Bill Plant Driving School - Automatic lessons - Stoke & Newcastle

15/06/2026

22/05/2026

🚗 DVSA driving test booking – important update (from 12 May 2026)

Just a quick heads-up for anyone booking a car driving test:

✅ Only the learner driver can book, change, swap or cancel their test using GOV.UK (it’s now against the law for third parties to do this for you).
✅ You’re limited to 2 changes per booking, so please use changes carefully.
✅ From 9 June 2026, you’ll only be able to move your test to one of the 3 nearest test centres to where your test is currently booked.

⚠️ Please avoid “test-finding” apps, bots, or social media accounts offering earlier slots. Using these can breach DVSA terms and may lead to your online booking access being restricted.

💷 Only pay the official DVSA fee:
• £62 (weekday test)
• £75 (evenings / weekends / bank holidays)

✅ If you want an earlier test, the only legitimate options are:

1. Use GOV.UK to change your test appointment
2. Swap with another learner driver via DVSA (learners must handle this themselves)

If you’re unsure about any step on GOV.UK, bring it up in your next lesson and I’m happy to talk you through it.

🚗 从 2026/5/12 起，只有学员本人可以在 GOV.UK 上订/改/换/取消路考；不要用任何“抢考位”APP/机器人/黄牛服务，只付 DVSA 官方费用（£62/£75）。

16/04/2026

Spring may mean warmer temperatures, but it can bring rainy spells too. ☔

When roads are wet, stopping distances will be at least double those required for stopping on dry roads, so it’s important you know how to drive in these conditions.

Next time you're driving in wet weather, remember to:

🚗 keep well back from the vehicle in front
⚠️ if the steering becomes unresponsive, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually
🛢️ watch out for any spilt diesel as this will make surfaces very slippery
🚲 take extra care around pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders

For more information, read rule 227 of The Highway Code: https://ow.ly/zO7650YI7Bz

13/02/2026

Taking a long drive this February?

Remember – on wet roads, stopping distances will be at least double 🌊

When driving in wet conditions:

- maintain distance from the vehicle in front

- be aware that rain and spray may make you less visible

- pay attention to hazards like spilt diesel – this can make the road surface slippery

- take extra care around pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders

- remember your tyres may have less grip on the roads – if steering becomes unresponsive, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually

The Highway Code has advice for driving in all conditions 👇

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/driving-in-adverse-weather-conditions-226-to-237

04/02/2026

📢 Driving test booking rules are changing (DVSA).

From 31 March 2026, learner drivers and ADIs can change a practical car driving test booking up to 2 times only. Changes include date/time, test centre, or swapping with another learner.

👉 With long waiting times, plan ahead carefully.

ADI tip: Please encourage pupils to book only when they’re ready — swaps between pupils will count towards the 2-change limit. You can also set your test-day availability to prevent bookings at times that don’t work for you.

👉 When the rule starts, everyone with an existing test booking will have 2 changes available, regardless of past changes.

More info: https://ow.ly/oqOW50Y849H

03/02/2026

🚨 Driving test changes are now in effect across Great Britain

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) introduced updates to the practical test in November 2025. If you’re taking your test this year, here’s what’s changed 👇

“Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency

We’re making some subtle but meaningful changes to the practical driving test. 🚗
You may have seen that we have been trialling changes to the driving test at 20 driving test centres.
As part of the trial, learners drove on routes containing more high-speed, rural roads during their driving test, where location allowed. Now, we are rolling out the changes to all driving test centres in Great Britain from 24 November 2025.
As well as increasing the amount of time spent on higher-speed roads, we are:
✅ reducing the number of stops during the test from 4 to 3
✅ lowering the frequency of emergency stop exercises from 1 in 3 tests to 1 in 7
✅ adding flexibility to the independent driving segment, allowing it to run for the full duration of the test
These changes are designed to help improve road safety by better replicating the conditions motorists face in the real world. They won’t affect the skills needed to take a driving test.
Find out more about the changes 👉 https://ow.ly/vMIL50Xu1bT
”

🚗 We’ll make sure you’re fully prepared — message us to book your lessons!

02/02/2026

🚗 Ready to start driving?
Learn with Bill Plant and become a safe, confident driver!

✔ Learn at your own pace
✔ Pass with confidence
✔ Flexible lesson times

Automatic lessons available in Stoke, Newcastle & surrounding areas

💥 Block booking discounts available

📩 Message us today to book your first lesson!