The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has cancelled nearly 500 driving tests since June 9 after they were detected as having been booked in breach of its terms and conditions. The agency stated it cancelled 450 driving tests booked outside the new rules and placed 4,034 online booking suspensions on the system as part of its commitment to tougher action against misuse.
New Rules to Protect Learners
The DVSA has introduced changes to make booking driving tests fairer. From spring 2026, these include limits on changing test bookings, requiring learners to book their own tests, and restricting where tests can be taken. The recent booking rule changes are designed to protect learner drivers from being exploited and help the DVSA spot rule-breaking more easily. As a result, the agency can now better detect misuse, such as payment cards used to book multiple tests for different learners, and take action when needed, making the system fairer for legitimate learners.
Minister and DVSA Chief Speak Out
Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said: "Learners should be focusing on getting test-ready, not fighting an unfair booking system or paying over the odds to third-party touts. That's why DVSA's action to cancel dodgy tests is so important. By cancelling tests booked in breach of the rules and suspending access for those attempting to misuse the system, DVSA is sending a clear message that attempts to exploit learner drivers and profit from driving test appointments will not be tolerated."
Beverley Warmington, DVSA Chief Executive, added: "We promised to make the driving test booking system fairer, and we have kept that promise. These reforms were about making sure that driving tests go to genuine learners, not to those who profit from exploiting them. Today's action demonstrates that we have the tools and the determination to enforce the new rules. We will keep monitoring, keep acting, and keep the pressure on anyone who tries to circumvent the system."
Crackdown on Unlawful Practices
As part of efforts to stop unlawful test booking practices, the DVSA has noted evidence of test reselling on social media and mobile apps. This has led to 17 apps being removed from major app stores and social media accounts advertising these services being taken down. The DVSA is also increasing test availability. Between June 2025 and May 2026, it delivered more than 240,000 additional driving tests compared with the same period the previous year, supported by the highest number of driving examiners in several years.
Key Changes in 2026
- March 31: Learner drivers are now limited to 2 changes per booking.
- May 12: It is a legal requirement for only the learner driver to book, change, swap, or cancel their own car driving test. Use of unofficial apps, bots, or automated booking services is prohibited under DVSA's terms and conditions.
- June 9: Learners may only move their test to one of the 3 nearest driving test centres to where their test is currently booked. For new bookings made from June 9, the 3 nearest centres are calculated from the test centre originally booked. For existing bookings, the rule applies to wherever the test was booked on June 9 — not the original booking location.
Risks of Unofficial Services
The motoring and driving test experts stress that unofficial apps and booking services can pose significant risks. By sharing personal data with them, learners may lose control over how that information is handled. Where DVSA finds evidence of a breach of its terms and conditions or the law, it may contact the learner to confirm booking details or request further information, issue a warning notice, restrict the learner's ability to book or manage their test online, cancel the booking, or consider legal action where the law has been broken.
Every affected learner was told why their test had been cancelled. They received a full refund to the original payment method and were asked to call DVSA to arrange a new booking.
