New driving test rules ban bots and instructors from booking tests
The DVSA has clamped down on third party bookings for practical driving tests...
Only learner drivers will be allowed to book practical driving tests under new rules introduced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), in an attempt to reduce wait times.
From today (12 May), it is now illegal for third parties, such as driving instructors and unofficial test booking and cancellation finder services, to make a booking online for a practical driving test on behalf of someone else.
It is also now against DVSA terms and conditions for third parties to change, swap or cancel a driving test on behalf of someone else.
The changes are intended to reduce the backlog of learner drivers waiting to take their test, which was estimated at around 642,000 at the end of October last year. To do this, they will aim to tackle the influx of online resellers, or touts, who use bots to book up the available test slots and resell them for inflated prices.
Beverley Warmington, DVSA 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. These measures will help free up appointments for genuine learners who are ready to take their test.”
The standard fees learners have to pay for DVSA practical driving tests are £62 on weekdays and £75 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays – but investigations have found that resellers are charging in excess of £200 for their slots.
The changes come after rules introduced on the 31 March reduced the number of times changes can be made to a test, from six to two.
The DVSA will introduce further clampdowns from 9 June, limiting learners to moving their test only to one of the three nearest test centres. This is to stop learners from booking at test centres where they do not intend to take their test.
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