We’ve written about this repeatedly, and finally the government has intervened, introducing new regulations. However, we don’t yet know if this will completely solve the problem. According to information provided by the DVSA (Directorate General of Driving Schools), new rules for driving tests will come into effect in the next few months to make the booking system fairer.
According to the DVSA, from May 12th, only driving test candidates will be allowed to book, change, or move their driving test to another center; from June 9th, restrictions will be placed on changing booked test locations. This additional change will allow driving test candidates to move their tests to only three centers closest to their booked location.
Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said this step would reduce long waiting lists and prevent test locations from being sold at exorbitant prices.
Here’s the bad news. This step is unlikely to reduce long waiting lists. The problem isn’t the lists themselves, but the shortage of supervising instructors participating in practice. With a shortage of instructors, test dates are extended, and prospective drivers book tests randomly at various locations, sometimes for periods ranging from 9 months to * months. They’re told: “Even if you book a test in a distant location, keep track; someone might cancel their test drive at any time, and you could book another one there.” Those who don’t want to do this resort to third-party test trackers, asking them to monitor the DVSA website and book tests on their behalf. The cost is at least £100.
If they’re going to take their test drives in 6 to 9 months, nobody will wait that long and will give their information to third parties, trying to find a suitable test. This is exactly what’s happening today! A third party obtains the candidate’s name and beginner’s license number and can book the test as if they were going to take it on their behalf. This system will likely continue in the future.
The only solution is to increase the number of instructors. There’s no other solution.