Driving test rules overhauled to curb bots, cut long waits

The UK government has announced major reforms to the driving test booking system to tackle long waiting lists and stop bots from reselling test slots at inflated prices.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said only learner drivers will soon be allowed to book driving tests, ending the practice of third-party resellers and even instructors booking on behalf of learners.

The move, she said, will help stop candidates being exploited by online bots that snap up slots within seconds.

However, Alexander admitted to MPs that the target of reducing waiting times to seven weeks by summer 2026 will not be met. The average delay currently stands at more than 21 weeks.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) plans to tighten booking rules by limiting how often a test can be swapped or moved, and restricting the locations where learners can reschedule.

To ease backlogs, 36 examiners from the Ministry of Defence will help conduct tests one day a week for a year, at a cost of £100,000.

A recruitment drive for 316 new examiners has so far resulted in a net gain of just 40, prompting the introduction of a £5,000 retention payment from next year.

The reforms follow reports that bots and third-party companies were buying up test slots and reselling them for as much as £500 far above the official £62 weekday fee.

Driving instructors and industry figures have largely welcomed the changes. Aman Sanghera of Clearview Driving called the new rules “the fairest way to fix the system,” while AA Driving School’s Emma Bush said they would help “stop unscrupulous test resellers from profiting off learners’ misery.”

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