Overview
- The DVSA will put the final stage of its booking reforms into effect on June 9, 2026, meaning learners may only move a booked driving test to the centre they originally chose or to one of the three nearest centres.
- Earlier this spring the agency already made learners, not instructors or third‑party sites, the only people able to book and manage practical tests, a change that took effect on May 12.
- Some reports say the number of free reschedules has been cut from six to two, but that specific reduction is disputed in the coverage and lacks uniform official confirmation in the provided excerpts.
- The changes are presented as an anti‑fraud measure to stop businesses using bots and resellers that buy and re‑sell slots at higher prices, a response to a backlog that reached a 22‑week average in September 2025 and NAO criticism that the system was not working satisfactorily.
- Industry groups warn the rules could push costs onto learners, concentrate demand at local centres and encourage a secondary market for slots, so watch for pressure on nearest centres, longer local waits and extra lesson costs for candidates.