Steve's Automatic Driving School

From the DVSA….

Taking stronger action against those breaking the rules

As you know, from 12 May 2026 only learner drivers have been allowed to book, change, swap or cancel a car driving test.

This rule change has given us new powers to take direct action against those who misuse the booking service. And we are using those powers to make things fairer for all learner drivers.

Cancelling driving tests
We have started to cancel driving test that we have identified as being booked or managed outside of the new rules.

So far, we have cancelled 450 tests.

They were cancelled as they were booked using a payment card that has been used to pay for lots of driving tests for different learner drivers. This means that the tests were not booked by the learner driver taking the test. Our terms and conditions allow us to cancel tests where this happens.

We are continually monitoring the booking service and will keep cancelling tests where we have evidence of bookings made in breach of the law and our terms and conditions.

This will not stop.

We have placed 4,034 online booking suspensions on the system
A suspension means the driving licence holder can no longer book or manage tests online. They will need to call our customer service centre instead.

We’ve also updated our guidance to confirm that a suspension stays in place for 12 months.

We have reported apps to Apple and Google

We have successfully removed 17 apps from on the Apple and Google platforms that break the terms and conditions of our booking service. We will continue to monitor the platforms and report any new apps to have them removed as well.

Help us get the message to your pupils
Please remind your pupils of 3 simple things:

Do not use unofficial apps or websites to find or book a test slot.

Do not book a test through anyone on social media.
Only ever use GOV.UK - it is free and secure.
If they ignore this advice, the consequences are serious.

DVSA can suspend their online booking access. Their test can be cancelled. They could lose hundreds of pounds with no way to get it back.

And once they hand over their personal data to a scammer, they have no control over what happens to it.

We’ve published guidance for your pupils about this.

Find out more about the risks of unofficial driving test booking services and social media scams.

Thank you for your continued support in helping to make the system fairer for every learner.

From 12 May, only you as the learner driver will be able to book and manage your car driving test.

This means your driving instructor won’t be allowed to do this for you.

The latest update from the DVSA concerning the upcoming changes to booking car driving tests.

Next steps for changes to the driving test booking service
The rules for booking practical car driving tests are changing to make the system fairer. These changes are part of the outcome of our consultation to improve the way driving tests are booked.

Who these changes affect
The changes will only apply to car driving tests. If you book vocational or motorcycle tests using OBS there won’t be any changes.

When we’re making the changes
Following the changes announced in January 2026 on limiting the number of times a learner driver can change or swap their test (from 31 March 2026), we’re now able to confirm the dates for the rest of the planned rule changes.

from 12 May 2026, only learners are allowed to book a test and make changes to their own booking
from 9 June 2026, learners can move their booked test only to nearby centres
Why we’re making these changes
We know this is a significant change for driving instructors.

Misuse of the booking system has made it harder for us to offer slots fairly. The consultation response to this change was split, with some of you feeling strongly that learners should have full control. Others felt just as strongly that instructors need flexibility to manage bookings effectively.

We've made a decision based on the evidence – our consultation found that the majority of learners wanted full control and we have acted to prioritise fairness for learners and tackle exploitation. But we recognise that reasonable professionals disagree on this and we respect that.

Introducing these changes means learners should only ever pay the actual fee DVSA charges.

From 12 May 2026: only learner drivers can book and manage their own test
From 12 May 2026, no-one other than learner drivers will be able to book or manage a car driving test.

This includes unofficial booking services and cancellation finder services. These services will no longer be able to operate lawfully and your pupils should not use them.

This will be through a declaration box on the public online booking service on GOV.UK. Any bookings made through the DVSA customer service centre will need to agree to the terms verbally before making a booking.

Changes to the online business service (OBS)
The OBS you currently use to book and manage car practical driving tests for your pupils will have restricted functionality from this date. This means you will no longer be allowed to:

book tests
change tests
swap tests between pupils
cancel tests
An updated set of terms and conditions for OBS will be published ahead of the changes being introduced.

If you use a pre-funded account to pay for driving tests, you will need to wait until all current booked tests have completed. You can then complete a form on GOV.UK to request the account is closed and any money left is refunded.

Continuing to use OBS
When using OBS to book a car driving test, you will still be able to:

set your availability so learners can avoid booking tests when you are unavailable, or have tests with other learners
book other types of tests, such as bike, lorry, and ADI tests
view business financial statements
view car bookings you made before 12 May
send requests to DVSA
manage payment methods
Any business that uses the service for other test types will be able to continue using the service to book and manage tests in the same way they always have. However, they will have to sign the terms and conditions again.

Learner declaration
Alongside this from 12 May 2026, your pupils must confirm when they book their test, that they:

are booking only their own car test
agree to a new set of terms and conditions
This will be through a declaration box on the public online booking service on GOV.UK.

Your pupils will not be able to book their test if they don’t agree to these things.

From 9 June 2026: restricting the location tests can be moved to
From 9 June 2026, test centre changes will be restricted to the 3 nearest centres to wherever your pupils test is booked as of that date.

Reminder on limiting number of times a test can be changed
We previously announced we would be reducing from 6 to 2 the number of times a learner driver can change a test. This change will come into force from 31 March 2026.

Find out more
You can read more detailed guidance about what’s changing. It includes examples to help you understand the new rules and lists of where learners will be able to move tests.

Find out about the changes to driving test booking rules.

Part of the new rules for booking driving tests.
From the ‘spring’ (at a date yet to be confirmed) driving instructors will no longer be able to book tests for their pupils

📢 The rules for booking a practical car driving test are changing.

From 31 March 2026, learner drivers and approved driving instructors (ADIs) will only be able to change a driving test booking up to 2 times.

A change includes:
- changing the date or time
- changing the test centre
- swapping an appointment with another learner

If you’re an ADI, please make sure your pupils only book their test when they’re ready as swapping between pupils will count towards this limit. You can set times when you're available to take your pupils to their driving tests. This stops your pupils from booking tests at times that do not work for you.

👉 When this comes into force, everyone with a driving test booked will have 2 changes available, regardless of how many changes they may have already made.

This change is part of the outcome of our consultation to improve the way driving tests are booked.

For more information, visit: https://ow.ly/oqOW50Y849H

Due to recent test passes I now have two morning slots available on a Tuesday and Thursday.
Contact me for more information

I now have a Thursday morning slot available.
Contact me for more details

Currently have vacancies on Tuesday lunchtimes and Wednesday mornings. Contact me for more details.

Now have Friday mornings and Friday lunchtimes available for lessons. First come first served..

New guidance from the DVSA, if you have to use these ‘services’ then go in with your eyes open……

Learner drivers warned about the risks of driving test cancellation finders The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is encouraging learner drivers to only use the official GOV.UK website to book and manage their driving test.

Just for a laugh. ;)