New rule for driving test changes and cancellations to reduce waiting times

Learner drivers will need to give more notice when changing or cancelling their car driving test to avoid losing the test fee from 8 April 2025.

From 8 April 2025, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will require learner drivers to give 10 full working days’ notice to change or cancel their car driving test without losing the test fee.

Currently, you must give 3 full working days of notice to avoid losing the test fee.

No change for other types of driving tests or theory tests

This new rule only applies to car driving tests.

Learner drivers will continue to need to give 3 full working days’ notice to change or cancel:

• theory tests
• motorcycle tests, lorry and bus driving tests, driving instructor qualification tests and other specialist vehicle driving tests

Why the rule is changing

Lots of people who are not ready to take their driving test leave it until the last moment to change or cancel it.

That appointment then becomes available to other learner drivers. But as it’s so close to the test date, it can be hard for people who are ready to pass to make all the necessary arrangements to use the appointment.

This can lead to appointments going unused.

By asking learner drivers to give more notice, it should give other people more chance to use the appointment. This will help to reduce driving test waiting times.

The change to the rule is one of 7 actions DVSA is taking to reduce driving test waiting times.

New deadlines to change or cancel without losing the test fee

DVSA is emailing all learner drivers to tell them the new deadline to change or cancel their test without losing the fee.

From 8 April 2025, the new deadline will show on the booking details when you check your driving test appointment details.

To help learner drivers and driving instructors through this change of rule, DVSA has published a list of old and new deadlines to change or cancel a car driving test up to the end of June 2025.

If you have to change or cancel your test due to special circumstances

You will still be able to apply for a refund if you have to change or cancel your test at short notice if you have:

• an illness or injury that means you cannot take your test
• suffered a bereavement
• to take an exam at a school or college
• had your driving licence stolen

If DVSA cancels your driving test at short notice

DVSA will continue to pay out-of-pocket expenses for any car driving tests it cancels with fewer than 3 full working days’ notice while it conducts a review of its out-of-pocket expenses process.

Learner drivers urged to cancel tests if they cannot attend

DVSA is urging learner drivers to cancel their driving test if they cannot attend, rather than just not turning up.

During 2024, about 60,000 appointments were wasted because people did not turn up for their test. That’s the same number of tests that 45 full-time driving examiners can do in a year.

Later this year, DVSA will consult on proposals reduce the number of wasted tests. For those who fail to attend, this includes:

• increasing the amount of time they have to wait before they’re allowed to book another test
• considering charging them a penalty fee

Learner drivers currently have to wait 10 working days before being able to book another test. The consultation will set out the full details of the potential options.

This is another of the 7 actions that DVSA has set out to reduce driving test waiting times.