If you're learning to drive — or helping someone who is — the rules for booking a practical driving test are about to change significantly. From 31 March 2026, the DVSA is slashing the number of permitted booking changes, blocking third-party bookings, and restricting location swaps. The target: bot operators and resellers who've turned a £62 test into a £500 black market commodity.
The problem: bots, resellers, and 22-week waits
The driving test booking system is broken, and everyone knows it. A National Audit Office investigation in December 2025 laid bare the scale of the crisis:
The DVSA's target wait time is 7 weeks. They don't expect to reach it until November 2027. The pandemic is partly to blame — only 437,000 tests were conducted in 2020–21, compared to a pre-pandemic average of 1.7 million per year. But the backlog has been weaponised by bot operators who snap up slots the moment they're released (24 weeks in advance) and resell them to desperate learners.
A DVSA survey of 21,656 candidates found that nearly a third had paid a third-party service to secure a slot, with some paying up to £500 for a test that officially costs £62. The average markup was around £60 on top of the official fee.
What's changing — and when
The changes are rolling out in two phases:
The amendment change explained
This is the big one landing on 31 March. Here's what's changing at a glance:
A few important details:
- If you've already used all your changes under the current rules, you'll get 2 fresh amendments from 31 March — a clean slate
- Changing multiple things at once (e.g. date and centre) counts as one amendment, not two
- If you run out of amendments, you must cancel and rebook — which means joining the back of the queue
- Cancellations are free if made at least 3 full working days before the test
Why 2 amendments matters
The amendment limit is specifically designed to break the reseller model. Resellers tell learners to book any available slot anywhere in the country, then use bots to find a better slot and swap the booking — sometimes multiple times. With only 2 changes allowed, the constant swapping that makes this business model work becomes impossible.
Why instructors are losing booking access
The second phase — blocking instructor bookings — is arguably more controversial. Currently, many driving instructors book tests on behalf of their pupils as a standard part of the service. It's convenient for learners and helps instructors manage their schedules. But the DVSA argues the system has been exploited:
- 880 business accounts have already been closed for excessive booking and swapping
- Some accounts were bulk-booking slots with no confirmed learner, then selling them on
- The line between "helpful instructor" and "commercial reseller" had become blurred
Under the new rules, only the learner — using their own GOV.UK account — will be able to book, amend, or cancel a practical test. Instructors can still advise on timing and readiness, but they won't have system access.
What the industry thinks
Not much good, frankly. The Driving Instructors Association (DIA) surveyed its members and found:
- Confidence in the changes rated just 1.3 to 1.6 out of 5
- 85% of instructors don't believe the changes will meaningfully reduce delays
- Only 8.8% felt all impacts had been properly considered
The ADINJC (Approved Driving Instructors National Joint Council) warned that removing instructor booking access "punishes legitimate businesses for DVSA's enforcement failures". Many instructors manage bookings for anxious learners, those with limited English, or pupils who simply aren't comfortable navigating government websites — and those learners will now have to manage the process alone.
The broader criticism is that these changes treat symptoms rather than the root cause. The real problem is insufficient examiner capacity — each test costs the DVSA approximately £86 to deliver, but the fee charged is only £62. The £24 deficit per test limits how many examiners the DVSA can hire and retain.
Will this actually stop the bots?
Probably not entirely. Bot operators have adapted to every previous restriction — from CAPTCHA challenges to account closures. Reducing amendments makes mass-swapping harder, but determined operators will likely shift tactics rather than disappear. The DVSA acknowledges the fight isn't over and says further technical measures are planned, but hasn't given details.
What you should do right now
If you're currently learning to drive or planning to start, here's how to prepare:
If you already have a test booked
- Use your remaining amendments wisely — from 31 March you'll have 2, regardless of how many you've used so far
- Don't panic-swap to a closer date at a distant centre. After the spring changes, you won't be able to move it back to your local area
- Confirm your preferred centre and date before 31 March if possible, while you still have more flexibility
If you haven't booked yet
- Book early — slots open 24 weeks in advance. Don't wait until you feel "test-ready" to book, as the wait itself is nearly 6 months
- Book it yourself — even if your instructor currently handles this, you'll need to manage your own booking soon anyway. Get comfortable with the GOV.UK system now
- Choose your centre carefully — under the new rules, you won't be able to swap to a centre across the country. Pick somewhere realistic from the start
- Avoid third-party booking services — they're exactly what the DVSA is targeting, and paying £100+ for a £62 test is money you could spend on an extra lesson
Test costs at a glance
- Theory test: £23
- Practical test (weekday): £62
- Practical test (evening/weekend): £75
- Cancellation: Free if at least 3 full working days before your test
- Amendments: Free (but limited to 2 from 31 March)
Extra capacity on the way
It's not all bad news. The DVSA has brought in 36 Ministry of Defence driving examiners to help clear the backlog. Each MoD examiner will conduct one day of civilian car tests per week for 12 months, delivering an estimated 6,500 additional tests over the year. It's a drop in the ocean against a backlog of 400,000 — but it's something.
The DVSA says the combination of anti-bot measures, reduced amendments, and extra capacity should bring the average wait down from 22 weeks toward the 7-week target by late 2027. Whether learners — and their increasingly frustrated instructors — are willing to wait that long is another question.
Just passed? Save from day one
If you've just passed your test, congratulations — and welcome to the world of fuel costs. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive petrol station in the same town can be over 10p per litre. Use Fuelwise to find the cheapest fuel near you before your first solo fill-up. New drivers can also check our guides to understanding your car's MPG and 10 ways to save money on fuel.
The bottom line
The DVSA's heart is in the right place — nobody wants learners paying £500 for a £62 test. But cutting amendments and blocking instructor access treats the booking system's symptoms while the real illness — not enough examiners — goes largely unaddressed. If you're learning to drive, the best advice hasn't changed: book early, pick your centre carefully, and don't pay a middleman for something you can do yourself on GOV.UK for free.