Crime & Safety
DVSA dates for UK driving test changes coming in 2026
From May 12, only learner drivers will be able to book or change a car driving test, while from June 9, location limitations will apply when moving a booked test.
This follows DVSA’s announcement that from March 31, the number of changes a learner driver is allowed to make to a car driving test booking will be cut to 2 (reduced from 6).
The upcoming changes, which follow a nationwide consultation on improving the booking rules, are part of a crackdown on third-party services abusing the test booking system.
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They aim to reduce the reselling of driving tests and will create a level playing field for learner drivers, giving them more control over their learning to drive journey.
Roads and Buses Minister, Simon Lightwood, said: “Learning to drive is hard enough without an unfair booking system.
“Learners deserve clear, honest access to tests – not being ripped off by third party sites. These changes put learners back in control, stop the system being gamed, and help make sure tests go to those who really need them.
“I welcome DVSA’s action to make things fairer and support learners on their journey to becoming safe, confident drivers.”
Beverley Warmington, DVSA’s new chief executive, added: “We have listened to learners, driving instructors and voices from across the driver training industry on how to make the booking rules fairer.
“Our priority is to stop learners being exploited by third parties and put them in control of booking their driving test.
“The changes announced today will help us achieve that goal and build on the more than 149,000 additional tests delivered between April 2025 and February 2026.”
Are driving tests changing in 2026? New booking rules
Other rules coming into place when it comes to booking driving tests from spring this year are as follows:
- you will only be allowed to make a total of two changes to your driving test appointment
- you will only be allowed to move your test to centres near to where you originally booked
But what counts as a change? The DVSA outlines that each of these things are a change:
- changing the date or time
- changing the test centre
- swapping your appointment with another learner driver who already has a test booked
The agency adds: “If you need to make more changes after you have used your two changes, you have to cancel your test and rebook it.
“You’ll get a full refund if you give at least 10 full working days’ notice.”
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It continues: “Driving instructors will still be able to use the online service to manage when they are available to take their pupils for driving tests.
“This means that if a learner driver adds their driving instructor’s personal reference number to their booking, the booking system will automatically check if their instructor is available.”
An exact date for when the new rules for booking driving tests begin will be confirmed nearer the time.
This comes after the DVSA also revealed driving test candidates will now be required to spend longer on faster roads during tests (this began from the end of November 2025).
Plus, the number of stops learners must make in a test have been reduced from four to three.
Other amendments include decreasing the frequency of emergency stops from one in three tests to one in seven.
Giving examiners the power to increase the length of independent driving, which can involve following a satnav, traffic signs, or both, to between 20 minutes and the full duration of the test, is another change recently announced.
Cotswold Wildlife Park was established by John Heyworth on the Bradwell Grove Estate and opened on Good Friday, March 27, 1970.
It began with 341 animals and has since grown to house more than 1,500 animals across 250 species.
A spokesperson for Cotswold Wildlife Park said: “We hope you’ll join us in celebrating 56 wonderful years of Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens and we’d like to thank our visitors for their loyal support over the years.
“We must thank them for all their support for more than half a century.”
From its early days on a shoestring budget, the park has expanded to include giraffes, which arrived in 2010 for its 40th anniversary, and rhinos such as D’ora, named during its golden jubilee year in 2020.
George the Aldabra giant tortoise is the park’s oldest and only original resident.
To mark the 50th anniversary, keepers made him a special cake during the lockdown.
The Wantage Orchestra Spring Concert at the Old Mill Hall in Grove was celebrated as “an inspired afternoon” with the highlight being a recital by 17-year-old Katherine Payne.
The young violinist has been described as a “virtuosic performer” and is in her final year at the Yehudi School of Music.
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She will go on to study violin further once she turns 18 and is the recipient of many prizes including the Celia Walker overall prize.
Ms Payne was the leader of the Thames Valley Youth Orchestra and was playing on a Castagneri violin and a Morizot bow, sponsored by the Cherubim Trust.
Typically these violins sell at auction for between £5,000 and £15,000.
At the performance on Saturday, March 21 there was standing room only with Beethoven’s Symphony no.7 and Rossini’s The Thieving Magpie being played.
Conductor Christopher Fletcher Campbell called it “an inspired afternoon”, with home made cakes made available at the interval
One audience member said: “We enjoyed the Wantage Orchestra concert yesterday.
“Lovely programme, and Katherine was very accomplished. Good to see it so well supported.”
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Another added: “What a wonderful afternoon performance, beautiful sunshine outside and amazing performance inside.
“The choice of pieces brought out the best from everyone and they bought enjoyment to us all. Thank you I look forward to future concerts.”
The group’s next concert will be on Sunday, July 5 at 7pm at The Wantage Parish Church, with more information available on its website.
Originally scheduled to close on April 10, Blueprints of Power at Blenheim Palace will now remain open until May 31.
The decision marks 300 years since the death of Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect behind the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Heather Carter, managing director of the visitor attraction at Blenheim Palace, said: “Blueprints of Power has sparked remarkable momentum, opening conversations across generations.
“The response has been excellent, so we’re pleased to be extending the exhibition to give visitors more time to explore Sir John Vanburgh’s remarkable life.
“From his architectural brilliance to his larger-than-life character, never-before-seen items, interactive experiences and an immersive finale in the Long Library make it a must-visit for history enthusiasts, architecture fans and anyone curious about the fascinating story behind Blenheim Palace.”
The exhibition offers an immersive journey through Vanbrugh’s diverse career, from playwright to architect, and sheds light on his complex relationship with the First Duchess of Marlborough, Sarah Churchill.
Visitors begin in the Great Hall, where models, plans, and letters introduce Vanbrugh’s work, before moving through other rooms that explore his influences and connections.
A highlight of the exhibition is the finale in the Long Library, featuring a projection experience with light, sound, and motion.
This segment tells the story of Blenheim Palace’s construction.
Admission to the Blueprints of Power exhibition is included with a valid day ticket or Pass to Britain’s Greatest Palace.
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