DVSA - Changes to driving test booking rules in 2026

The rules for booking and managing car driving tests will change from spring 2026. Find out what the changes are and how they affect you. The new rules only apply to car driving tests. They do not apply to other types of tests.

Rule. Current Rule. New Rule. From when

Number of changes allowed. Up to 6 changes. Only 2 changes. From 31 March 2026

Who can book your test. You or your driving instructor. Only you. From 12 May 2026

Who can manage your test. You or your driving instructor. Only you. From 12 May 2026

Where you can move your test. Any test centre. Only to the 3 nearest test centres. From 9 June 2026

Booking your car driving test

From 12 May 2026, you will need to book your car driving test yourself on GOV.UK. Your driving instructor will not be allowed to book it for you.

Before you book your test

Before you book, speak to your driving instructor to:

• agree that you’re ready to take the test

• ask them for their driving instructor reference number - you can enter this when you book to make sure your instructor is available.

  
  

Booking your test

When you book your test, you should:

• only book at a test centre you intend to use - you will only be able to move your test to nearby centres

• choose a date you realistically expect to be ready by - you will only be allowed to make 2 changes to your appointment

• use your driving instructor’s reference number.

  
  

From 12 May 2026, you will have to confirm that you:

• are the learner who will be taking the test

• agree to a new set of terms and conditions.

  
  

From 12 May 2026, it will be against the law to book or change a driving test for someone else.

From spring 2026, there are 3 changes to how you manage your driving test appointment:

• you can only make 2 changes to your booking (from 31 March 2026)

• only you are allowed to make changes to your own booking (from 12 May 2026)

• you can only move your test to nearby centres (from 9 June 2026)

  
  

How many times you can change your test

From 31 March 2026, you will only be able to make 2 changes to your existing booking. If you’ve already used all changes under the current rules, you will be able to make 2 more changes from 31 March 2026. Only use your limited changes when your circumstances genuinely change.

What will count as changes

Only these things count as a change:

• changing the date or time

• changing the test centre

• swapping your appointment with another learner driver who already has a test booked

If you change more than one thing at the same time (for example, the date and test centre together), this still counts as one change.

What will not count as changes

These things will not count towards your change limit:

• updating your address or contact details on your booking

• adding or removing your driving instructor’s reference number

• any changes that DVSA needs to make to your test (for example, due to bad weather)

  
  

If you need to make more changes

If you need to make more changes after you have used your 2 changes, you will have to cancel your test and book a new one.

You will get a full refund if you cancel at least 10 full working days before the test date.

Who is allowed to make changes to your test

From 12 May 2026, only you will be allowed to change, cancel or swap your own driving test.

You will have to confirm that you:

• are the learner who will be taking the test

• agree to a new set of terms and conditions.

From 12 May 2026, it will be against the law to change, cancel or swap a driving test for someone else.

Where you can move your test

If you book a new test from 9 June 2026, you will only be able to move your test to:

• any of the 3 centres nearest to where your test is booked

• the test centre you first booked at on that current booking.

If you made a booking before 9 June 2026 the new rule applies to where your test is currently booked at on 9 June 2026 - not where you first booked.

Helping someone to book and manage their driving test

You will still be able to help someone you know to book and manage their driving test. They might be a friend, family member, or someone you support as part of your job. The person you’re helping must be with you while you help them.

You will need to ask the person you’re helping to complete as many of the steps as they can by themselves.

Use an email address and phone number that either belongs to them or they have easy access to. If they do not have their own email address, you can help them set one up.