The UK’s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is rolling out big changes to the way driving tests are booked in 2025 and 2026. These reforms are designed to tackle long waiting times, stop bots from reselling test slots at inflated prices, and make the system fairer for learner drivers.

If you’re planning to take your test in the next year, here’s everything you need to know.

đź“… Longer Notice for Cancellations and Changes

From 8 April 2025, learner drivers will need to give 10 full working days’ notice to cancel or change a car driving test without losing their fee.

  • Previously, only 3 working days’ notice was required.
  • This change means learners must plan ahead carefully to avoid losing money.

👩‍🎓 Learner-Only Bookings

By spring 2026, only learner drivers themselves will be able to book tests directly.

  • Third-party booking services and bots will be banned from accessing the DVSA system.
  • This crackdown aims to stop resellers charging up to ÂŁ300 for a slot that officially costs ÂŁ62 weekdays / ÂŁ75 evenings & weekends.

🔄 Limits on Swaps and Moves

Learners will face stricter limits on how often they can change their booking:

  • Only two swaps or moves will be allowed.
  • Once booked, tests can only be moved within the same geographical area.

🪖 Extra Examiners from the MoD

To help reduce the backlog, the DVSA will temporarily use Ministry of Defence (MoD) driving examiners.

  • Around 36 MoD examiners are expected to deliver 6,500 additional tests over the next year. This is just a drop in the ocean of what is needed as they will only be available 1 day a week and can be recalled to their base at anytime should they be needed.
  • This should ease pressure while DVSA continues recruiting more examiners.

⏳ Tackling the Backlog

The scale of the challenge is huge:

  • As of late 2025, there are around 668,000 learners waiting for a test.
  • Average waiting times are 21.8 weeks but in a lot of areas the waiting times are as high as 26 weeks or do not have tests available at all.
  • The government’s target is to reduce waits to 7 weeks by summer 2026, though officials admit this may slip as they have in the passed 3 years.

đź’Ľ Recruitment and Retention

DVSA recruited 316 new examiners in 2025, but departures mean the net gain is only about 40.

  • To keep staff, examiners are being offered extraordinary retention payments (ÂŁ5000).
  • The hope is that a more stable workforce will help bring waiting times down.

âś… What This Means for Learners

  • Plan ahead: With longer cancellation notice periods, you’ll need to be more organised.
  • Book directly: By 2026, only learners will be able to book tests, protecting you from inflated prices.
  • Expect limits: You’ll only be able to swap or move your test twice, and only within your area.
  • Be patient: Extra examiners should help, but waiting times may remain high well into 2026.

✨ Final Thoughts

These changes are all about fairness and efficiency. By cutting out bots and resellers, the DVSA is making sure learners pay the official price and get a fair shot at booking a test. While the backlog won’t disappear overnight, the combination of stricter rules and extra examiners should gradually bring waiting times down.

👉 If you’re a learner driver, the best strategy is to book early, prepare thoroughly, and avoid last-minute cancellations. That way, you’ll be ready when your slot comes up—and you won’t risk losing your fee.

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