DVSA confirms May and June 2026 dates for new rules affecting all learner drivers

It announced on Tuesday when changes would be taking effect

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has today confirmed when new rules will be introduced for car driving test bookings, which it said would make the system fairer and give learners control of their booking. From May 12, 2026, only learner drivers will be able to book or change a car driving test, while from June 9, 2026, location limitations will apply when moving a booked test.

This follows DVSA’s announcement that from March 31, 2026, the number of changes a learner driver is allowed to make to a car driving test booking will be cut to two, reduced from six. The upcoming changes, which follow a nationwide consultation on improving the booking rules, are part of a crackdown on third-party services abusing the test booking system.

They aim to reduce the reselling of driving tests and will create a level playing field for learner drivers, giving them more control over their learning to drive journey.

Roads and Buses Minister, Simon Lightwood, said: “Learning to drive is hard enough without an unfair booking system. Learners deserve clear, honest access to tests – not being ripped off by third-party sites.

“These changes put learners back in control, stop the system being gamed, and help make sure tests go to those who really need them. I welcome DVSA’s action to make things fairer and support learners on their journey to becoming safe, confident drivers.”

Beverley Warmington, DVSA’s new chief executive, said: “We have listened to learners, driving instructors and voices from across the driver training industry on how to make the booking rules fairer. Our priority is to stop learners being exploited by third parties and put them in control of booking their driving test. The changes announced today will help us achieve that goal and build on the more than 149,000 additional tests delivered between April 2025 and February 2026.”

Driving test booking changes from May 2026

From May 12, 2026, third parties will not be able to book or change practical car driving tests for learner drivers. This includes unofficial test booking and cancellation finder services and driving instructors.

Learners who can’t book a test on GOV.UK and need additional support will still be able to book a test by calling DVSA’s customer service centre. DVSA said it would also introduce terms and conditions for public bookings and introduce a declaration that all car learner drivers must accept before they can complete or change their test booking.

This aims to allow DVSA to take action against those who knowingly break the rules, including where third parties book a driving test on behalf of a learner. Additionally, from June 9, 2026, learners will be able to move their driving test only to the three nearest driving test centres.

It said that introducing a location restriction “will help deter bookings at locations where the learner doesn’t intend to take their test. This will give a clearer view on which areas have the highest demand, allowing DVSA to better manage and focus driving examiner resources”.

It added: “Introducing these changes will disrupt cancellation finding services and make it fairer for learner drivers when searching for and booking their test. When the new rules come in, learners should only ever pay the actual fee DVSA charges – £62 on weekdays and £75 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays – giving them greater control and confidence when booking a driving test.”

Driving instructors and driving schools will still be able to work with their learner drivers to agree when they are test-ready and offer advice and support throughout their learning and booking journey, including via the DVSA Ready to Pass? campaign. They will also be able to set times they’re available to take pupils to their test, preventing learners from booking tests at times that don’t work for their instructors.

Why the driving test changes are being made

The changes follow a consultation on improving driving test booking rules, which ran from May 28 to July 23, 2025 and received more than 100,000 responses. DVSA said that 70.7 per cent of respondents to the consultation agreed or strongly agreed with the idea of limiting bookings to learner drivers only. It added that 42.5 per cent agreed or strongly agreed to restricting the number of swaps or changes an individual could make to their test.

The consultation looked at the ways DVSA could improve the rules for booking driving tests. Of the 93,421 responses we analysed, 72 per cent of respondents were learner drivers. 7.7 per cent of respondents were parents or guardians who booked a test for a learner and 9.9 per cent of respondents were an ADI or trainee driving instructor.

Respondents were asked for their views on two main areas where DVSA could change the driving test booking system. These involved who could book and manage driving tests and how driving test changes could be managed.

The full outcome of the consultation on improving car driving test booking rules can be found here: Improving car driving test booking rules: response to consultation – GOV.UK

Further guidance on changes to the driving test booking rules can be found here: Changes to driving test booking rules in 2026 – GOV.UK