Guidance

Coronavirus: driver and rider trainer guidance

Updated 3 August 2020

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-restarting-driver-and-rider-training-and-tests/coronavirus-restarting-driver-and-rider-training-and-tests

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Introduction

Driver and rider training and testing were suspended in March 2020 because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This guide is for approved driving instructors (ADIs), motorcycle trainers, and lorry and bus (vocational) trainers. It explains:

  • how you should work safely during coronavirus
  • what support is available for businesses
  • the timescales for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) restarting its services in England, Scotland and Wales

There’s different information for Northern Ireland.

1. Working safely during coronavirus

The government has published guidance about working safely during coronavirus. It includes:

Detailed guidance from representative organisations

Representative organisations have published detailed guidance about working safely during coronavirus.

You should check the detailed guidance for the type of training you provide:

2. Business support

Coronavirus support is available to businesses.

Find out what financial support schemes you may be eligible for.

3. Timescales for restarting driving and motorcycle tests

There are different timescales for:

  • different types of vehicles
  • England, Scotland and Wales

These tables show when the main activities will happen for:

Car

Activity England Scotland Wales
Driving lessons restart 4 July 24 August1 27 July
Theory tests restart 4 July 22 July 3 August
Start emailing people who had a test cancelled (in batches) to choose a new date 16 July TBC 13 August
Driving tests restart for candidates who had a test cancelled 22 July TBC 17 August
Booking service reopens for people who did not have a test booked before lockdown TBC TBC TBC
Close the service for critical workers to apply for an emergency test TBC TBC TBC

Pupils choosing a new test date

DVSA will email your pupils to invite them to rebook their test. This will be done in batches, with several batches of emails being sent each day.

It might take several weeks for your pupil to get the email, depending on when their test was originally scheduled.

The link in the email will not expire, so it does not matter if your pupil cannot arrange their test straight away.

If the email address does not work, DVSA will send a text message to the mobile phone number that was given for the booking.

If the mobile phone number does not work, or one was not given, DVSA will send a letter by post to your pupil. This will tell them how to arrange the test.

Available appointments

All available appointments are shown on the online service.

Do not contact the DVSA customer service centre, as they do not have access to any other appointments.

If your ADI number is on the booking

If your pupil added your ADI number when they originally booked, it will still be assigned to the booking.

Motorcycle

Activity England Scotland Wales
Motorcycle and moped compulsory basic training (CBT) 4 July 22 July 27 July
Motorcycle direct access scheme (DAS) training 4 July 22 July 27 July
Theory tests restart 4 July 22 July 3 August
Reopen the trainer booking service 6 July 27 July 27 July
Motorcycle manoeuvring areas available for practice 11 July 1 August 1 August
Motorcycle module 1 and module 2 tests restart 13 July 3 August 3 August
Close the service for critical workers to apply for an emergency test TBC TBC TBC

Lorry, bus and coach

Activity England Scotland Wales
Driver training restarts 4 July 24 August1 27 July
Theory tests restart 4 July 22 July 3 August
Reopen the trainer booking service 6 July TBC 27 July
Driving tests restart 13 July TBC 3 August
Close the service for critical workers to apply for an emergency test TBC TBC TBC

Car and trailer

Activity England Scotland Wales
Driver training restarts 4 July 24 August1 3 August
Reopen the trainer booking service 6 July TBC 27 July
Driving tests restart 13 July TBC 3 August
Close the service for critical workers to apply for an emergency test TBC TBC TBC

Tractor and specialist vehicle

Activity England Scotland Wales
Driver training restarts 4 July 22 July* 27 July
Driving tests restart 6 July 3 August* 3 August
Close the service for critical workers to apply for an emergency test TBC TBC TBC

*In Scotland, these dates only apply to tractor tests - other specialist vehicle tests are still suspended.

ADI tests and standards checks

Activity England Scotland Wales
Driving instructor training restarts 4 July 24 August1 27 July
ADI part 1 tests (theory) restart 4 July 22 July 3 August
ADI part 2 tests (driving ability) restart 22 July TBC 17 August
ADI part 3 tests (instructional ability) restart 22 July TBC 17 August
ADI standards checks restart 22 July TBC 17 August

Motorcycle trainer tests

Activity England Scotland Wales
DVSA enhanced rider scheme trainer theory test 4 July 22 July 3 August

4. How theory tests and driving tests will work

DVSA has published guidance about what you and your pupils should expect when they take theory tests and driving tests.

Sending information to the NHS Test and Trace service

DVSA will share your details and your pupil’s details with the relevant NHS service if a DVSA member of staff you had close contact with both:

  • develops coronavirus symptoms within 48 hours of your driving test
  • tests positive for coronavirus after their symptoms developed

There’s more information in the privacy notices for:

  1. 24 August 2020 is the indicative date announced by the Scottish Government. This is subject to change, and will not be confirmed until nearer the time. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

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