The DVSA has launched a brand new public session aimed toward tackling driving check reselling and bettering equity for learner drivers ready to get a check. The session, which opened on 28 Could 2024 and runs till 9 July, invitations suggestions from ADIs, PDIs, learners, and the broader driver coaching neighborhood.
Excessive demand for automotive driving exams has created alternatives for third-party operators to use learners through the use of bots to safe check slots after which reselling them at inflated costs. In keeping with DVSA’s current name for proof, practically a 3rd of learners and fogeys admitted to utilizing unofficial providers, paying a mean of £122 for earlier check dates.
The brand new session explores proposals to:
- Outline who’s allowed to ebook and handle exams
- Restrict or take away the power to swap check appointments or change areas
- Restructure reserving permissions to cease bots and unauthorised resales
Quite than pushing for a authorized ban, DVSA believes that altering the system’s design to make reselling virtually inconceivable is a quicker and more practical answer. These adjustments are a part of DVSA’s broader plan to cut back check ready occasions and enhance entry to the web reserving service.
DVSA Chief Govt Loveday Ryder mentioned: “DVSA’s aim is to make reserving a driving check simpler and fairer for everybody whereas stopping extreme costs for learner drivers.”
The session follows the Transport Secretary’s announcement on the Transport Choose Committee on 23 April 2025, which included measures to cut back ready occasions. These embody encouraging certified DVSA workers to return to testing, doubling the variety of everlasting trainers, and reinstating extra time pay for examiners. The federal government hopes to deliver common check ready occasions all the way down to 7 weeks by summer season 2025.
Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Way forward for Roads, added: “This session is a crucial transfer in the direction of giving learners extra say over how and the place they will ebook, alongside setting out choices to raised allow DVSA to dam bots from stealing slots.”
The Nationwide Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP) has endorsed the session, stating: “The Driver Coaching trade welcomes this session as a key step in bettering accessibility and usefulness of the check reserving system for reputable customers, however equally, as an necessary step in the direction of stopping entry by these looking for to use learners by the illegitimate sale of check slots at extortionate costs.
“We urge pupils, mother and father and trainers to reply to the session and guarantee they’re a part of enabling higher, extra environment friendly and fairer options for reserving driving exams sooner or later.”
The session applies solely to automotive driving exams. No adjustments are proposed for reserving bike, vocational, teacher or concept exams.
To participate within the session, please go to: https://www.gov.uk/authorities/consultations/improving-car-driving-test-booking-rules/improving-car-driving-test-booking-rules
