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.