Learner drivers will face stricter rules when booking a practical driving test from May 2026, as the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) introduces changes aimed at curbing tout activity. Under the new rules, learners can only transfer their test to one of the three nearest test centres to their original booking location, preventing them from booking a distant centre for an earlier slot and then switching to a closer one.
The DVSA has also reduced the number of amendments allowed to a booking from six to two, effective from March 31. These measures build on earlier changes that restrict test management to the person taking the test. The agency stated: 'Changes to the driving test booking rules come into force today. You can only move your test to one of the 3 nearest centres to where it's currently booked. That's all 3 promised changes delivered.'
Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com, warned that the changes leave learners with fewer options. He said: 'From today, new changes from the DVSA have been introduced. These have been designed to make the driving test system fairer for learners by limiting opportunities for scammers and third parties to resell test slots at inflated prices. Learners can now only move their test to the same or one of three nearby test centres.'
The DVSA has been cracking down on unofficial booking platforms and resellers who exploit the system. A BBC investigation revealed that some driving instructors were offered kickbacks of up to £250 a month to sell their login details to touts, who then booked tests in bulk and sold them for as much as £500. The average wait for a practical test across Britain now exceeds five months, with 64,500 tests missed last year.
Crole-Rees added: 'However, the changes do mean learners will have fewer options if they're looking to switch test centres based on availability or performance. Our research shows that driving test pass rates can vary significantly across the country, ranging from around 33% to 80%, so where you take your test can make a real difference. With the booking process becoming tighter, it's important that learners take time to choose the right test centre and only book when they're confident they're ready.'
