SEVEN changes to driving tests are expected to take effect in the New Year – and every learner will be affected.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has revealed a new seven point plan to cut waiting times for driving tests.
Driving tests have been notoriously hard to book[/caption]
DVSA is aiming to make booking driving tests more manageable for learners[/caption]
Waiting times are expected to reduce to seven weeks, while almost 2 million driving tests are due to be taken between April 2024 and March 2025.
See below for a full list of all the changes.
Recruit new driving examiners
DVSA will begin with hiring and training 450 new driving examiners nationwide in a bid to protect learner drivers from being overcharged.
Booking test system
The company also has plans to improve the driving test booking system to help learners get through the process more efficiently.
This includes analysing the evidence it retrieved about the current rules and processes, and coming up with a new and improved system.
Tougher rules for driving instructors
From January 6th, only certified driving instructors or businesses will be authorised to reserve car driving tests for their students.
DVSA stated that they will also not be allowed to book driving tests on behalf of learner drivers they are not teaching.
Anyone breaking the rules will be issued with a warning notice and could have their account suspended or closed.
Stricter rules for certain learner drivers
Learner drivers currently have to wait 10 working days before being able to book another test but in the new year this will change for some.
The amount of time a learner will have to wait before booking their next test will increase if they are physically or verbally abusive towards their examiner.
And if they made multiple serious or dangerous faults during their initial test or if they failed to attend their test without telling DVSA.
Notice period for test cancellations or changes
The current notice period for cancelling or changing the date of a driving test is three days but in the new year this will go up to 10.
DVSA hopes the change will encourage people to cancel their test if they feel like they’re not ready and give others more opportunity to nab the free appointments.
Learner drivers will be refunded if they are ill or have a bereavement.
The company will continue to pay out-of-pocket expenses for any car driving tests it cancels with fewer
Booking your test in advance
DVSA will look at changing how far ahead driving tests can be booked so it can better understand how many learners want to take a test at each centre.
There is currently a 24 week limit on how far ahead car driving tests can be booked.
Better preparation
The Ready to Pass? campaign will be gather new momentum in an effort to encourage learner drivers to prepare properly for their test.
The campaign is pushing learners to make use of DVSA’s various online tools to get ready for their exam.
These include tips on what you need to pass, how to manage on-the-day nerves and where to take a mock test.
Research from the company suggest that about 23 per cent of learner drivers attempt their first test within one month of beginning driving lessons.
The campaign is also trying to encourage those who are not ready to take their test to push the date back.
Changes set to impact learner drivers
These are the changes learner drivers should expect to see in the new year:
- 450 new driving examiners will be recruited nationwide in a bid to protect learner drivers from being overcharged
- Plans to improve the driving test booking system to help learners arrange their exam for efficiently
- Driving instructors won’t be allowed to book driving tests on behalf of learner drivers they are not teaching
- The time before booking another test will increase for some learner drivers
- The notice period for changes or cancellations to tests will increase
- DVSA will change how far ahead you can book a test
- The company will continue to encourage students to prepare properly before booking their driving test
