The government has introduced a series of initiatives to assist learner drivers in obtaining their licenses, including deploying military driving examiners to various locations. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has announced measures to combat the issue of bots and third parties reserving and reselling driving test slots at inflated prices.
Acknowledging the delay in achieving the goal of reducing the average waiting time for booking a test to seven weeks by summer 2026, the Cabinet minister outlined the steps being taken. By allowing military examiners to conduct civilian driving tests, the government anticipates an increase of up to 6,500 additional test slots in high-demand areas over the next year.
In a bid to prevent third-party exploitation, the Department for Transport will restrict test bookings to only learner drivers themselves, eliminating the ability of instructors to book on their behalf. Learners will be limited to making two changes to their test appointments before having to cancel and rebook, with a focus on test centers near their original booking location.
Reports of individuals falling victim to scammers posing as driving test sellers on social media have prompted these stricter regulations. The move aims to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all learners, with the goal of expediting the process of obtaining a driving license.
The Ministry of Defence will provide 36 Defence Driving Examiners (DDEs) to assist the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in conducting driving tests, primarily focusing on car tests but with the flexibility to administer vocational tests if necessary. The MoD personnel will operate at test centers with the highest demand, near their base or home location.
Armed Forces minister Al Carns commended the collaboration between the military and civilians in supporting the public through this initiative. Emma Bush, managing director of AA Driving School, welcomed the additional support from military examiners, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts to reduce waiting times and improve the efficiency of the testing system.