Reopening the driving test booking service

We are reopening the driving test booking service on Wednesday 26 August at 8am.

Driving tests will be available to book in England and Wales but will be limited, with only 35,675 tests available to book for the next six weeks. This is until the next set of tests are released on 1 September, so a rolling 6-week period is available.

Changes to the booking service

As a result of high demand we have introduced a queuing system 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 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.

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

Making sure your pupils are prepared

We know the demand for booking driving tests is really high, with over 870,000 individual devices trying to access our booking system on Friday.

Only 35,675 driving tests will be available when the booking service reopens until the next set of tests are released on 1 September.

When you or your pupils arrange a test, they will be able to see available appointments within the next 6 weeks.

We’re not taking bookings any further in advance so we can react quickly to any changes in government guidance about coronavirus.

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

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.

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 at test at any driving test centre.

After 26 August, new test slots will be made available on Tuesday 1 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. 

Test centres in 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 in Scotland are not currently available to book and we will let you know when we open the booking service for candidates. We will initially prioritise those who have previously had tests cancelled as a result of the pandemic.

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.

Update on the reopening of the driving test booking service

Yesterday (20 August 2020) we let you know we would be opening the driving test booking service and online business service (OBS) so that everyone in England and Wales could book a driving test.

Following unprecedented demand on the booking system, we’re aware that some users have not been able to book at test and received error messages.

We are working to fix this problem as soon as possible and we apologise for any inconvenience and disappointment to those who have been unable to book so far.

Test slot availability 

We have limited numbers of tests available today but more will be released on Monday 24 August. Test slots will be released on rolling 6 week basis.

If you or your pupils cannot book a test at their preferred test centre, please check other nearby alternative test centres for availability. 

Please avoid calling the contact centre as they are extremely busy. All driving tests will be made available online as soon as possible.

Restarting driver training and testing in Scotland

The Scottish government has confirmed that driver training can restart on Monday 24 August in Scotland.

Driving tests will start again in Scotland on Monday 14 September 2020 which will give learner drivers time to have refresher lessons and practice before taking their test.

Driving instructor testing and standards checks will also restart on 14 September.

Vocational, car and trailer tests driving tests will resume in Scotland on Monday 31 August.

What to expect when taking a test

We have published guidance on GOV.UK for instructors and candidates to let them know what to expect on the day of their theory test and practical test.

Contacting candidates whose test was postponed

Scottish candidates who had their test postponed due to the pandemic will be invited to rearrange their test online when the tests in Scotland are made available via the online booking service. 

Please encourage your pupils who had a test booked to reschedule their test as soon as possible if they feel ready.

Please do this before asking new pupils who didn’t have a test booked before lockdown to book a test.

Guidance for instructors

DVSA shared our guidance for driving examiners with the driver training associations and they have updated their good practice guidance for instructors. Links to good practice guidance are included in the instructor guidance on GOV.UK.

This information will help you prepare for lessons with your pupils.

More information

Check GOV.UK for the latest about:

• theory tests
• driving tests
• instructor guidance

Reopening the driving test booking service

From tomorrow (Friday 21 August), we will be reopening the online booking service from 8am for everyone.

This means anyone will be able to book a driving test in England and Wales.

Test centres in Scotland remain closed, except for motorcycle tests. Driving lessons in Scotland will resume on 24 August and will let you know when driving tests can resume soon.

Making sure your pupils are prepared

We expect the demand for booking driving tests to be really high.

We know many of your pupils will be keen to book their test, but it’s important they speak to you first, to check they are ready and are well prepared.

We encourage you and your pupils to spend time practising on a variety of roads and in different driving conditions before booking their test.

Some of our services will unavailable tonight

So that we can make the booking service available from tomorrow, some of our services will be unavailable tonight (Thursday 20 August) from 6pm to 7:59am tomorrow (Friday 21 August) so we can prepare the system.

On GOV.UK, you won’t be able to:

• book and manage driving tests
• find driving schools, lessons and instructors
• use ADI services (such as renewing or updating your registration)
• check your Driver CPC training hours
• record any Driver CPC training you provide
• record delegated driving test details

You’ll still be able to book and manage theory tests.

Test slot availability

When your pupils arrange a test, they will be able to see available appointments within the next 6 weeks.

We’re not taking bookings any further in advance at the moment. This is so we can react quickly to any changes in government guidance about coronavirus.

Your pupils should check all their nearest test centres for availability if they cannot book a slot at their local test centre.

New test slots will be made available every week, on a rolling 6 week basis, so you and your pupils should continue to check regularly for a test slot if you cannot find one immediately. 

Closing the critical worker helpline

The critical worker application service closed on 14 August. This was so that we could open up the online booking service for everyone.

As the service has closed, we will also be closing the critical worker phone helpline from Monday 24 August. 

Our customer service centre is still receiving an extremely high number of calls and emails.

We’re sorry for the delays in getting through, but please help us by only calling if absolutely necessary.