured. Unfair system that has been like this for too long. To be still blaming COVID 5 years on is ridiculous. Government has allowed third party thief's to run riot here!
Comment by Ray Fothergill posted on
About time. I hope this stops back street firms working from home harassing driving instructors who get their information from the approved driving instructors list. This is from a retired instructor who got constantly inundated with such requests during the last few years I worked.
Comment by Neil Tamblin posted on
Within the original survey, what checks were done to confirm that the respondents were learner drivers and not just people filling forms?
You asked a crowd if they wanted jam for tea, the crowd said yes, so you are giving them jam for tea. It was not explained to the respondents what that would actually involve.
What steps are you taking to prevent the bots from booking tests? They will already be developing their solution.
Comment by Brijesh S Wadhera posted on
Thank you for taking this step, I personally been affected due to this problem, I have very limited funds available, when I tried to book test I never found earliest date or date within 6 months or later then someone asked me get it done via some people who were and still sells sooner dates at higher costs like £250-£350
I was very fed up, I couldn't bear this amount and i kept waiting for the date, but now only 1 month left that my theory is going to expire - what should I do, I'll have pay again for theory test then again. Wait 6 months or more to get dates then this cycle keep on to on.. please help me the sooner, I do part time work and look After my little kids so it's hard for me to pay higher fees. I appreciate you will understand my concerns. Instructor also asks more than £300-£400 to arrange car for practical and most of times denies to sit while the test. If unfortunately I or other person gets fail I. First attempt then how common person can bear these higher unfair fees.
Again. Requesting you too please help as early as possible
Comment by Michael Lopez posted on
To whom it may concern,
As an ADI of 30 years. I personally applaud the fourth coming amendments to the DVSA system.
My immediate concern is the increase of learners being taught by individuals, who maybe family members or individuals teaching for money who hold no license to do so.
This has increased dramatically since Covid. In some cases this takes away the ability for learner drivers to be taught safely on the roads.
I have contacted the minister of transport many times about this issue, suggesting that all learner drivers should be taught by PDI’s or ADI’s, with a minimum of 20 hours signed off, when they first want to learn to drive.The response received from the governing body is normally generic.
My question iS:
What is the DVSA doing to reduce the tsunami of non licensed driving trainer’s on the roads.
Many year ago I would see DSA officers, as it was called then, taking number plate registration if the vehicles was displaying L plates, but no red or green badge in the windscreen.
I can only assume checks would be made.
Thank you for your time.
Comment by Satvendar Paul ex driving instructor nearly39 posted on
Stop illegal tuition lots of driving instructor not displaying there adi badge 📛