[Help] Driving tests....help!

[T.G]

I'm trying to book a driving test for my daughter and it seems practically impossible! When they do come up on the government site they seem to disappear before I've even thought about choosing. Anyone got any tips on how to secure a test?

 

[dazzer6666]

I'm trying to book a driving test for my daughter and it seems practically impossible! When they do come up on the government site they seem to disappear before I've even thought about choosing. Anyone got any tips on how to secure a test?

Heard a discussion on the radio about this a couple of days ago. Seems you might need to look up to 6 (?) months ahead for an appointment, and/or be prepared to travel significantly to a test centre.

 

[T.G]

Heard a discussion on the radio about this a couple of days ago. Seems you might need to look up to 6 (?) months ahead for an appointment, and/or be prepared to travel significantly to a test centre.

I can possibly get one in Folkestone, but the driving instructor won't take her there and it's an unfamiliar site.

 

[dazzer6666]

I can possibly get one in Folkestone, but the driving instructor won't take her there and it's an unfamiliar site.

In the discussion I heard on the radio, the guy had to take his son to the Isle of Wight…….understandably didn’t pass. Situation seems pretty grim - demand can’t be met, still not recovered from Covid backlog plus a shortage of examiners apparently

 

[dolphins]

It's a particular issue in the south east with insufficient examiners in this area. And the scalpers who somehow snaffle appointments en mass.

One of my sons was due to have his test early February, and on the day itself it was cancelled as the examiner wasn't available (ill?). So, he was offered ONE alternative booking - which his instructor couldn't do (so the car wouldn't have been available) and therefore it was tough - had to cancel and I managed to get one... in August. It was so harsh that through no fault of his own, he's had his test put back six months. Why can't they have a few appointments kept back exactly for this sort of scenario?!

 

[cloud]

What makes it worse is the theory test is only valid for two years and then needs re-taking. I think the driving instructors can block book tests, maybe that is the best way to do it? At least it would then be in the right town.

Book and manage driving and riding tests for your pupils

Book driving and motorcycle tests for your pupils, check details, change, swap or cancel tests, and manage your availability for car driving tests.

www.gov.uk

 

[Cotton Socks]

Appointments are released 6am on Monday morn. I logged on and there were 30,000 people in the queue ahead of me. My sons instructor will only do burgess hill. I've been trying for weeks with no joy.

 

[AmexRuislip]

It's become almost impossible to book a driving test, instructors say

The use of bots for practical driving test appointments started a few months ago "but is now getting out of hand", one instructor says.

news.sky.com

 

[Kenn]

Our son was also struggling to get a test at Burgess Hill, in the end we signed-up with a company that found and reserved a test and let you know so you could pay for the test with an additional service charge, they got him one within four weeks of failing his test (which he then passed!). We found it was great that someone did all the checking and booking on his behalf

Speedy Driving Test Bookings at Burgess Hill MPTC | Fast Pass Driving Tests

Get your driving test at Burgess Hill MPTC in weeks, not months! Start searching for free today – no card details required. Pay only when you make a booking.

fastpassdrivingtests.uk

 

[Cotton Socks]

Our son was also struggling to get a test at Burgess Hill, in the end we signed-up with a company that found and reserved a test and let you know so you could pay for the test with an additional service charge, they got him one within four weeks of failing his test (which he then passed!). We found it was great that someone did all the checking and booking on his behalf

Speedy Driving Test Bookings at Burgess Hill MPTC | Fast Pass Driving Tests

Get your driving test at Burgess Hill MPTC in weeks, not months! Start searching for free today – no card details required. Pay only when you make a booking.

fastpassdrivingtests.uk

This is what makes it impossible for 'normal' people to get tests . It's very tempting though, with the threat of selling his Xbox if he fails!

Edit to add..... Would buying an estate make his insurance cheaper & putting it under a business insurance so he can go & do 'private jobs'. Private jobs would probably only be changing a relatives taps & he would put it on a SA but if it's lower insurance it seems worth it to me?

 

[Mikey_JB]

We used the "Testi" app - not very expensive and sends you a message whenever a cancellation date appears at one of your chosen centres. These happen regularly as people drop out or examiners sign up for overtime.

The key is to book a test, any test and time and anywhere, and then gradually move it nearer and nearer to you via the app every time something more convenient comes along.

Eventually we ended up with a test date within a week, in Crawley (we also wanted Burgess Hill!).

Good luck!!

 

[HeaviestTed]

This has been going on for years and is completely unacceptable that some people can steal all the spots and sell them:

‘An absolute mess’: learner drivers forced to buy tests on black market as companies block-book slots

As brokers exploit the hunt for tests with an automated ‘bot’ system, many are paying extortionate fees to ditch their L-plates

www.theguardian.com

 

[Gabbafella]

I only passed 3 years ago and didn't have any issues at all. I did two weeks intensive lessons and my test was on the 15th day.
Maybe my instructor had some sort of deal where he could book tests in advance and just fill them with whoever he's teaching.

 

[Normal Rob]

i can't remember exactly how it works but there is an app involved. My daughter booked a test in Sunderland to get on the system. She then waited for a local test to come up on the app and took it, then cancelled her Sunderland test. Someone in Sunderland would then grab that freed up test and the merry-go-round continues. It's madness

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Appointments are released 6am on Monday morn. I logged on and there were 30,000 people in the queue ahead of me. My sons instructor will only do burgess hill. I've been trying for weeks with no joy.

My daughter is having the same issue - been trying for weeks but never seems to get anywhere close.

 

[AFewGoodMen]

I'm trying to book a driving test for my daughter and it seems practically impossible! When they do come up on the government site they seem to disappear before I've even thought about choosing. Anyone got any tips on how to secure a test?

As others have said new tests come available on a Monday. On 7th this was for bookings w/c 15th September. I only know this having booked a test for my son that day. Logging on at 05:58 I was initially 12300+ in the queue. Around 06:35 was finally able to log in and once his driving license no' and post code had been added appointments for both Crawley and Burgess Hill were shown. For Burgess Hill these were dated 17th, 18th & 19th and from memory there were at least six appointments for the 18th and one for 19th at this time. Would have chosen Friday but it was around rush hour. (As he will be using his own car for the test this created greater flexiability since he isn't reliant on a driving instructors availability - which can be a further hurdle).

Probably your best bet would be to join the queue from 05:30 next Monday which should provide greater options for you / your daughter w/c 22nd September. More examiners have been proposed which may eventually shorten this 24 week time period. Hopefully this information helps and best of luck for next Monday.

 

[drew]

The best advice I can give is to get online at 6am on Monday morning as that is when they release a weeks worth of tests. This Monday they will release tests for the week beginning 22nd Sept. Once you have a test and your daughter is ready then you need to pay for one of the apps, Testi, Driving Test Genie, Driving Test Now etc to look for a cancellation. That said, you have to be quick when you get a notification because they are sending out the cancelled test dates to lots of their customers. With Testi, I believe you can set it to automatically book a test date but then you have to make sure you're available for that date (or her instructor which is not always the case). You can also key in dates to avoid such as holidays you have booked. If her instructor can't make the time the test is booked for, you can always do the test in another car, for example if she is insured to practice in one of the family cars, one of you can take her to the test centre.

It's an absolute shambles and the DVSA have a lot to answer for as it is over 3 years since the last lockdown and they are no closer to reducing the backlog in many test centres.

In addition, don't be too put off by references to queue numbers as that applies nationally. There are about 380 test centres and, for example, Burgess Hill will be doing about 240 tests a week.

Good luck.

 

[drew]

Another option is to book a test at one of the remote locations, eg Peterhead, well in advance and then use the app to look for cancellations at a more local test centre.

Just remember that, for some reason, the DVSA have changed the cancellation period so that if you intend to cancel your test, you must now do it 10 working days before the test date whereas it use to be only 3.

 

[GJN1]

i can't remember exactly how it works but there is an app involved. My daughter booked a test in Sunderland to get on the system. She then waited for a local test to come up on the app and took it, then cancelled her Sunderland test. Someone in Sunderland would then grab that freed up test and the merry-go-round continues. It's madness

A friend of mine's son travelled down with him from Sheffield to the Isle of Wight to take his test. Never been there before. Failed. Long, silent journey back to South Yorkshire.

 

[BBassic]

Yeah 6am, Monday morning and hope for the best.

I've got my test in June having booked it in December.