The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has suspended more than 1,100 driving licence holders from accessing its online booking system.

It is part of a major crackdown on misuse of driving test bookings following the introduction of tougher new rules.

The enforcement action comes amid continuing efforts by the DVSA to tackle widespread abuse of the practical driving test booking system, which has contributed to record waiting times and the growth of a black market in driving test slots.

Struck off

According to the DVSA, 1,178 driving licence numbers have already been suspended from online booking access since new restrictions came into force on 12 May 2026.

The agency says suspensions are being issued when monitoring systems detect “unusual activity” that suggests potential misuse, bots, or attempts to manipulate bookings.

Under the latest rules, only learner drivers themselves are legally allowed to book, change, swap or cancel practical driving tests online.

Driving instructors, third-party companies and booking services are no longer permitted to manage bookings on behalf of learners.

The changes were introduced after years of criticism over automated bots and resellers’ bulk-booking tests and sales at inflated prices, often hundreds of pounds above the official DVSA fee.

 

Tests and battles

The DVSA says suspended licence holders are not prevented from taking their existing driving tests.

Instead, their online access is restricted, and they must contact the DVSA directly by phone to manage or amend bookings.

The agency uses what it calls a “booking review marker” to flag suspicious activity linked to driving licence numbers.

In guidance published this month, the DVSA said restrictions are intended to “keep the service fair” and protect learners from fraud and misuse.

Drivers can request a review if they believe their licence has been incorrectly restricted.

The crackdown follows mounting concern over a flourishing secondary market for driving test appointments, fuelled by severe shortages of available tests.

Average waiting times for practical driving tests continue to exceed 22 weeks in many parts of Britain, with some test centres operating at the maximum 24-week booking limit.

The backlog has created lucrative opportunities for resellers using bots and automated software to secure appointments before genuine learners can access them.

Investigations by national media outlets and learner driver groups have highlighted cases where test slots costing £62 through the official GOV.UK website were allegedly being resold for £200 or more.

The DVSA has repeatedly warned learners not to use unofficial booking websites or social media sellers offering “guaranteed” tests.

Wider action

The latest suspensions form part of a broader DVSA enforcement campaign that has intensified over the past 18 months.

Between January 2023 and January 2025, the DVSA issued hundreds of warnings and suspensions linked to misuse of the booking system.

Following tougher rules introduced in January 2025 restricting business access to legitimate driving instructors only, the agency issued a further 44 warnings, 120 suspensions and closed 270 business accounts.

Additional restrictions introduced this year also include limits on how many times tests can be changed and tighter controls over swapping appointments between candidates.

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Concerns remain

While many driving instructors support action against bots and resellers, some industry bodies have raised concerns about unintended consequences for legitimate instructors and learners.

The Driving Instructors Association and other groups have previously questioned whether the DVSA’s reforms risk making it harder for instructors to help organise tests for pupils, particularly vulnerable learners or those with additional needs.

There are also concerns among some learners about accounts being wrongly flagged by automated monitoring systems.

Despite tougher enforcement, many instructors say the underlying problem remains the shortage of test examiner capacity and a persistent backlog.

Road safety campaigners argue that unless waiting times are reduced substantially, demand for unofficial booking services is unlikely to disappear completely.

The DVSA says it will continue to monitor the system and introduce further measures where necessary as it attempts to restore fairness to the booking process and reduce waiting times to its long-term target of seven weeks by the end of 2027.