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Learner drivers forced to pay 122 fee for 'impossible-to-book' practical tests

Drivers who are desperate to book their practical driving test are paying up to 122 to unofficial booking services, new research shows

[Driving ]

Many learners are being left frustrated (stock)

Nearly a third of learner drivers have admitted to using dodgy booking services to snag a practical test spot, fresh research has uncovered.

This comes as criticism of the DVSA's booking system continues to mount. Learners are shelling out an average of 122 for a test through these unauthorised services - that's almost double the standard fee.

In response, the government has launched a consultation to overhaul the rules for booking tests, aiming to make the process "easier and fairer for everyone while preventing excessive charges for learner drivers".

According to the DVSA, a consultation on improving car driving test booking rules kicked off on May 23 and will wrap up on July 23. The DVSA is seeking input on who should be allowed to book and manage driving tests, and whether there should be limits on swapping tests between learners or changing test locations.

Rather than drafting new laws to ban test reselling, the consultation focuses on tweaking the system to prevent reselling, reports the Mirror.

[Test centre]

Getting a test can be tricky (stock)

An analysis of nearly 27,000 responses from learners and instructors revealed that many learners felt forced to use unofficial booking services to get earlier test dates, with some even claiming their instructors recommended it. The existing booking system permits learners to tweak their test date or location up to six times and even swap test appointments with other learners.

However, many learners have found themselves stuck in a months-long queue for a test, pushing them towards unofficial booking services or one of the numerous Facebook groups dedicated to test-swapping.

It's been alleged that some individuals are exploiting the official DVSA booking service to make a quick quid off those desperate for tests. They reportedly book tests using a learner's provisional licence details, then scout out another - often frantic - learner willing to cough up extra for the test, and use the swap feature on the DVSA website to transfer the test to them.

This effectively creates a secondary market for test resales, leaving learners unable to book a test due to high demand vulnerable to exploitation.

'I've forked out over 500 to take my test'.

One learner, Laura Carr, confessed to The Mirror that she's found the test booking system "incredibly stressful" due to the lengthy wait times. She admitted that she has "even considered venturing out of the county to sit a test in an unfamiliar area".

Laura, who resides in Essex, claimed it was "almost impossible to bag one there unless you're extremely lucky".

A 32 year old lass shared that the struggle to book a driving test has made her consider shelling out for an unofficial booking service. She spilled the beans, saying: "Not being able to drive is restricting the jobs I can apply for or get. The unofficial sources seem to have a lot more availability than the DVSA website."

On the flip side, 18 year old Layla Nihat called the process "absolutely awful". Frustrated with the official channels she lamented: "Using the DVSA website I haven't seen a single test date come up for my area so I have had to use unofficial booking services and with booking three tests in total, I have paid over 500."

She slammed the scammers and said the government needs to "crack down on all of the scammers", revealing even her driving instructor is fed up, noting most of his students end up resorting to dodgy sites for their test appointments. Carr piled on, stating: "I feel that something has to change as at the moment it is easier to buy concert tickets than it is to obtain a driving test."

As an answer to the outcry, Labour's transport secretary Heidi Alexander faced up to the demand issues this April. She urged the DVSA to slash those endless waiting lists.

In response, the Gov plans to pull qualified DVSA workers from other gigs back to testing duties and they're set to double the number of trainers who can whip up new examiners.

According to Alexander, the government has been left to tackle a massive backlog of learner drivers eager to ditch their L-plates but stuck waiting a record amount of time for their tests. In response, she declared: "I am instructing DVSA to take further action immediately to reduce waiting times which will see thousands of additional tests made available every month. We're acting fast to get Britain's drivers moving."

The surge in demand has led to some learners and instructors exploiting the online booking system, the government claimed. It pointed out that people were booking placeholder tests in areas they had no intention of visiting, only to swap them with someone reselling a test slot at their local centre.

The DVSA has also caught wind of commercial websites offering to scour for tests on behalf of learners, as well as tests being resold with extra fees tacked on, making it tougher for the agency "to offer test slots fairly".

DVSA chief executive Loveday Ryder told The Mirror that their aim is to "make booking a driving test easier and fairer for everyone while preventing excessive charges for learner drivers."

In a recent statement, she declared: "We've been working tirelessly to bring down the driving test waiting times. To help tackle this, in December 2024 we announced a new plan, on which we're making good progress. DVSA is currently running a consultation on improvements we can make to the test booking system, which will help us plan our next steps."

The government is mulling over ideas such as scrapping or restricting the option to swap tests or alter test venues, and ensuring that only learners themselves can book and manage their tests.

RED Driver Training's head honcho Seb Goldin has voiced serious concerns about the surge of dodgy test booking services. Chatting with The Mirror, he revealed: "With reports that students are often paying an average of 122, which is almost double the official fee for test slots, many are unaware that these services offer no guarantee. Once money changes hands, particularly through third-party apps or bank transfers, it's incredibly difficult to get it back if something goes wrong."

Goldin highlighted that a hefty number of RED's pupils are stuck in limbo, waiting to snag a test slot, stressing that for heaps of them, driving is vital for their jobs, studies, or caring duties. He emphasised the need for the system to "prioritise access for real people over profit-seeking parties".

Goldin gave the thumbs up to the government's approach, admitting it's a "step in the right direction". He said: "We support any efforts that genuinely increase test availability and help students access tests fairly, and I will be an active part of these discussions."

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