DVSA - COVID-19 - Update on Short Notice Cancellations

From Wednesday 22 June, the DVSA is changing its approach to the short notice cancellation of theory and practical tests for candidates with COVID-19.

The DVSA will no longer automatically rearrange or refund practical, or theory tests cancelled within the 3-day short notice cancellation window if you tell us you have COVID-19. You need to continue to follow government guidance if you do have COVID-19 symptoms.

The standard short notice cancellation period was temporarily stopped during the pandemic to allow pupils who tested positive for COVID-19 to automatically rearrange or refund their practical or theory test.

The DVSA are now using their standard short notice cancellation process due to illness, in line with the government’s plan for lifting remaining restrictions for living with COVID-19.

You will lose your test fee if you cancel or change their theory or practical test in England, Scotland and Wales within the short notice cancellation period unless you:

are ill or injured – such as if they have COVID-19

are affected by a bereavement

need to take an exam

have had their driving licence stolen.

Tests changed within the short notice period

If you need to change your test within the short notice cancellation period for any of the reasons above you should first rearrange their practical or theory test date on GOV.UK.

You will need to pay again for their rearranged test but will get a refund for your original test booking if your application is successful. You will then need to follow our standard process for short notice cancellations to apply for a refund of your test fee. You must include evidence with your application. Details of how to do this and what evidence will be accepted will be published on GOV.UK.

Practical test candidates whose application is successful will be contacted by the DVSA customer service centre to rearrange their test for the earliest possible test date.

The DVSA are contacting all candidates with a practical or theory test booked to let them know about this change. If you have booked a test for your pupil, please can you let them know about these changes.

Changing the short notice cancellation period

The length of the short notice cancellation period for practical tests is part of a consultation to improve the availability of driving tests.

Changing a driving test

To help stop the exploitation of our booking service by companies profiting from selling practical driving tests we have reduced the number of times an appointment can be changed from 10 to the pre-pandemic limit of 6. If you need to make more changes after that, you will now have to cancel the test and rebook it.