COVID-19 - DVSA - Increasing the Number of Theory Tests

Extending Theory Test Centre Opening Hours

From Monday 10 May to Wednesday 30 June, the DVSA will be extending the opening hours at most theory test centres in England and Wales, where conditions allow.

Typically, centres will be open earlier and close later in the evenings. For example, some centres will be open from 8am to 8pm, and some might be open on Saturdays and Sundays where they were previously closed.

This will create 300,000 extra theory test appointments.

A full list of the safety measures in place at all theory test centres is available at Coronavirus (COVID-19): driving theory tests - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Your pupils will also notice that:

• mobile phones must be turned off before entering the test centre

• there are no lockers for personal belongings – they will be given a rigid plastic box to put their belongings in and will need to keep this under their desk while they take the test. These boxes will be cleaned by us after use.

• invigilators will be walking around the testing room, monitoring people taking the test, observing social distancing guidelines at all times

These details will also be included in the theory test booking confirmation email.

Non-Standard Accommodations

The DVSA will prioritise candidates requiring special or additional support through dedicated appointments. At all locations, weekly appointments will be reserved to ensure that they have sufficient capacity to help reduce the wait time for these candidates.

What the DVSA will do next

The DVSA have added new appointments for the extending opening hours and the temporary test centres to the booking service.

The DVSA will contact everyone with a theory test booked in:

• England to tell them about the extended opening hours and contact candidates with tests booked at a centre close to the temporary test centres

• Wales to tell them about extended opening hours

They will then have the choice to change their theory test appointment to one of the new available appointments.

Preparing for a theory test

The current national average pass rate for a car theory test is under 50%, so it’s important that your pupil is prepared for their theory test.

They can use free practice theory tests on the Safe Driving for Life website to prepare and refresh their theory test knowledge ahead of their test: https://www.safedrivingforlife.info/free-tests.

More information

Check GOV.UK for the latest about:

• theory tests

• driving tests