How driving test booking is changing for learner drivers

New rules for booking driving tests in Great Britain take effect May 12, aimed at reducing long waiting lists and preventing the resale of test slots [1]. Instructors will be banned from booking tests on behalf of learners [1]. Under the changes announced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), only the learner driver will be able to book, change, or swap their own test [1]. This move follows a BBC investigation which found some instructors were offered kickbacks of up to £250 a month to sell their official booking login details to touts, who then resold tests for as much as £500 [1]. The standard test fee is £62 on weekdays and £75 for evenings, weekends, and bank holidays [1]. Additional restrictions limit the number of changes a learner can make to a booked test slot. Since March 31, only two changes are permitted, down from a previous allowance of six [1]. Changing the date, time, or test center, or swapping slots with another learner, each counts as one change [1]. If more than two changes are needed, the test must be canceled and rebooked, with refunds issued if canceled at least 10 working days before the test date [1]. Further rules taking effect June 9 will restrict location changes. Learners will only be able to move a booked test to one of the three test centers closest to the original booking location [1]. The DVSA advises learners to only book at a center they intend to use and to choose a realistic date for when they will be ready [1].