Review process for booking driving tests and ban the resale at inflated prices

I would like the government to review the process for booking driving tests and ban the resale of driving tests at inflated prices. I think there should be penalties for those caught doing so.

I think the DVSA should upgrade the booking site so only one booking can be done per license, unless someone has failed a test. I believe the government should review the booking process so that it is closely monitored with heavy fines and ADI badges taken off people caught selling tests. I believe the online booking system is vulnerable to bots which can buy multiple tests. I believe that extending the validity of the driving theory test certificate to 3 years could help with this process.

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country and has announced further measures to review the driving test booking system.

The DVSA is aware of third-party websites selling driving test appointments and does not approve use of such applications. The DVSA encourages learner drivers to use only the official GOV.UK website to book and manage their driving test and has published advice aimed at learner drivers to warn of the risks of using third parties to book a practical driving test. Further information can be found on GOV.UK at learner drivers warned about the risks of driving test cancellation finders. (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/learner-drivers-warned-about-the-risks-of-driving-test-cancellation-finders?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=7db74f10-2052-45bc-952e-2ce2d972f61b&utm_content=immediately)

It is not possible to block book car practical driving tests. A driving licence number can be assigned to only one car practical driving test within the booking system at a time.

DVSA deploys enhanced bot protection to help stop automated systems from buying up tests unfairly. These applications, however, are constantly evolving and changing, and DVSA’s work on this is ongoing.

On the 18 December 2024, DVSA launched a call for evidence (https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/experience-of-booking-and-managing-car-driving-tests/experience-of-booking-and-managing-car-driving-tests), seeking views on the current rules to book tests. This closed with just under 27,000 responses.

The DVSA have been analysing the evidence from this and has been developing proposals which will lead to consultation on improving processes, including any potential future legislative changes. On the 23 April the Secretary of State for Transport announced (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-acts-to-make-thousands-of-extra-driving-tests-available-each-month?) that this consultation had been fast-tracked to May 2025.

In January 2023, the DVSA changed the terms and conditions for using the booking service to help prevent anyone from selling tests at profit. Between 9 January 2023 and 5 January 2025, the DVSA issued 350 warnings, 792 suspensions, and closed 813 business accounts for misuse of its booking service. On 6 January 2025, the DVSA introduced a set of tougher terms and conditions that only allow driving instructors or businesses that employ driving instructors to use the booking service to book driving tests. The new terms and conditions make it clear that driving instructors and businesses must not book driving tests on behalf of learner drivers they are not teaching. They also stop driving instructors and businesses from using a learner driver’s details to book a driving test that they have no intention of that particular learner driver using.

If anyone breaks the terms and conditions, the DVSA can issue them with a warning notice, suspend their account and where necessary, close their account.

Since this change DVSA has issued 44 warnings, 120 suspensions, and closed 270 business accounts.

It is important road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills are up to date at the critical point a person drives unsupervised for the first time.

The maximum duration of two years between passing the theory test and a subsequent practical test is in place to ensure a customer’s road safety knowledge and ability to identify developing hazards is current. This validity period is set in legislation, and the Government has no current plans to lay further legislation to extend it.

Ensuring learner drivers have current relevant knowledge and skills is a vital part of the learning to drive process as new drivers are disproportionately casualties on our roads. Learners therefore need to pass another theory test if their two-year theory test certificate expires.

Department for Transport