Last Updated on April 10, 2025
What Changed – and Why It Matters to Learner Drivers
If you are a learner driver preparing to take your car driving test in the UK this year, you’ll likely have noticed an important rule change that came into effect on the 8th of April 2025 regarding driving test cancellations. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) introduced a new requirement for rescheduling or cancelling driving tests, impacting how much notice you needed to give to avoid losing your test payment.
The updated rule was introduced to tackle a key problem, wasted test appointments. Thousands of learner drivers across the UK were cancelling tests at the last minute, or simply not showing up. This made it difficult for others to step in and fill those empty slots, worsening already long waiting times. The DVSA acted by making changes aimed at getting the system working more efficiently and giving test-ready learners more opportunities to get on the road. In this blog, we’ll discuss exactly what the new rule for driving test changes involves, why it was introduced, and how it may continue to affect learner drivers going forward.
The New 10-Day Notice Period for Car Driving Tests
As of the 8th of April 2025, learner drivers need to give at least 10 full working days’ notice to change or cancel their car driving test without losing the fee.
What counts as a working day?
- Monday to Friday = working days
- Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays = NOT working days
For example, if your test is booked for a Friday, you need to cancel it by the Friday two weeks before to avoid paying again.
Before this rule came in, only 3 full working days’ notice was required. The new driving test notice policy makes it crucial for learners to plan carefully when booking or rescheduling.
Why the DVSA Made the Change
The DVSA revealed that in 2024 alone, over 60,000 driving test appointments were wasted because learners failed to show up. That’s the equivalent of an entire year’s workload for 45 full-time examiners, a serious issue at a time when waiting lists for tests were already stretched.
Previously, late cancellations meant test slots often went unused. There simply wasn’t enough time for other learners, many of whom were ready to pass, to step in and take those slots. By extending the notice period to 10 working days, the DVSA aims to:
- Reduce the number of wasted tests
- Free up slots for test-ready learners
- Bring down national waiting times
This change serves to make the booking system fairer and more efficient for everyone involved.
Tests Affected by the New Rule
It’s worth noting that this change applies only to car driving tests.
The existing 3 working days’ notice continues to apply to:
- Theory tests
- Motorcycle tests
- Lorry and bus driving tests
- Driving instructor tests
- Specialist vehicle driving tests
If you are preparing for one of those, the rules around cancellations and changes remains the same.
Exceptions Still Applied for Special Circumstances
Although the new driving test change policy is stricter, there are still exceptions in place for those who had to cancel at short notice due to:
- Illness or injury
- A family bereavement
- An exam clash
- A stolen driving licence
In these cases, you could still apply for a refund, provided you contacted the DVSA as soon as possible and met the criteria.
What Happens If the DVSA Cancels Your Test?
If the DVSA must cancel your test with fewer than 3 full working days’ notice, they will continue to reimburse out-of-pocket expenses under their existing process. This policy remains in place while the DVSA review its expense and compensation procedures.
Learners Encouraged to Cancel If They Can’t Attend
Failing to turn up not only means losing your test fee but also contributes to longer waiting times for others.
The DVSA also confirmed plans to consult on new penalties for those who didn’t attend their test without notice. Potential future actions included:
- Increasing the wait time before being allowed to book another test
- Introducing a driving test change penalty fee
Part of the DVSA’s Wider Plan
This new rule is part of the DVSA’s broader 7-point plan to reduce delays in the driving test system. Other measures include:
- Hiring additional examiners
- Upgrading booking tools for learners and instructors
- Limiting how far in advance tests could be booked
- Increasing the wait period after failed tests
- Encouraging test-readiness through the ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign
- Improving test availability through better slot management
Conclusion
The recent changes made to driving tests mark a significant shift in how learners need to prepare for their driving test. With a longer driving test notice period, it has become even more important to be organised, plan ahead, and be honest about your readiness to take the test.
For learners, this change is a reminder to only book when you are confident and well-prepared. For instructors, the update provides an opportunity to reinforce the importance of test readiness and help their pupils build solid habits, both for driving and for planning. And for the DVSA, this rule is just one of several steps aimed at clearing backlogs and improving the experience of learning to drive across the UK.
FAQs
It came into effect on the 8th of April 2025. From that date onwards, learners must give 10 working days’ notice to change or cancel car driving tests.
You will lose your test fee, unless your cancellation was due to special circumstances such as illness or a family emergency.
No. Those tests still only require 3 full working days’ notice to cancel or reschedule without losing the fee.
You will lose your fee and potentially face longer rebooking delays in the future, depending on the DVSA’s consultation outcomes.
After the 8th of April 2025, the updated deadline appears in your driving test booking confirmation online.
