The DVSA has launched a brand new public session geared toward tackling driving check reselling and bettering equity for learner drivers ready to get a check. The session, which opened on 28 Might 2024 and runs till 9 July, invitations suggestions from ADIs, PDIs, learners, and the broader driver coaching group.
Excessive demand for automotive driving checks has created alternatives for third-party operators to use learners by utilizing bots to safe check slots after which reselling them at inflated costs. In accordance with DVSA’s latest name for proof, almost a 3rd of learners and oldsters admitted to utilizing unofficial providers, paying a mean of £122 for earlier check dates.
The brand new session explores proposals to:
- Outline who’s allowed to e-book and handle checks
- Restrict or take away the power to swap check appointments or change places
- Restructure reserving permissions to cease bots and unauthorised resales
Quite than pushing for a authorized ban, DVSA believes that altering the system’s design to make reselling virtually inconceivable is a sooner and simpler answer. These modifications are a part of DVSA’s broader plan to scale back check ready occasions and enhance entry to the web reserving service.
DVSA Chief Govt Loveday Ryder stated: “DVSA’s objective is to make reserving a driving check simpler and fairer for everybody whereas stopping extreme expenses for learner drivers.”
The session follows the Transport Secretary’s announcement on the Transport Choose Committee on 23 April 2025, which included measures to scale back ready occasions. These embrace encouraging certified DVSA workers to return to testing, doubling the variety of everlasting trainers, and reinstating extra time pay for examiners. The federal government hopes to carry common check ready occasions right down to 7 weeks by summer season 2025.
Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Way forward for Roads, added: “This session is a vital transfer in direction of giving learners extra say over how and the place they’ll e-book, alongside setting out choices to raised allow DVSA to dam bots from stealing slots.”
The Nationwide Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP) has endorsed the session, stating: “The Driver Coaching trade welcomes this session as a key step in bettering accessibility and value of the check reserving system for reliable customers, however equally, as an essential step in direction of stopping entry by these searching for to use learners by means of the illegitimate sale of check slots at extortionate costs.
“We urge pupils, mother and father and trainers to reply to the session and guarantee they’re a part of enabling higher, extra environment friendly and fairer options for reserving driving checks sooner or later.”
The session applies solely to automotive driving checks. No modifications are proposed for reserving motorbike, vocational, teacher or idea checks.
To participate within the session, please go to: https://www.gov.uk/authorities/consultations/improving-car-driving-test-booking-rules/improving-car-driving-test-booking-rules
