Learner drivers across the UK will encounter a significantly reformed system for booking and managing their practical driving tests from spring 2026. The Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed a suite of new rules designed to tackle widespread misuse, increase fairness, and hand more direct control to those learning to drive.
Learner Drivers to Take Control of Bookings
Under the incoming regulations, only the learner drivers themselves will be permitted to book and monitor their driving test appointments. This pivotal change means driving instructors will no longer be able to make bookings on a pupil's behalf. The DVSA states this measure is intended to disrupt automated bots and unscrupulous third-party businesses that have been bulk-booking tests only to resell them at highly inflated prices, a practice that has exacerbated lengthy waiting times.
Strict Limits on Test Changes and Swaps
To further deter speculative bookings and free up slots for genuinely test-ready candidates, the DVSA is imposing a strict limit on alterations. Learner drivers will be allowed to make a maximum of two changes to a booked test. This includes amending the date or time, switching to a different test centre, or swapping the appointment with another learner who already has a test booked. Any move will be restricted to test centres near the original booking location.
Should a learner need to make more than two changes, they will be required to cancel their test entirely and rebook. A full refund will be issued provided at least ten full working days' notice is given. These rules aim to ensure that available slots are taken by those prepared to take their test.
Instructors' Role Evolves Amid Changes
While instructors will be barred from making bookings, their role in guiding pupils through the process remains crucial. They will retain access to an online service to manage their availability. Learners can add their instructor's personal reference number during booking, allowing the system to automatically check if their teacher is free.
Dave Leverton, academy director at Bill Plant Driving School, welcomed the reforms. "Having consulted with the DVSA for some time on the thorny topic of driving test waiting times, I very much support the measures being introduced," he said. He cautioned that the changes "won't resolve problems with driving test waiting lists overnight" but described them as "certainly a step in the right direction" by cutting out exploitative third parties.
Leverton emphasised that instructors will be key in advising learners against common pitfalls like booking too early or constantly shifting test dates. "Learning to drive isn't about how quickly someone can get to test," he noted. "Good driving instructors prepare their pupils for a lifetime of safe driving... Every pupil is different, but 45 hours is a good benchmark."
The DVSA confirmed that the new rules for booking and managing car driving tests will be introduced from spring 2026, with the exact date to be announced closer to the time.
