Changes to driving test booking rules in 2026

What the new rules are

The new rules for booking and managing car driving tests will be introduced from spring 2026.

The exact dates will be confirmed nearer the time.

Rule	Current rules	New rules	From when
WhoNumber canof bookchanges your testallowed	YouUp orto your6 driving instructorchanges	Only you2 changes	From later31 inMarch spring 2026
Who can managebook your test	You or your driving instructor	Only you	From later12 inMay spring 2026
NumberWho ofcan changesmanage allowedyour test	UpYou toor 6your changesdriving instructor	Only 2 changesyou	From 3112 MarchMay 2026
Where you can move your test	Any test centre	Only to testthe centres3 nearnearest totest where you originally bookedcentres	From later9 inJune spring 2026

Booking your car driving test

From later12 inMay spring 2026, you will need to book your car driving test yourself on GOV.UK. Your driving instructor will not be ableallowed to book it for you.

Before you book your test

YouBefore you book, speak to your driving instructor to:

• agree that you’re ready to take the test
• ask them for their driving instructor reference number - you can enter this when you book to make sure your instructor is available

Booking your test

When you book your test, you should:

• only book at a test centre you intend to use - you will only be able to move your test to nearby centres
• onlychoose booka whendate youryou drivingrealistically instructorexpect saysto you’rebe ready by - speakyou will only be allowed to yourmake driving2 instructorchanges firstto your appointment
• use your driving instructor’s reference number

From when12 May 2026, you bookwill -have thisto willconfirm makethat sureyou:

• are yourthe instructorlearner doeswho notwill getbe double-bookedtaking the test
• chooseagree to a datenew youset realisticallyof expectterms toand beconditions

Making changes to your car driving test

From 31spring March 2026, there are 3 changes to how you willmanage onlyyour bedriving abletest toappointment:

• you can only make 2 changes to your existingbooking booking.(from If31 you’veMarch already2026)
• only usedyou allare allowed to make changes underto theyour currentown rules,booking (from 12 May 2026)
• you willcan beonly ablemove your test to makenearby 2centres more(from changes9 fromJune 312026)

How Marchmany 2026.

times you can change your test

From later31 inMarch spring 2026, you will only be able to movemake your2 testchanges to centresyour nearexisting tobooking. whereIf you’ve already used all changes under the current rules, you originallywill booked.be able to make 2 more changes from 31 March 2026.

Only use your limited changes forwhen genuineyour needscircumstances orgenuinely emergencies.change.

What will count as changes

TheseOnly these things each count as a change:

• changing the date or time
• changing the test centre
• swapping your appointment with another learner driver who already has a test booked

If you change more than one thing at the same time (for example, the date and test centre together), this still counts as one change.

What will not count as changes

These things will not count towards your change limit:

• updating your address or contact details on your booking
• adding or removing your driving instructor’s reference number
• any changes that DVSA needs to make to your test (for example, due to bad weather)

If you need to make more changes

If you need to make more changes after you have used your 2 changes, you will have to cancel your test and book a new one.

You will get a full refund if you docancel it at least 10 full working days’days before the test date.

Where you can move your test

If you book a new test from 9 June 2026, you will only be able to move your test to:

• any of the 3 centres nearest to where your test is booked 
• the test centre you first booked at on that current booking

If you made a booking before 9 June 2026

If you have an existing booking, the new rule applies to where your test is currently booked at on 9 June 2026 - not where you first booked.

Helping someone to book and manage their driving test

You will still be able to help someone you know to book and manage their driving test. They might be a friend, family member, or someone you support as part of your job.

The person you’re helping must be with you while you help them.

You will need to ask the person you’re helping to complete as many of the steps as they can by themselves.

Use an email address and phone number that either belongs to them or they have easy access to. If they do not have their own email address, you can help them set one up.

How driving instructors are affected

From 12 May 2026, if you’re a driving instructor, you will no longer be able to use the service to book and manage car driving tests for your pupils.

From 12 May 2026, it will be against the law for you or anyone else to:

• book a test for your pupils
• change a test for your pupils
• swap tests for your pupils

What happens to tests you’ve already booked

Any driving tests you have already booked for your pupils are still valid and will go ahead as planned.

You will need to make sure your pupils have their driving test reference numbers for these tests. This is so they can manage their tests themselves.

Manage your availability

to take your pupils to driving tests

DrivingIf instructorsyou canare usea thedriving onlineinstructor, serviceyou will still be able to manage when theyyou are available to take theiryour pupils for driving tests.

TheyYou can set:

• morning and afternoon hours theyyou are available for each day of the week
• one-off times theyyou are unavailable - for example, when theyyou are on holiday
• how longmany (inminutes minutes)you they need between one test ending and the next one startingtests

This means that if a learner driver adds theiryour driving instructor’sinstructor personal reference number to theiryour booking, the booking system will automatically check if theiryou instructorare is available.

What will happen next

DVSA will email you before the new rules start. The Driveremail andwill Vehicleexplain Standardswhat Agencyyou (need to do.

DVSA) will contactuse you using the email address you gave when you booked your test to tell you what to do.test.