The UK\u2019s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has introduced new rules preventing driving instructors and third-party services from booking driving tests on behalf of learners. Officials say the changes are designed to tackle the growing resale market for test appointments and reduce pressure on the booking system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The measures came into force on May 12,<\/strong> as average waiting times for practical driving tests in Britain climbed above 22 weeks. According to data obtained by AA Driving School through freedom of information requests, average waits <\/strong>increased from 20.8 weeks in January to 22.4 weeks by early April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learner drivers have faced mounting difficulties securing test appointments since the pandemic backlog began to build. The DVSA says the latest restrictions are intended to return control of bookings to learners themselves while limiting the use of automated software and bulk reservations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a National Audit Office<\/strong> report published in December, some learners were paying as much as \u00a3500 for appointments that officially cost \u00a362 on weekdays and \u00a375 during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under the updated system, learner drivers <\/a>are now the only people legally permitted to book and manage driving tests. The DVSA said it is now a criminal offence for another person to book a test on someone else\u2019s behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The agency introduced the move following concerns that automated \u201cbots<\/strong>\u201d were rapidly securing available slots before reselling them at inflated prices. A BBC investigation reported that some touts had offered driving instructors monthly payments of up to \u00a3250 in exchange for access to official booking account details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the DVSA, the changes are intended to stop learners being \u201cexploited by third parties<\/em>\u201d and to make the process \u201cfairer.\u201d DVSA chief executive Beverley Warmington <\/a>said the new system would help free up appointments for \u201cgenuine learners who are ready to take their test<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Further restrictions are also scheduled to begin next month. From June 12, learners will only be able to move a booking to one of the three nearest driving test centers linked to the original appointment. Officials say this is aimed at stopping people from reserving tests in distant locations purely to secure an earlier slot before later attempting to switch locations. Another rule already introduced at the end of March reduced the number of times a single test booking can be changed from six to two<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNew Rules Target Bots and Resale Activity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n