DVSA Announces Changes to Driving Test Booking Rules from Spring 2026

Summary
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced that new rules for booking and managing car driving tests will be introduced from spring 2026. The changes will affect how learner drivers book tests, how many times bookings can be changed, and how test centres can be selected.

The new rules apply to car driving tests only in England, Scotland, and Wales.

View from behind the wheel of a car driving along a countryside road

What has changed

From spring 2026, the DVSA will introduce new restrictions on how car driving tests can be booked and managed.

Learner drivers will only be able to book their own driving test
Driving instructors will no longer be able to book tests on behalf of learners
Learners will be limited to two changes to their driving test booking
Test bookings can only be moved to test centres near the original booking location

Who this affects

Learner drivers booking a car driving test
Driving instructors who currently book tests for pupils
Learers who change test dates, times, or locations multiple times

The changes do not apply to:

Motorcycle tests
Lorry, bus, or other driving tests
Driving tests in Northern Ireland

When it comes into effect

The new rules will be introduced from spring 2026
The exact start date has not yet been confirmed
The DVSA has stated that more information will be provided closer to implementation

Official guidance

Only the learner will be allowed to book their driving test
Instructors will still be able to manage their test availability online
If a learner adds their instructor’s personal reference number to a booking, the system will automatically check instructor availability

The DVSA has also clarified that the following actions will each count as a “change”:

Changing the test date or time
Changing the test centre
Swapping a test appointment with another learner

What this means in practice

Learners will need to manage their own test bookings
After two booking changes, learners will need to cancel and rebook the test if further changes are required
A full refund will be issued if the test is cancelled with at least 10 full working days’ notice

Instructors will still be able to control when they are available to take pupils to tests, but will no longer control the booking itself.

Common questions

Does this affect existing test bookings?
The DVSA has not yet confirmed how existing bookings will be handled. Further guidance is expected nearer the implementation date.

Can instructors still attend tests with pupils?
Yes. Instructors can still manage their availability, and the system will check availability if their reference number is added.

Does this reduce the number of tests available?
No changes to test availability have been announced as part of this update.

What to do next

No immediate action is required
Learners and instructors should be aware that booking responsibilities will change
Further instructions will be issued by the DVSA closer to spring 2026

Source and further information

This article is based on official DVSA guidance published on GOV.UK on 9 December 2025. For the latest updates, visit GOV.UK and search for DVSA driving test booking changes.