Starting next week, a significant change to driving test rules will affect all learner drivers in England. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is implementing a so-called "two-strike" limit, which will alter how tests are booked and managed.
Key Changes from May 12
From Tuesday, May 12, only the learner driver will be permitted to book their driving test. Driving instructors will no longer be able to schedule tests on behalf of their students. This shift means learners must take responsibility for booking their own test through the official government website.
When booking, learners will need to confirm that they are the person taking the test and agree to a new set of terms and conditions. Additionally, any amendments to the test, such as rescheduling or changing the location, can only be made by the driver themselves, not by their instructor.
Illegal to Book for Others
Under the new rules, it will become illegal for anyone other than the learner driver to book or change a driving test. This crackdown aims to prevent exploitation of the system by rogue individuals.
Further Changes from June 9, 2026
Another change is scheduled for June 9, 2026. From that date, if a driver needs to move their test to a different location, they will only be able to choose from the three nearest test centres. The DVSA advises that if you need to change centres, you can only select from other nearby options.
Government Response
A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson commented: "We inherited a frustrating system with learner drivers left in limbo waiting for tests, a system ripe for rogue individuals to exploit. That's why we're taking decisive action to address the backlog and seeing improvement – including deploying military driving examiners, and from spring 2026, limiting test moves and swaps, and only allowing learner drivers to book tests. The DVSA has already carried out 74,847 extra tests between June and November this year compared to 2024, and these new measures will deliver thousands more extra tests over the next year."
These measures are designed to reduce the backlog of driving tests and ensure a fairer system for all learners.
