Why is it so hard to book a driving test?
15th August 2024
It has been four years since the pandemic, and we are still experiencing high wait times to book a practical driving test across England, Scotland and Wales. Can you believe it? The average wait time for a test date is four and a half months, but why is this happening?
The DVSA are still encountering a knock-on effect of the pandemic, as driving lessons and tests could not go ahead. Not only were several driving test centres closed and never reopened, many driving examiners also left their profession and didn’t return. As a result, new examiners have been recruited although it takes time to train them to the DVSA standard.
Due to the difficulties of booking a driving test many learners are turning to unofficial websites and apps to find an earlier driving test because of the long waiting times under the guise of ‘cancellation appointments.’ However, the DVSA strongly advise against using these sites.
Re-selling a test isn’t illegal but it does exploit the driving test booking system. The conservative government addressed the issue back in 2023 explaining how the dodgy sites are block-booking and what they have been doing to tackle the situation. They said changes were going to be made including:
- Stopping users from using the service if they cancel 20% or more of their tests in the 10 working days leading up to the test (those who cancel in the 3 working days before the test will also continue to lose the test fee)
- Making sure that accounts have an ADI linked to them – if they do not, the account will be suspended.
The DVSA also made additional tests available to try to tackle the backlog but statistics show that over 65,000 driving tests were cancelled in 2023 due to annual leave, industrial action, bad weather, examiner sickness and coronavirus. However, as we hit mid-August, it has been proven that this is still an on-going issue. The new Labour Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh has deemed the rise in these ‘dodgy sites’ as ‘unacceptable’ and will make tackling the driving test backlog a ‘key priority’ going forward.
The DVSA said 8.2% of learners were booking a practical test before taking any driving lessons; the government is advising learners to only book their test after they’ve had sufficient on-road experience. Driving instructors normally suggest booking a test when the student is ready for one, however they have been advising against the advice, as the instructors know they students will be waiting three-six months otherwise. It is also an incentive as something to work towards, ensuring students book their driving lessons.
When booking through these unofficial sites not only may you pay significantly higher prices for a test (with some sites charging hundreds of pounds per test) but you also may not receive important emails about your test, including if the DVSA needs to change your test due unforeseen circumstances. At Pass N Go Driving School we use the official DVSA GOV.UK website to directly book and manage our pupils’ driving tests. As soon as we receive any information regarding your test from the DVSA, we forward the info directly to pupils to keep them updated as soon as possible if any changes are made by the DVSA.
When booking a test, it is very important to ensure that you have an instructor available for the test!
Contact us today to find out more information:
0333 207 0663