Driving test trial begins – the big changes you need to know
May 06, 2025 by Siobhan Doyle
Car changing is a big deal
Learners across the UK to face updated test routes in a bid to reduce young driver casualties.
DVSA has rolled out a new three-month trial to update practical driving tests across the UK, with the aim of giving learner drivers more real-world experience on rural and high-speed roads.
The initiative comes in response to stark safety figures revealing that nearly half (48%) of all young driver casualties occur on rural roads – the most dangerous high-speed environments for inexperienced motorists.
The trial will run until August 2025 and will affect 20 driving test centres nationwide, including locations such as Cardiff, Cambridge, Oxford, and Middlesbrough. Thousands of learner drivers are expected to be impacted.
Three key changes
The DVSA have confirmed that the content and overall duration of the driving test will remain the same, but three major updates to the test route structure are being introduced. These include:
- Fewer stops: The number of stops during the test will reduce from four to three, allowing more time to be spent driving on high-speed and rural roads.
- Less frequent emergency stops: Emergency stop exercises will now occur in one in seven tests, rather than one in three, reflecting improved car safety standards such as the mandatory anti-lock braking system (ABS).
- Extended sat nav driving: Examiners will have the flexibility to extend the independent driving section using satellite navigation, potentially for the full test duration.
The DVSA said these changes are designed to replicate “real-world” driving conditions more closely and better prepare learners for post-test challenges.
Reassurance for learners
Each test centre involved will have up to four participating examiners, and DVSA officials will contact all learners with upcoming bookings at these centres to explain the changes and offer reassurance.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said the initiative is part of broader government efforts to tackle rural road collisions involving young drivers. However, she clarified that a Graduated Driving Licence – which would restrict new drivers in other ways – is not currently being considered.
“This trial is about giving learners a more realistic experience before they pass, especially in the types of environments that pose the biggest risk to them,” a DVSA spokesperson said.
Where do the changes apply?
Test centres taking part in the trial include:
| Avonmouth | Bishopbriggs | Bolton | Cambridge | Cardiff |
| Dudley | Halifax | Hendon | Hereford | Hornchurch |
| Isleworth | Maidstone | Middlesbrough | Musselburgh | Norris Green |
| Norwich | Nottingham (Chilwell) | Oxford | Portsmouth | Wakefield |
The DVSA plans to share the results of the trial with the driving instruction industry once the pilot finishes in August.
The Transport Secretary recently announced new measures to make 10,000 additional driving tests available each month, aiming to reduce waiting times for learner drivers.
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