Change in rules for driving tests to combat bots, DVSA announces.
DVSA have released new rules after learner drivers are struggling to secure test appointments and third party services charging hundreds for driving tests.
The UK’s Driver & Vehicle Standards agency (DVSA) have released a consultation outcome to address escalating issues on bot activity for learner drivers. These new rules, in response to their findings, are set to come in place in spring 2026.
Learners report spending hundreds to thousands of pounds on lessons, exam fees, and instructor car hire.
Rising Costs and Waiting Times
Zhenya, 23, who has been learning to drive for two years and has failed twice, said he has spent “probably over two grand” and faced four- to five-month waits at Hendon and Wood Green test centres.
Zhenya’s wait was so long that his theory certificate expired before he could secure another test, forcing him to retake it.
Theory certificates expire after two years and are mandatory to book a practical assessment.
DVSA have announced they will deploy military driving examiners to cut test backlog after Covid-19 stopped exams, potentially adding “up to 6,500 more tests”.
Daniel, 29, another learner, has spent around £1,000 this year on lessons alone. He also monitors availability using the Testi app, receiving about 20 alerts a week to try to secure a slot in London.
Lipon, a driving instructor who’s been teaching for 16 years, says over 90% of his students are using unofficial third party websites to book their practical tests.
The Bot Problem and Instructor Incentives
DVSA’s consultation of almost 22,000 learners has found that a third of users have used third party booking systems, paying an average of £122 (almost double the standard test fee).
Some learners who responded said they used these services because their driving instructor recommended them to.
DVSA also found that instructors admitted to recommending these unofficial booking services to their learners.
Our research shows that some resale websites offer partnerships with driving instructors, giving them a percentage of fees for directing learners to their platforms.
Screenshot of unofficial third-party website offering commission to instructors for directing their pupils to their sites
DVSA received responses from 14 unofficial booking services, where almost half said they use driving instructor registration details to access the booking system.
This adds another layer to the system, where instructors could profit from students’ desperation to secure a test slot.
Advanced Technology Outcompeting Learners
Under new rules that have been announced on November 12th,
“only learner drivers will be able to book and manage car driving tests”.
They will subsequently be “limited to making up to two changes to their test in total”.
This comes after findings have shown about 327,000 driving tests were swapped in 2024 – some were swapped more than ten times.
The swapping feature allows learners to change the date, time or location of their test.
The consultation also announced that:
“tests will only be able to be moved to driving test centres within a certain geographical area of the original booking”
Unofficial third-party websites have been capitalising off this, using bots to snap up cancellations and available test dates released by test centres.
Automated booking bots dominate last-minute slots, particularly in densely populated areas like London.
Screenshot of unofficial third party website FAQs highlighting that “before you even have time to blink, we will have already reserved it.”
Daniel described competition from bots as intense, with exam slots disappearing almost instantly.
Zhenya said he considered using third-party services but decided against it due to high costs and uncertainty over exact times and locations.
Apps and Alternative Strategies
Learners are turning to apps like Testi and online groups on Telegram to monitor cancellations.
Screenshot of Testi app used to find driving cancellations
Daniel rescheduled his test three or four times, tracking multiple centres to increase his chances. Zhenya checks other test centres for availability, though he prefers to book directly through the DVSA.
The problem is evident in many major cities across the UK, where demand is high and test slots are scarce, creating a competitive environment that bots exploit.
Systemic Pressure and Uncertainty
The combination of rising lesson costs, long waits, and third-party services is leaving many London learners frustrated.
Despite DVSA’s previous measures to limit automated bookings, both learners report that bots continue to dominate last-minute slots.
The new rules may curb some bot activity but if learners are willing to share their details with third parties to get better tests slots, the problem may persist.
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HeadlineChange in rules for driving tests to combat bots, DVSA announces.
Short HeadlineDVSA rule change for learners
StandfirstDVSA have released new rules after learner drivers are struggling to secure test appointments and third party services charging hundreds for driving tests.
The UK’s Driver & Vehicle Standards agency (DVSA) have released a consultation outcome to address escalating issues on bot activity for learner drivers. These new rules, in response to their findings, are set to come in place in spring 2026.
Learners report spending hundreds to thousands of pounds on lessons, exam fees, and instructor car hire.
Rising Costs and Waiting Times
Zhenya, 23, who has been learning to drive for two years and has failed twice, said he has spent “probably over two grand” and faced four- to five-month waits at Hendon and Wood Green test centres.
Zhenya’s wait was so long that his theory certificate expired before he could secure another test, forcing him to retake it.
Theory certificates expire after two years and are mandatory to book a practical assessment.
DVSA have announced they will deploy military driving examiners to cut test backlog after Covid-19 stopped exams, potentially adding “up to 6,500 more tests”.
Daniel, 29, another learner, has spent around £1,000 this year on lessons alone. He also monitors availability using the Testi app, receiving about 20 alerts a week to try to secure a slot in London.
Lipon, a driving instructor who’s been teaching for 16 years, says over 90% of his students are using unofficial third party websites to book their practical tests.
The Bot Problem and Instructor Incentives
DVSA’s consultation of almost 22,000 learners has found that a third of users have used third party booking systems, paying an average of £122 (almost double the standard test fee).
Some learners who responded said they used these services because their driving instructor recommended them to.
DVSA also found that instructors admitted to recommending these unofficial booking services to their learners.
Our research shows that some resale websites offer partnerships with driving instructors, giving them a percentage of fees for directing learners to their platforms.
Screenshot of unofficial third-party website offering commission to instructors for directing their pupils to their sites
DVSA received responses from 14 unofficial booking services, where almost half said they use driving instructor registration details to access the booking system.
This adds another layer to the system, where instructors could profit from students’ desperation to secure a test slot.
Advanced Technology Outcompeting Learners
Under new rules that have been announced on November 12th,
“only learner drivers will be able to book and manage car driving tests”.
They will subsequently be “limited to making up to two changes to their test in total”.
This comes after findings have shown about 327,000 driving tests were swapped in 2024 – some were swapped more than ten times.
The swapping feature allows learners to change the date, time or location of their test.
The consultation also announced that:
“tests will only be able to be moved to driving test centres within a certain geographical area of the original booking”
Unofficial third-party websites have been capitalising off this, using bots to snap up cancellations and available test dates released by test centres.
Automated booking bots dominate last-minute slots, particularly in densely populated areas like London.
Screenshot of unofficial third party website FAQs highlighting that “before you even have time to blink, we will have already reserved it.”
Daniel described competition from bots as intense, with exam slots disappearing almost instantly.
Zhenya said he considered using third-party services but decided against it due to high costs and uncertainty over exact times and locations.
Apps and Alternative Strategies
Learners are turning to apps like Testi and online groups on Telegram to monitor cancellations.
Screenshot of Testi app used to find driving cancellations
Daniel rescheduled his test three or four times, tracking multiple centres to increase his chances. Zhenya checks other test centres for availability, though he prefers to book directly through the DVSA.
The problem is evident in many major cities across the UK, where demand is high and test slots are scarce, creating a competitive environment that bots exploit.
Systemic Pressure and Uncertainty
The combination of rising lesson costs, long waits, and third-party services is leaving many London learners frustrated.
Despite DVSA’s previous measures to limit automated bookings, both learners report that bots continue to dominate last-minute slots.
The new rules may curb some bot activity but if learners are willing to share their details with third parties to get better tests slots, the problem may persist.
