How to book a driving test: rules, waiting lists and prices for practical and theory tests
The time you wait to take a driving test has spiralled in recent years as the Government scrambles to get a hold of the issue
Booking a driving test can be incredibly nerve-wracking if you’re a novice driver, and it’s something that’s being made even more difficult by huge backlogs. At the time of writing, 600,000 UK learner drivers are waiting an average of over five months for a test, causing frustration and providing fertile ground for fraudsters to take advantage of the situation.
The Department for Transport (DfT) and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have introduced various measures to try to stem the driving test backlog, but it’s proving to be easier said than done – and it may take a while simply for the existing issues to clear.
Below, we’ve compiled our full guide to booking a driving test in the UK, answering key questions like:
- Who can book a driving test?
- How can I book a driving test?
- How much does a driving test cost?
- How long will I have to wait for a driving test?
- Why is there a driving test backlog?
Who can book a driving test?
As of May 2026, only learner drivers themselves can book a driving test; they may, of course, be assisted by family or friends or receive guidance from a driving instructor, but whoever signs the form must declare that they are, indeed, the person taking the test.
This represents a change in the rules as beforehand, driving instructors could book tests for their students – previously even for novice drivers not under their tuition. It’s all in an effort to put a stop to scalpers and bots who have been buying up tests faster than real learners can book them and then reselling them at an inflated price.
How do I book a driving test?
Booking a practical driving test should be pretty straightforward, but there are several unofficial websites online looking to take advantage of learner drivers and these can easily catch you out if you’re not careful. Make sure to only book your driving test via the official DVSA website.
Book by phone
Driving test bookings can be made via the DVSA website or over the telephone by calling DVSA driving test booking support on 0300 200 1122 (open Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm).
Book online
The online booking service is available from 6am to 11:40pm every day and you will receive a confirmation email from the DVSA once you have successfully booked your test.
What you need to book
In order to book your practical test appointment, you will need your UK driving licence number, a credit or debit card and your driving instructor’s personal reference number if you want to check their availability. You will need the same information to hand should you decide to book via telephone.
How much does a driving test cost?
The price for a practical driving test in the UK is capped at £62 for a weekday test and £75 for any conducted on evenings, weekends and bank holidays. A theory test is slightly cheaper at a flat rate of £23, bringing the minimum cost of obtaining a licence – without lesson fees, insurance or fuel – to £85.
It’s technically not illegal for learner drivers to resell their driving test slot, but given you can only book one practical test at a time, the rules discourage this type of practice. In the past, scam sites have employed bots to be able to book up slots faster than any human learner driver, reselling them for as much as £400.
How long will you have to wait for a driving test?
As of early 2026, the average wait for a practical driving test is around 22.4 weeks, according to the AA Driving School. This is just short of the maximum 24 weeks in advance you can book a test for. Once you have booked a test slot, you will be able to check for earlier or cancelled appointments.
If there are no test slots available within the 24-week period, you can try to book a test at other local test centres or ask your driving instructor if they have any available test slots. If you can’t take your test for any reason it is your responsibility to cancel or reschedule it at least ten working days before the date of the test.
Can I amend my driving test?
As part of new rules, learner drivers must themselves make any necessary amendments to their test at least 10 working days beforehand. Instructors were previously able to edit a learner’s booking but this is no longer allowed.
Learner drivers can swap their test with another learner, although this requires both individuals to be present at the time to avoid fraud. From June, learners will only be able to change the location of their test to one of the closest three centres to the one at which they originally booked.
What is the government doing to combat the driving test backlog?
In late 2023 and early 2024, the DVSA created an extra 145,000 test slots to try and stem the backlog, but admitted that more had to be done to address the problem.
In December 2024, Lilian Greenwood MP, Minister for Future of Roads, announced that the DVSA would recruit and train an additional 450 driving examiners, with a focus on particularly in-demand areas of the country.
As of of April 2026, there were 1,604 trained examiners in the UK – the highest since March 2018 – although the Driving Instructors Association tells Auto Express that the DVSA is “leak[ing] existing examiners out the other end of the funnel who are tired, stressed and don't feel adequately remunerated for their work.”
The notice period for changing or cancelling a test has now changed from three working days to ten (with working days being Monday to Saturdays, excluding public holidays), with the aim of minimising last-minute disruptions and giving more time for the department to reallocate tests to those on the waiting list. Rules around who can book a test and to what extent existing bookings can be amended are hoped to crack down on scalping behaviours, too.
There are also plans to extend the current period of being able to book 24 weeks in advance, giving learners more time to plan. There may also be longer waiting times to rebook for those who fail for significant reasons, such as dangerous faults, abusing driving examiners, or failing to attend. The latter issue may also attract penalty fees to heavily discourage non-attendance.
To combat fraud, the DVSA is introducing measures to ban the resale of driving test appointments, along with strengthening terms and conditions for driver training businesses, something the department says will “improve the efficiency of the booking system, making it harder for those looking to exploit learner drivers to secure test dates”.
The government will also expand its ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign, a resource for learners getting ready to take their test, to better guide people through the process. Greenwood cautions however that there is “no quick fix to the current situation”.
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