Booking a driving test for this year rather than next
Discussion
I don't think the DVSA have released dates all the way to the end of the year yet (I suspect they have been partially released to September/October time, but expect more dates to be added in that timeframe).
When they are released they will vanish in the blink of an eye unless a large number are released (as they haven't been released for some weeks as far as I can tell, I am expecting a significant batch to be dumped on the system fairly soon).
Once you can get a test date, getting a cancellation is possible through third party providers (at a cost naturally), but most (all I have looked at) require you to have a test date already.
In principle you could also just keep checking the system yourself until you find a date, but with so many automated systems trawling the bookings and so few people cancelling, you'd have to get very lucky...
When they are released they will vanish in the blink of an eye unless a large number are released (as they haven't been released for some weeks as far as I can tell, I am expecting a significant batch to be dumped on the system fairly soon).
Once you can get a test date, getting a cancellation is possible through third party providers (at a cost naturally), but most (all I have looked at) require you to have a test date already.
In principle you could also just keep checking the system yourself until you find a date, but with so many automated systems trawling the bookings and so few people cancelling, you'd have to get very lucky...
My son used the site
https://www.driving-test-cancellations-4all.co.uk/
last year - reduced a 4 month wait for a test to two weeks.
You need to have booked a test to make it work - this can be for any date or location.
You put in what date range and location you're looking for and it checks every 5 minutes until it finds one that matches.
If you pay the £18 (when you sign up) it will then auto book it for you. If you don't , you only get a notification that there's a suitable slot and you have to do the leg work yourself.
Excellent service!
https://www.driving-test-cancellations-4all.co.uk/
last year - reduced a 4 month wait for a test to two weeks.
You need to have booked a test to make it work - this can be for any date or location.
You put in what date range and location you're looking for and it checks every 5 minutes until it finds one that matches.
If you pay the £18 (when you sign up) it will then auto book it for you. If you don't , you only get a notification that there's a suitable slot and you have to do the leg work yourself.
Excellent service!
Edited by Paulduckworth on Tuesday 25th May 10:41
Thanks all. It’s a bit mad, at least everyone will have a lot more experience than we used to get before passing.
Will keep trying for a slot, and then aim to rebook earlier once he is ready. A lot of pressure for them to pass though knowing what the delay is for a retest, I don’t envy people.
Will keep trying for a slot, and then aim to rebook earlier once he is ready. A lot of pressure for them to pass though knowing what the delay is for a retest, I don’t envy people.
Situation is not getting any better.
Eldest daughter, was 17 in March, first theory test we could get was last Thursday, which she passed.
Now trying to book a practical test, nothing available. Tried all test centres within 50 miles, looking up to end of Jan next year and no dates available anywhere.
It appears that you can’t even use one of the suggested sites for a cancellation until you have your first test booked.
Feel really sorry for her, her mates and anyone in this situation.
Lifetime ago for many but when I was 17 I had booked a test before even taking my first lesson.
First lesson on the day of my 17th birthday and 10 weeks later had passed my test.
Eldest daughter, was 17 in March, first theory test we could get was last Thursday, which she passed.
Now trying to book a practical test, nothing available. Tried all test centres within 50 miles, looking up to end of Jan next year and no dates available anywhere.
It appears that you can’t even use one of the suggested sites for a cancellation until you have your first test booked.
Feel really sorry for her, her mates and anyone in this situation.
Lifetime ago for many but when I was 17 I had booked a test before even taking my first lesson.
First lesson on the day of my 17th birthday and 10 weeks later had passed my test.
The good news is that my colleague's offspring passed first time, after getting a test quickly through one of the apps shown above. The bad news is that said colleague lost a weekend giving extra lessons as the test was so soon.
Keep at it, you'll get the long term test booked soon enough, followed by a mad panic.
Keep at it, you'll get the long term test booked soon enough, followed by a mad panic.
Biggles111 said:
Thanks all. It’s a bit mad, at least everyone will have a lot more experience than we used to get before passing.
Will keep trying for a slot, and then aim to rebook earlier once he is ready. A lot of pressure for them to pass though knowing what the delay is for a retest, I don’t envy people.
The problem is all the extra time and expense you don't really need.Will keep trying for a slot, and then aim to rebook earlier once he is ready. A lot of pressure for them to pass though knowing what the delay is for a retest, I don’t envy people.
My son was ready for his test when this all kicked off. He's had multiple tests cancelled. Each one he's had to do extra lessons for.
In the mean time his theory test expired so he had to redo that before he could book his next test.
The car he bought was also sitting on our drive doing nothing so he had to sell it at a loss.
If I take him out in our car he drive like someone that's got years of experience, yet he can't legally drive.
As he can't drive we have to drive him to and from work every day which is twice the journeys and twice the fuel, plus our time. He works shifts so this can be early mornings and late nights.
In all its a pain in the arse!
Edited by 98elise on Monday 2nd August 13:34
Paulduckworth said:
My son used the site
https://www.driving-test-cancellations-4all.co.uk/
last year - reduced a 4 month wait for a test to two weeks.
You need to have booked a test to make it work - this can be for any date or location.
You put in what date range and location you're looking for and it checks every 5 minutes until it finds one that matches.
If you pay the £18 (when you sign up) it will then auto book it for you. If you don't , you only get a notification that there's a suitable slot and you have to do the leg work yourself.
Excellent service!
Might just be our area, but my son hasn't had a single cancellation notification since he signed up a month ago.https://www.driving-test-cancellations-4all.co.uk/
last year - reduced a 4 month wait for a test to two weeks.
You need to have booked a test to make it work - this can be for any date or location.
You put in what date range and location you're looking for and it checks every 5 minutes until it finds one that matches.
If you pay the £18 (when you sign up) it will then auto book it for you. If you don't , you only get a notification that there's a suitable slot and you have to do the leg work yourself.
Excellent service!
Edited by Paulduckworth on Tuesday 25th May 10:41
Did a bit more research over the weekend.
It appears that DVSA will only let you book up to 24 weeks in advance, and open up appointments each week.
6am this morning managed to book my daughter a test for Friday 14th Jan, as the week starting 10th Jan became available.
Talk about added pressure to pass.
It appears that DVSA will only let you book up to 24 weeks in advance, and open up appointments each week.
6am this morning managed to book my daughter a test for Friday 14th Jan, as the week starting 10th Jan became available.
Talk about added pressure to pass.
Emily's dad said:
Lifetime ago for many but when I was 17 I had booked a test before even taking my first lesson.
First lesson on the day of my 17th birthday and 10 weeks later had passed my test.
Same for me: booked the test a day before my 17th birthday. Dad was a Police driver so first lesson = 00:01 on my actual birthday. 26 days later I had a licence. As said above though - those days are long gone.First lesson on the day of my 17th birthday and 10 weeks later had passed my test.
I really feel for the victims here, and the only positive I can see is that if candidates keep practising they will be at such a high standard when the take their tests that passing should be a doddle.
Keep at it, OP (and your children!).
Turbobanana said:
Same for me: booked the test a day before my 17th birthday. Dad was a Police driver so first lesson = 00:01 on my actual birthday. 26 days later I had a licence. As said above though - those days are long gone.
I really feel for the victims here, and the only positive I can see is that if candidates keep practising they will be at such a high standard when the take their tests that passing should be a doddle.
Keep at it, OP (and your children!).
I was taught to drive on a police driving course. 3 weeks to passed test. I feel sorry for youngsters. Apparently lessons are 33 quid plus an hour!I really feel for the victims here, and the only positive I can see is that if candidates keep practising they will be at such a high standard when the take their tests that passing should be a doddle.
Keep at it, OP (and your children!).
XCP said:
Turbobanana said:
Same for me: booked the test a day before my 17th birthday. Dad was a Police driver so first lesson = 00:01 on my actual birthday. 26 days later I had a licence. As said above though - those days are long gone.
I really feel for the victims here, and the only positive I can see is that if candidates keep practising they will be at such a high standard when the take their tests that passing should be a doddle.
Keep at it, OP (and your children!).
I was taught to drive on a police driving course. 3 weeks to passed test. I feel sorry for youngsters. Apparently lessons are 33 quid plus an hour!I really feel for the victims here, and the only positive I can see is that if candidates keep practising they will be at such a high standard when the take their tests that passing should be a doddle.
Keep at it, OP (and your children!).
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