Driving Tests Under Siege: Will New Rules Save Learners from Bots?

In a bold move to combat the growing issue of online bots booking driving tests, the UK government has announced sweeping changes that will affect learner drivers directly. Under the new regulations, only learner drivers will be able to book tests, effectively curbing the practice of third parties reselling slots at exorbitant prices. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged that despite these efforts, the average waiting time currently sitting at 21.8 weeks will not meet the previously set target of seven weeks by summer 2026. The measures include banning driving instructors from booking tests on behalf of their students, implementing limits on how often tests can be moved, and restricting the areas where a test can be rescheduled.

A learner driver, Amelia Lightfoot, expressed her frustrations over the excessive waiting time and how vital receiving her driving license is for her quality of life, especially living in a rural area with poor transport options. In response to the backlog of tests, which has seen 642,000 learner drivers waiting as of last month, the DVSA is bringing in 36 examiners from the Ministry of Defence and has also added 316 new examiners to help alleviate the pressure, despite it being reported that the overall gain has been minimal.

Moreover, the DVSA is incentivizing examiners to stay in their roles with a £5,000 retention payment starting next year. Meanwhile, the issue of bots monopolizing tests has garnered attention, with 38 MPs urging the government for stringent actions against the resale of test slots, where prices can spike up to £500. Driving school owner Aman Sanghera advocates for the changes as a fair solution, but concerns linger among driving instructors like ‘Sarah,’ who fear that these limitations may exacerbate difficulties in securing timely test slots.

The context of these changes is rooted in a post-Covid surge in demand for driving tests and the exploitation by third-party sellers, leading to current chaotic conditions for learners. As the DVSA aims for greater transparency and fairness, the effectiveness and reception of these rules will unfold amidst a backdrop of increasing anxiety for learner drivers.