Driving test rules updated to stop bots
New DVSA measures will limit driving test bookings to learner drivers, with the aim of cutting waiting times and stopping inflated prices for test slots.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the move to stop third parties from reselling driving test slots will protect learners from being “exploited” by online bots. However, she told MPs that the government is unlikely to meet its target of reducing waiting times to seven weeks by summer 2026.
At the end of June 2025, the average waiting time was 21.8 weeks.
Under the new rules, driving instructors will no longer be able to book tests on behalf of their students. The changes will also cap the number of times learners can move or swap a test and limit how far they can change the test location once they have booked.
What does this mean for learner drivers?
For learner drivers, these updates aim to make the DVSA booking system fairer and easier to access. By stopping instructors and third parties from reserving or reselling test slots, the changes give more genuine learners the chance to book a driving test at a reasonable price.
The new limits on moving or swapping tests should also cut down on last-minute changes that add to long waiting lists. While learners may need to plan their test dates more carefully, the measures aim to create a clearer and more reliable route to completing a driving test.
Bots and resellers driving up driving test costs
Every week, the DVSA releases new driving test slots, but bots quickly snap many of them up and resell them at inflated prices, sometimes as high as £500, compared with the standard £62–£75.
In October 2025, 38 MPs urged the government to take urgent action. Labour MP Amanda Hack said the sharp rise in prices links directly to widespread test swapping since the Covid pandemic, as bots and third parties absorb available slots and make it harder for genuine learners to book a test.
Additional steps the DVSA plan to Take
To tackle the growing driving test backlog, the DVSA will add 36 civilian examiners from the Ministry of Defence to support its existing workforce. Although the agency has recruited 316 new driving test examiners this year, high staff turnover means it has achieved a net gain of only around 40.
To boost retention and expand examiner capacity, the DVSA will offer a £5,000 retention payment from next year. Through these steps, the agency aims to cut driving test waiting times and improve access for learner drivers across the UK. By increasing staff numbers and stabilising the workforce, the DVSA hopes to deliver a more reliable and efficient driving test system.
Driving test backlog and learner numbers
By the end of December 2025, 642,000 learner drivers had a driving test booked. The DVSA said rising demand and earlier bookings have driven the backlog. In December alone, examiners carried out around 182,000 tests – a 9% increase compared with December 2024.
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