If your learner is getting close to test-ready, it’s worth knowing that DVSA has changed how practical car tests are booked, changed and cancelled this year. The rules are stricter than they used to be, and a few of the old habits, like asking the instructor to sort the booking, are no longer allowed. Here’s what’s actually changed, and what it means for you.
This guide is written from the perspective of a UK Approved Driving Instructor to help parents and supervisors support safe private practice. It reflects GOV.UK and DVSA guidance current at the time of writing, but booking rules can be updated, so always check GOV.UK directly before booking, changing or cancelling a test.
Why DVSA changed the rules
The changes were brought in to stop test slots being booked up in bulk and resold at inflated prices, often by bots or unofficial booking services. DVSA’s aim was to put learners back in control of their own bookings and make the system fairer for everyone waiting for a test.
Only your learner can book, change, swap or cancel their test
This is the big one. Since 12 May 2026, it’s against the law for anyone other than the learner to book, change, swap or cancel a car driving test on their behalf, that includes driving instructors, family members, and any third-party booking service. Your learner needs to do this themselves, using their own name, email address and payment card.
Instructors haven’t disappeared from the process entirely, though. When your learner books, they can enter their instructor’s personal reference number, which lets the booking system take their instructor’s availability into account. It’s worth your learner checking this with their instructor before they book.
The number of changes is limited
From 31 March 2026, each booking comes with a maximum of 2 changes. A change means moving the date or time, changing test centre, or swapping with another learner, doing more than one of these at once still only counts as a single change. Updating contact details or an instructor’s reference number doesn’t count towards the limit, and if DVSA itself changes a test, the 2-change allowance resets. Once the 2 changes are used up, the only option is to cancel and book again from scratch.
Moving test centres is more restricted
From 9 June 2026, if your learner wants to move their test to a different centre, they can only move it back to their original centre or to one of the 3 nearest test centres to wherever the test is currently booked. This shifts each time a change is made, so a second change would be based on the 3 nearest centres to the new location, not the original one. It’s worth thinking through location before booking rather than assuming a switch will be easy later.
Notice periods and refunds haven’t changed
Your learner still needs to give at least 10 full working days’ notice to change or cancel a test without losing the fee (Monday to Saturday count as working days, Sundays and bank holidays don’t). Give enough notice and a full refund goes back to the original payment method. Cut it finer than that, and the fee is lost, so it’s worth double-checking dates before confirming a change.
What this means for private practice
In practice, this shifts a bit of admin onto your learner rather than the instructor, which is generally a good thing, it keeps them engaged with their own progress and avoids the booking confusion that used to creep in. The main thing to help with is timing: talk to the instructor about genuine test readiness before booking, since with only 2 changes available, booking too early “just to get a date” can backfire if more lessons turn out to be needed.
The practical basics
- Tests can be booked up to 24 weeks ahead, and the booking service runs from 6am to 11:40pm
- Your learner will need their UK provisional licence number and a debit or credit card
- The standard fee is £62 on weekdays, or £75 for evenings, weekends and bank holidays
- Learners need to have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least 185 days in the last 12 months to book
Final checklist
- Your learner books, changes and cancels their own test, not you, not the instructor
- Only 2 changes are allowed per booking, so agree a realistic date with the instructor first
- Give at least 10 full working days’ notice for any change or cancellation
- Expect test centre moves to be limited to the 3 nearest options once a booking is made
- Always check GOV.UK directly before booking, since these rules can be updated
Once a test is booked, the Practice Drive Observation Guide is a good next step for judging genuine readiness, and the Start Here for Parents guide ties everything else on this site together if you haven’t seen it yet.
Related guides
- Is Your Learner Ready for the Driving Test? A Parent’s Practice Drive Guide
- Practice Drive Observation Guide: How to Assess Your Learner’s Progress Safely
- How to Support Your Learner’s Theory Test Revision (Without Taking Over)
👉 New to private practice? Download the free Parent’s First Private Practice Checklist for the exact pre-drive routine to use before every session.