DVSA driving test booking changes: what you need to know

Learner drivers can now only move their practical driving test to one of their three nearest test centres under new Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) rules that have come into force today (9 June 2026).

The latest change is part of a wider government crackdown on driving test booking abuse, aimed at stopping bots, unofficial booking services and appointment reselling that have made it harder for learners to secure a test.

Previously, learners could move their booking to any test centre with availability, regardless of how far away it was. The DVSA says restricting swaps to nearby centres will help prevent people from booking tests in locations where they do not intend to take their exam.

But what else has changed? Here’s all the driving test booking test changes you need to know.

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New restrictions on changing driving test bookings

The test centre restriction follows a series of reforms introduced by the DVSA in recent months to make the booking system fairer and improve access to appointments.

Since 31 March 2026, learners have only been able to change their driving test booking twice before needing to cancel and rebook.
Meanwhile, from 8 April 2026, learner drivers became solely responsible for booking and managing their own practical driving tests. Third-party booking firms, cancellation finder apps and driving instructors are no longer allowed to make bookings on a learner’s behalf.

Under the current rules, only the learner can book, change, swap or cancel a driving test using the DVSA booking service.

Why is the DVSA changing the rules?

The DVSA says the measures are designed to prevent companies from using bots and bulk bookings to secure appointments and resell them at inflated prices.

Simon Lightwood, minister for roads and buses, said the system had seen “too many people paying over the odds to third-party touts”.

He said the government had delivered almost two million driving tests over the past year, including more than 158,000 additional tests since June 2025, helped by military driving examiners boosting capacity across the country.

“These new rules put learners back in control by stopping others from snapping up tests and reselling them for profit,” he added.

DVSA chief executive Beverley Warmington said the agency’s priority was to stop learners being exploited and make the booking process fairer.

“These new measures help bring a halt to a system where the use of bots and third parties increases the amount some learners pay for a test and blocks test availability for many others,” she explained. “These measures will help free up appointments for genuine learners who are ready to take their test.”

Learners should only pay the official test fee

The DVSA says learners should only ever pay the official fee for a driving test – £62 for weekday tests and £75 for evening, weekend and bank holiday appointments.

Driving instructors and driving schools can still advise learners on when they are ready to take a test and manage their own availability to avoid unsuitable booking times, but they can no longer make bookings on a learner’s behalf.

More driving examiners recruited

The DVSA says it’s continuing to recruit additional driving examiners to increase testing capacity and reduce waiting times.

As of April 2026, there were 1,604 full-time equivalent driving examiners employed. That’s the highest number since 2018.

The agency has also doubled its training capacity for new examiners as part of efforts to deliver more driving tests across Great Britain.

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