News story

Driving test booking service: update

The driving test booking service will be available, as normal, between 6am and 11:40pm from 16 September 2020.

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Check the latest information about driving tests and coronavirus.

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The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced that the driving test booking service will return to being available between 6am and 11:40pm each day from Wednesday 16 September 2020.

You’ll be able to book, change or cancel tests in England, Scotland and Wales.

Gareth Llewellyn, DVSA Chief Executive, said:

We’re pleased to have met customers’ exceptionally high demand for tests. Since Monday 14 September, over 182,000 driving tests have been booked.

We continue to monitor the number of people using the service and the number of available appointments to help us meet demand.

Fewer than 50% pass the test first time, so we’re asking candidates and instructors to only book a test when they are confident they can pass.

You can now book 18 weeks ahead

You can now book driving test appointments within the next 18 weeks. This means you can now book appointments as far as January 2021.

DVSA has increased the number of car driving tests that each driving examiner carries out from 5 to 6 per day. DVSA can safely increase the number of tests a day as driving examiners are:

  • now familiar with how to use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face coverings and gloves
  • following the latest safety guidance when carrying out tests

When you book your driving test

You’ll be able to see and book appointments available within the next 18 weeks.

You must be ready to take your driving test within that time. If you’re not ready, do not try to book now.

The service will show you available appointments at your other nearest driving test centres if your preferred choice is fully booked.

All the available appointments are shown on the online service. The DVSA customer service centre does not have access to any other appointments, so please do not call them.

There is not a ‘waiting list’ or ‘cancellation list’ for driving tests - you can only book the appointments you can see online.

Checking you’re eligible

Your driving test booking is subject to confirmation that you have:

DVSA will check that you have both of these before your test. If your test is booked at short notice (within a week of your booking), DVSA will check it as a priority before the day of your test.

If you do not have both of these, DVSA will contact you before the date of your test to cancel it and offer you a refund.

Practise with your driving instructor

It is vital that you are test-ready if you want to book now, as tests could be at short notice.

On average fewer than 50% pass their driving test and there could be long waiting times for a retest - you should only book when you are confident you can pass.

DVSA encourages you to spend time practising on a variety of roads and in different driving conditions with your driving instructor before you book your test.

Published 22 August 2020
Last updated 15 September 2020 + show all updates
  1. Updated with information about the booking service changing to its normal opening times of 6am to 11:40pm from Wednesday 16 September 2020.

  2. Updated to show "The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has reopened the driving test booking service on Tuesday 15 September 2020 for new bookings."

  3. Updated with information about the booking service closing at 11:30pm on 14 September and reopening at 8am on 15 September.

  4. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has reopened the booking service on Monday 14 September 2020 for new bookings.

  5. Added a section on the checks DVSA does after you have booked your test to check it can go ahead.

  6. Added 'The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has closed the booking service. The service will reopen on Monday 14 September 2020.' and 'The online booking system to cancel your driving test will reopen on 8am on Tuesday 8 September 2020. You will not be able to cancel your driving test until then.'

  7. Updated to show that "The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has reopened the booking service on Monday 7 September 2020 for new bookings."

  8. Added that "DVSA plans to increase the number of car driving tests per day from 5 to 6."

  9. Updated to show "The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has closed the booking service, as no more tests are available to book until Monday 7 September 2020."

  10. Updated to show that 'The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has reopened the booking service on Tuesday 1 September 2020 for new bookings.'

  11. Updated to include information on: - tests bookings restarting in scotland from 7 September 2020 - DVSA will extend the period in which tests are available from 6 weeks to 18 weeks ahead from 14 September 2020

  12. Updated to confirm no more tests are available to book until Tuesday 1 September 2020.

  13. Updated with details of the reopening of the driving test booking service.

  14. Added information about what to expect when the driving test booking service is available again from 8am on 26 August 2020.

  15. First published.