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 Could 2024 and runs till 9 July, invitations suggestions from ADIs, PDIs, learners, and the broader driver coaching neighborhood.
Excessive demand for automotive driving assessments has created alternatives for third-party operators to take advantage of learners by utilizing bots to safe check slots after which reselling them at inflated costs. In keeping with DVSA’s latest name for proof, practically a 3rd of learners and fogeys admitted to utilizing unofficial companies, paying a median of £122 for earlier check dates.
The brand new session explores proposals to:
- Outline who’s allowed to e book and handle assessments
- Restrict or take away the flexibility to swap check appointments or change areas
- Restructure reserving permissions to cease bots and unauthorised resales
Reasonably than pushing for a authorized ban, DVSA believes that altering the system’s design to make reselling virtually not possible is a quicker and simpler answer. These modifications are a part of DVSA’s broader plan to scale back check ready instances and enhance entry to the web reserving service.
DVSA Chief Government Loveday Ryder mentioned: “DVSA’s aim 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 instances. 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 deliver common check ready instances right down to 7 weeks by summer time 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 will e book, alongside setting out choices to higher allow DVSA to dam bots from stealing slots.”
The Nationwide Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP) has endorsed the session, stating: “The Driver Coaching business welcomes this session as a key step in bettering accessibility and value of the check reserving system for respectable customers, however equally, as an essential step in direction of stopping entry by these in search of to take advantage of learners by means of the illegitimate sale of check slots at extortionate costs.
“We urge pupils, dad and mom 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 assessments sooner or later.”
The session applies solely to automotive driving assessments. No modifications are proposed for reserving bike, vocational, teacher or principle assessments.
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
