New driving test changes have been unveiled today, which could have a huge impact on millions of young people looking to get their full licence in the coming years.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed that new changes announced today will be launching over the next few months to cut down on fraud and increase the number of tests available for young people.
The DVSA stated that from March 31, 2026, rules will be changed to limit the number of amendments to the time of the appointment, from six times to just twice.
Later in the spring, only learner drivers will be able to book their own driving test, meaning an instructor will not have this power.
They will also only be allowed to move their test to centres near where the test was originally booked.
The DVSA considers changes to include changing the date, time, test centre, or swapping the appointment with another learner driver who has already booked a test.
Motorists who make more than two changes to their test will have to cancel their test and rebook, although they will still get a refund if they give 10 full working days’ notice.
This is part of the DVSA’s mission to increase the number of driving tests available to motorists as Labour continues to deal with a huge backlog.
The DVSA has confirmed that new driving test changes will be introduced next month
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PA/GETTYTransport Secretary Heidi Alexander took steps last year to boost the number of driving tests, in addition to tackling the backlog.
She confirmed that military driving examiners would be drafted in to deliver up to 6,500 more tests every year, in addition to the new changes for learner motorists.
The Department for Transport and the Ministry of Defence confirmed that 36 defence driving examiners would help conduct driving tests one day a week for 12 months.
Ms Alexander, who represents Swindon South as a Labour MP, noted that every learner driver deserved to take a test and get their licence, no matter their circumstances.
The DVSA has been dealing with a long backlog of driving tests
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DVSA
“We inherited an enormous backlog of learners ready to ditch their L-Plates, who have been sadly forced to endure record waiting times for their tests,” she noted.
Further changes will be introduced over the months, with the DVSA aiming for these to be introduced from spring 2026.
This will include fresh guidance to only allow learner drivers book and manage their tests, rather than driving instructors.
The “later in spring 2026” deadline also applies to new rules around moving test centres and changing dates or times.
Motorists continue to deal with long delays when booking a driving test | PA
Driving instructors will still be able to use the online service to manage when they are available to take their pupils for driving tests.
They will be able to set morning and afternoon hours they are available for each day of the week, as well as one-off times when they are unavailable.
To ensure overlapping times are kept to a minimum, instructors can dictate how long they need to have between one test ending and the next one starting.
The Transport Secretary added: “We’re taking decisive action and these new measures will deliver thousands of extra tests over the next year, helping learners get on the road sooner.”
