The change, announced as part of the DVSA’s 7-point plan to reduce driving test waiting times, is intended to tackle one of the key issues the DVSA believe is plaguing the UK’s learner driver system: last-minute cancellations and no-shows.

Instead of a 3-day notice period, now candidates must give a minimum of 10 days.

DVSA believes that too many learner drivers are unprepared for their test; however, they are booking up test slots and making them unavailable for better-prepared candidates.

This is evidenced by the numbers currently cancelling last minute or rescheduling.

As a result, valuable test appointments often go unused because others don’t have enough time to take them.

 

Open for business

By increasing the short notice cancellation period, the DVSA hopes to boost the number of test slots that can be reallocated to learners who are ready to pass.

Ultimately, it believes this will help cut the long waiting lists that have become a hallmark of the post-pandemic testing system.

In 2024 alone, the DVSA reported that around 60,000 driving tests were wasted due to non-attendance.

That figure is equivalent to a full year’s output for 45 full-time examiners, highlighting the scale of the issue.

Recent surveys of test centres around the country revealed that many have waiting lists of over 20 weeks, actually an increase from when he DVSA began efforts to cut waiting times.

More measures

To address the problem further, the DVSA is planning a public consultation later this year on potential measures to reduce wasted tests.

These include:

• Penalty fees for those who miss appointments without good reason

• Longer wait times before rebooking for no-shows

Currently, learners must wait 10 working days after a failed or missed test before rebooking.

The exceptions

The DVSA has clarified that the new rule applies only to car driving tests, and that exceptions remain in place for those who need to cancel due to illness, bereavement, exams, or if their driving licence has been stolen.

Additionally, if the DVSA cancels a test with fewer than three days’ notice, it will continue to pay out-of-pocket expenses while the policy is being reviewed.

Still waiting

Driving test waiting times have been a major issue in recent years, even before the pandemic.

However, these were exacerbated by the COVID-19 backlog and ongoing examiner shortages.

As of early 2025, the average wait time for a practical test in many areas is still over 15 weeks,, and over 20 weeks in many key areas.

Some rural and high-demand centres are seeing waits of up to six months.

To address the backlog, the DVSA’s 7-point plan also includes hiring more examiners, opening additional test slots during evenings and weekends, and improving the test booking system.

These measures. have been in place for some time, with only limited success.

 

 

Stay informed

Driving instructors are being asked to remind their pupils of the new cancellation policy, while the DVSA is directly emailing all learners with tests booked from 8 April onward.

Updated cancellation deadlines are now visible via the GOV.UK booking portal.

Commenting on the latest changes, Simon Smith, a spokesperson for the DVSA, said:

“This change is about making the best use of every single appointment. By giving more notice, we can make those slots available to others who are ready to pass—helping everyone move forward faster.”

As the DVSA continues its efforts to modernise the system, this latest change marks a small but significant step toward a more efficient, reliable driving test process in the UK.

However, much more needs to be done, including the cutting down of block booking by unscrupulous individuals who have seen a great opportunity to see on test slots for high profit to desperate candidates.