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The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has today announced when new regulations will come into force for car driving test bookings, which it stated would create a fairer system and provide learners with greater control over their appointments. From May 12, 2026, exclusively learner drivers will be permitted to book or modify a car driving test, while from June 9, 2026, geographical restrictions will be implemented when relocating a scheduled test.

This follows DVSA's previous declaration that from March 31, 2026, the number of amendments a learner driver can make to a car driving test booking will be reduced to two, down from six. The forthcoming changes, which follow a nationwide consultation on enhancing the booking regulations, form part of a clampdown on third-party services exploiting the test booking system.

They are designed to curtail the resale of driving tests and will establish a level playing field for learner drivers, granting them greater control over their learning to drive experience.

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."

From May 12, 2026, third parties will be prohibited from booking or amending practical car driving tests on behalf of learner drivers. This encompasses unofficial test booking and cancellation tracking services as well as driving instructors.

Learners unable to arrange a test via GOV.UK who require extra assistance will retain the option to schedule a test through DVSA's customer service centre. DVSA confirmed it would implement terms and conditions for public bookings alongside introducing a declaration which all car learner drivers must accept prior to completing or modifying their test booking.

This measure is designed to enable DVSA to pursue action against those who deliberately breach the regulations, including instances where third parties arrange a driving test for a learner. Furthermore, from June 9, 2026, learners will only be permitted to relocate their driving test to the three closest driving test centres.

It stated that implementing 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 continued: "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 retain the ability to collaborate with their learner drivers to determine test readiness and provide guidance and support throughout their learning and booking process, including through the DVSA Ready to Pass? campaign. They will also be able to specify their availability for accompanying pupils to tests, preventing learners from scheduling examinations at times that prove inconvenient for their instructors.

The alterations come in the wake of a consultation on enhancing driving test booking regulations, which took place from May 28 to July 23, 2025, and garnered more than 100,000 responses. The DVSA reported that 70.7 per cent of those who responded to the consultation concurred or strongly concurred with the proposal to restrict bookings to learner drivers only.

Furthermore, it was noted that 42.5 per cent agreed or strongly agreed with limiting the number of swaps or changes an individual could make to their test.

The consultation explored how the DVSA could refine the rules for scheduling driving tests. Out of the 93,421 responses analysed, 72 per cent were from learner drivers.

Parents or guardians who had booked a test for a learner made up 7.7 per cent of respondents, whilst 9.9 per cent were ADIs or trainee driving instructors.

Participants were asked to share their opinions on two primary areas where the DVSA could modify the driving test booking system. These pertained to who could arrange and manage driving tests and how changes to driving tests could be handled.

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