Overview
- From 24 November 2025, candidates are required to spend longer on higher-speed routes, particularly rural roads.
- Mandatory stops are cut from four to three, and the emergency stop now features in about one in seven tests instead of one in three.
- Examiners can extend independent driving to 20 minutes or the full test, with directions followed via satnav, traffic signs, or both.
- The nationwide rollout follows a five-month trial at 20 centres that concluded in October, with almost nine in ten examiners supporting permanent adoption.
- DVSA says test length and the number of slots are unchanged, while backlogs remain high (642,000 future bookings at end-October) as ministers deploy MoD examiners and tighten booking rules.