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.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
New booking rules in 2026
This page tells you what you will need to do from spring 2026.
Sign up to get emails when this page is updated.
For current information, read:
The new rules only apply to car driving tests. They do not apply to other types of tests.
What the new rules are
The new rules for booking and managing car driving tests will be introduced from spring 2026.
| Rule | Current rules | New rules | 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.
Making changes to your car driving test
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.
Example
If you change your test from Northampton on 4 June to Kettering on 12 May, this 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
Example
You book your test at Chesterfield. The 3 nearest centres to Chesterfield are:
- Sheffield (Handsworth)
- Ashfield
- Sheffield (Middlewood Road)
You can use your first change to move your test to one of those.
You decide to move your test to Sheffield (Handsworth). You are allowed to make one more change.
You can use your second change to move your test to the 3 centres nearest to Sheffield (Handsworth). These are:
- Rotherham
- Sheffield (Middlewood Road)
- Worksop
You can also use your second change to move back to the test centre your first booked at, which was Chesterfield.
A chart showing an example of your options for changing your test.
If you made a booking before 9 June 2026
If you have an existing booking, the new rule applies to where your test is currently booked at on 9 June 2026 - not where you first booked.
Example
In February 2026, you booked your test at St Helens with a test date of July 2026. In May 2026, you decide to use your first change to move it to Watford with a test date of July 2026.
On 9 June 2026, the new rules come in. Your test is now at Watford, so you can use your second change to move to the 3 nearest centres to Watford. These are:
- Borehamwood (London)
- Pinner (London)
- Mill Hill (London)
You can only move your test to these centres. You cannot move your test back to St Helens.
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.
How driving instructors are affected
From 12 May 2026, if you’re a driving instructor, you will no longer be able to use the service to book and manage car driving tests for your pupils.
From 12 May 2026, it will be against the law for you or anyone else to:
- book a test for your pupils
- change a test for your pupils
- swap tests for your pupils
What happens to tests you’ve already booked
Any driving tests you have already booked for your pupils are still valid and will go ahead as planned.
You will need to make sure your pupils have their driving test reference numbers for these tests. This is so they can manage their tests themselves.
Manage your availability to take your pupils to driving tests
If you are a driving instructor, you will still be able to manage when you are available to take your pupils for driving tests.
You can set:
- morning and afternoon hours you are available for each day of the week
- one-off times you are unavailable - for example, when you are on holiday
- how many minutes you need between tests
This means that if a learner driver adds your driving instructor personal reference number to your booking, the booking system will automatically check if you are available.
What will happen next
DVSA will email you before the new rules start. The email will explain what you need to do.
DVSA will use the email address you gave when you booked your test.
Updates to this page
-
Added information about 2 changes to car driving test booking rules coming into effect in spring 2026. From 12 May 2026, it will be against the law for anyone other than the learner driver to book, change or cancel a car driving test, including driving instructors and third-party services. From 9 June 2026, learner drivers will only be able to move their test to one of the 3 nearest test centres to where their test is booked. Also added a Welsh translation of the page.
-
Added clarification that changing multiple details at once (such as date and test centre together) counts as one change. This is in the 'What will count as changes' section.
-
From 31 March 2026, you will only be allowed to make 2 changes to your car driving test appointment after you've booked it.
-
First published.