From March 31, learners will be limited to just two amendments to their original driving test booking, including alterations to the date, time or venue, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The authority has outlined the changes, which are designed to crack down on block-bookings made by scammers.
The DVSA said that the new regulations only apply to car driving tests in England, Scotland and Wales. They do not apply to other types of tests.
Additionally from this spring, learners will be required to book their car driving test themselves on GOV.UK. Their driving instructor will not be permitted to book it for them.
The DVSA said that learners should only book at a test centre they plan to use and they will only be able to transfer their test to nearby centres. They can only book when their driving instructor confirms they're ready and must use their driving instructor's reference number when they book to ensure the instructor does not get double-booked.
Finally, once the learners has selected a date they realistically expect to be prepared by, they will only be permitted to make two changes to their appointment.
Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com, said: "In just over a month's time, new rules will come into force limiting how often learner drivers can change their test and where they can move it to. This is another big shift for learners trying to get on the roads.
"Allowing only two changes and learners only being able to move their original test booking within the local area could make things even harder for learners who live in areas with historically low pass rates.
"Our research shows that since 2021, around six million driving tests have been taken. And only about half resulted in a pass.
"Pass rates can also vary hugely between test centres, ranging from around 33% to as high as 80%. For learners in lower-performing areas, having less flexibility to move their test after waiting so long could mean more retakes, more waiting and higher overall costs.
"With these changes in mind, it's more important than ever for learners to think before they book their test. Plan carefully, only take the test when really prepared and understand how local test centres perform before booking in.
"Our driving test pass rate calculator helps learners compare nearby centres so they can make an informed decision before booking their test for the first time."
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