Test Centre Swaps Banned to End Learner Driver Delays

Learner drivers in Britain are now subject to new restrictions aimed at reducing the extensive waiting times for practical tests, which currently average over five months. As of June 9, 2026, individuals can only reschedule their driving test to one of the three nearest test centres to their original booking. This change is a direct response to issues where learners would book the earliest available test anywhere in the country and then repeatedly swap it to secure a slot closer to home.

Official figures reveal a persistent problem with missed appointments, with 64,500 practical driving tests going unused last year. This represents a 3.2% wastage rate and an increase from the previous year's 52,000 no-shows. Some of these missed tests are attributed to third-party resellers using bots to acquire slots, hoping to resell them at inflated prices but ultimately failing to do so.

While the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) hopes these location restrictions will deter speculative bookings and free up system space, the driving instruction industry expresses skepticism. Driving instructors have observed the frustration of learners, some of whom have waited up to seven months for a test. The DVSA chief executive stated that additional measures, including the use of military examiners, have already facilitated over 217,000 extra tests between June 2025 and April 2026, with a commitment to further reduce waiting times.