Some online services won’t be available: Wednesday 9 September 2020

Some of our online services won’t be available on Wednesday 9 September 2020.

This is because some debit and credit card issuers have recently changed their security processes.

This means we need to carry out essential work on the booking service so that we can continue to take online payments for test bookings. This will also increase the capacity of the booking system and help you and your pupils book a test more quickly.

What services are affected

The services that are affected include:

• book and manage driving tests
• order CBT certificates

Services to manage your approved driving instructor (ADI) registration that may be affected include:

• apply for a trainee driving instructor licence
• apply for your first ADI certificate (badge)
• renew your ADI registration
• register to teach Pass Plus

We’re working to implement these changes as quickly as possible. We’re sorry for the inconvenience this may cause.

Increasing the number of car driving tests

The suspension of testing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to exceptionally high demand for driving tests.

Test availability

The measures we put in place to protect our customers and staff from COVID-19 have limited the number of available tests.

This includes reducing our booking window to 6 weeks and driving examiners carrying out 5 tests a day instead of the usual 7.

To increase the number of tests, we have announced that from Monday 14 September, we will extend the period in which tests are available to book from 6 weeks to 18 weeks ahead.

This will add up to 375,000 test appointments between 14 September 2020 and 21 January 2021.

Moving to 6 tests a day

As well as increasing available tests to 18 weeks ahead we plan to move from 5 to 6 car tests a day.

Driving examiners are now familiar with using PPE such as face coverings and gloves and using the latest guidance for carrying out tests. This means there is more capacity to safely increase the test programmes to 5 to 6 tests per a day.

This will increase the number of tests you and your pupils can book by more than 7,000 extra tests every week.

Test start times

It’s important you do not arrive for your driving test more than 5 minutes before your appointment time.

The increased number of daily tests in addition to the vital COVID-19 safety checks put in place to protect you and your pupils, means there is a small risk some tests could overrun.

This might affect the start time of the next test. If this is the case, please be patient until the examiner is available and ensure the vehicle is well ventilated in readiness for the test to start.

Please take this into account when planning your diary.

We will continue to end tests early when a learner commits a serious or dangerous fault, which means they have failed. So not all tests will run to the full time.

This means that any disruption to test times is likely to be minimal, and test centre managers will be on hand to help customers where needed.

High demand

Driving tests will continue to be in high demand as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown and the suspension of testing, so you and your pupils will need to be patient.

We will be releasing more tests every week for you and your pupils to book.

It is vital that your pupils are test-ready when booking their tests, as tests could be at short notice.

On average fewer than 50% of learners pass their driving test and there could be long waiting times for a retest – your pupils should book only when they are confident they can pass.

More information

Check GOV.UK for the latest about:

• theory tests
• driving tests
• instructor guidance

Driving test booking system closed

We have closed the driving test booking service as fewer than 5% of candidates are able to successfully book a driving test slot after queuing on the system.

The limited number of tests slots that are left after 1:30pm today will be added to the available slots next Monday. 

Test availability

We will reopen the booking system on Monday 7 September for tests for the following six weeks but test availability will still be limited so not everyone will be able to book a test yet.

The current queuing system will remain in place when we reopen the system on the 7 September to help manage the bookings.

More test appointments

We’re working hard to add more tests to the system for people to book. From 14 September we are extending the period in which tests can be booked to 18 weeks ahead.

This will allow us to add over 375,000 more test appointments between 14 September and the end of January 2021. Then almost everyone should be able to book a test.

If your pupil can’t book a test at their local centre, other nearby centres may be available. Your pupil should be properly prepared and able to take a test at any driving test centre.

Making sure your pupils are prepared

We know the demand for booking driving tests is really high.

It is vital that your pupils are test ready if they want to book now, as tests could be at short notice.

On average fewer than 50% pass their driving test and there could be long waiting times for a re-test – so you or your pupils should only book when they are confident they can pass.

We encourage you and your pupils to make sure you have spent time practising on a variety of roads and in different driving conditions before booking a test.

Scotland

Test centres in Scotland remain closed, except for motorcycle tests. Driving lessons in Scotland resumed on 24 August and driving tests will resume on 14 September.

Tests slots for candidates in Scotland will be available to book on Monday 7 September for tests from 14 September. This is the date from which the Scottish Government has confirmed driving tests can restart.  

Customer service centre

Our customer service centre is still receiving an extremely high number of calls and emails. We’re sorry for the delays in getting through.

You will not be able to book or secure an earlier date for your driving test if you call us. All driving tests will be made available online as soon as possible.

Please help by only calling if absolutely necessary;

Reopening the driving test booking service

We are reopening the driving test booking service on Tuesday 1 September at 8am.

Driving Tests will be available to book in England and Wales but will be limited, with tests available to book for the next 6 weeks. This is until the next set of tests are released on 7 September, so a rolling 6 week period is available.

Tests slots for candidates in Scotland will not be available to book until Monday 7 September for tests from 14 September. This is the date from which the Scottish Government has confirmed driving tests can restart.  

Due to limited availability, unfortunately not everyone who wants one will be able to book a test on Tuesday. We’re working hard to add more tests to the system for people to book. From 14 September we are extending the period in which tests can be booked to 18 weeks ahead. This will allow us to add over 375,000 more tests to be booked for dates between 14 September and the end of January 2021. Then almost everyone should be able to book a test.

Changes to the booking service

As a result of high demand we will continue to use the queuing system we introduced last week, to ensure the stability of the system. So when you or a pupil logs in, you will not have access to the system straight away.

You will be held in a queue and given a queue number. We will regularly update gov.uk and our social media with information on driving test availability.

It is possible that you will be held in the queue for some time; please do not try to access the system using multiple devices as this increases the overall queue.

We will update gov.uk and our social media channels to let everyone know when all tests sell out.

All the available appointments are shown on the online service. The DVSA customer service centre does not have access to any other appointments, so please do not call or email them.

There is not a ‘waiting list’ or ‘cancellation list’ for driving tests. You can only book the appointments you can see online.

Making sure your pupils are prepared

Fewer than 50% pass the test and there could be long waiting times for a re-test – so you or your pupils should only book when they are confident they can pass.

It is vital that your pupils are test ready if they want to book now, as tests could be at short notice.

We encourage you and your pupils to make sure they have spent time practising on a variety of roads and in different driving conditions before booking a test.

Test slot availability

If your pupil can’t book a test at their local centre, other nearby centres may be available. Your pupil should be properly prepared and able to take a test at any driving test centre.

After 1 September, new test slots will be made available on Monday 7 September and every Monday after that. You and your pupils will need to check again when we add new tests if you cannot find one immediately. 

Scotland

Test centres in Scotland remain closed, except for motorcycle tests as a result of Scottish Government rules. Driving lessons in Scotland resumed on 24 August and driving tests will resume on 14 September.

Tests slots for candidates in Scotland will be available to book from Monday 7 September for tests from 14 September. Candidates who had their test suspended due to COVID-19 will be invited to choose a new date for their test before the general public in Scotland can book a test.  Test slots will be limited, with tests available to book 6 weeks ahead only.

Customer service centre

Our customer service centre is still receiving an extremely high number of calls and emails. We’re sorry for the delays in getting through.

You will not be able to book or secure an earlier date for your driving test if you call us.

Please help by only calling if absolutely necessary; new slots and cancellations are only available online.

Driving test booking system closed

We have closed the booking service as no more tests are available to book today (26 August 2020). 

Test availability

We will reopen the booking system on Tuesday 1 September for tests for the following six weeks. 

To allow us to react quickly to any changes in government guidance about coronavirus we are only making tests available six weeks in advance. 

The current queuing system will remain in place when we reopen the system on the 1 September to help manage the bookings. 

If your pupil can’t book a test at their local centre, other nearby centres may be available. Your pupil should be properly prepared and able to take at test at any driving test centre. 

Making sure your pupils are prepared

We know the demand for booking driving tests is really high.  

It is vital that your pupils are test ready if they want to book now, as tests could be at short notice. 

On average fewer than 50% pass their driving test and there could be long waiting times for a re-test – so you or your pupils should only book when they are confident they can pass. 

We encourage you and your pupils to make sure you have spent time practising on a variety of roads and in different driving conditions before booking a test. 

Scotland

Test centres in Scotland remain closed, except for motorcycle tests. Driving lessons in Scotland resumed on 24 August and driving tests will resume on 14 September.  

Tests are not currently available to book and we will let you know when we open the booking service for Scottish candidates. Tests will initially be prioritised for those who have previously had tests cancelled. 

Customer service centre

Our customer service centre is still receiving an extremely high number of calls and emails. We’re sorry for the delays in getting through. 

You will not be able to book or secure an earlier date for your driving test if you call us. All driving tests will be made available online as soon as possible. 

Please help by only calling if absolutely necessary; new slots and cancellations are only available online.