Anyone had any luck with booking a second driving test?
Discussion
My partner is in the process of learning manual after only driving automatic for 3 years. It seems the system is simply not setup to let you do this.
The only way to get a test is to check online every morning for a slot, if there isn't one then you're stuffed until the next morning unless you check throughout the day in case someone cancels. There is also no gurantee it will be near you. This doesn't work if you have a license because the system won't let you book a test, won't even show you them.
You're only chance is to phone the DVSA at 0800 (which is 2 hours after the online system refreshes) or find some script/browser plugin that can find cancelled tests for you. Another alternative is an app called Testy or something? Seems to do the same thing as the free scripts but costs £12.
The issue is, unless you have a test booked none of the above solutions actually work.
Anyone successfully managed to do this?
The only way to get a test is to check online every morning for a slot, if there isn't one then you're stuffed until the next morning unless you check throughout the day in case someone cancels. There is also no gurantee it will be near you. This doesn't work if you have a license because the system won't let you book a test, won't even show you them.
You're only chance is to phone the DVSA at 0800 (which is 2 hours after the online system refreshes) or find some script/browser plugin that can find cancelled tests for you. Another alternative is an app called Testy or something? Seems to do the same thing as the free scripts but costs £12.
The issue is, unless you have a test booked none of the above solutions actually work.
Anyone successfully managed to do this?
Not actually _directly_ helpful but feel free to respond to the consultation on improving things:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improv...
(and good luck to your partner getting a test and passing!)
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improv...
(and good luck to your partner getting a test and passing!)
Fastdruid said:
Not actually _directly_ helpful but feel free to respond to the consultation on improving things:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improv...
(and good luck to your partner getting a test and passing!)
Thanks for the link and she will pass just fine, we have been going out together in the MX-5 with learners insurance. Only took about 2 weeks to get used to it, still got the muscle memory with the brake though but getting there!https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improv...
(and good luck to your partner getting a test and passing!)
pigface1001 said:
Book test way in future, use a cancellation app to get one sooner.
Waiting lists are huge, most test centres are 15 weeks or more.
Yeah that's kind of part of the problem, we can't really book one in the future because anytime we call when the DVSA opens, there is nothing. I know the cancellation apps work, that's how I got my test booked a few years back. However none of them work without first having a test booked Waiting lists are huge, most test centres are 15 weeks or more.
.i think what you are doing wrong here, is trying to get a test at your local centre. IIRC you can use the DVSA website and book a test anywhere, for anytime, so long as you can get a test. So once you have that test at 8am in the outer hebrides for the end of October, you can then use the app to bring the test closer in both time and location.
in summary, book a test anywhere, then tailor it with the app.
in summary, book a test anywhere, then tailor it with the app.
We've just gone through this with my son. He failed his first test but passed his second. Our tactic for both was:
1) Book any test anywhere in the country - whatever is available
2) Use an App (we used Testi) which constantly monitors for cancellations in your chosen test centre - change your test to this one.
The key being you must have a test to be able to use the app to check for cancellations. Even using the above was difficult to get one - often by the time you get notification the test has already gone. I was lucky in that I happened to be looking at my phone and got the notification so just clicked through as fast as possible.
My sister has signed up to a website, for my neice, that supposedly gives you 15 minutes to book it (don't know how accurate that is).
1) Book any test anywhere in the country - whatever is available
2) Use an App (we used Testi) which constantly monitors for cancellations in your chosen test centre - change your test to this one.
The key being you must have a test to be able to use the app to check for cancellations. Even using the above was difficult to get one - often by the time you get notification the test has already gone. I was lucky in that I happened to be looking at my phone and got the notification so just clicked through as fast as possible.
My sister has signed up to a website, for my neice, that supposedly gives you 15 minutes to book it (don't know how accurate that is).
Right I think there is a bit of a misunderstanding here.
My partner already has a license to drive an automatic. They need to book a test for manual. Since they already have a license they can not book via the website, it does not let you so the only thing we can do is call at 0800 and spend 20-30 minutes on hold, another 10 minutes explaining why we can't use the website/giving details and then finally get told that there is nothing available at that time.
I do find it hard to believe there is nothing available, anywhere, in the country. We aren't able to see that, they are just telling us that before they fob us off the phone.
That's the part we can't seem to get over, we have been calling every morning for 2 weeks and had no luck.
My partner already has a license to drive an automatic. They need to book a test for manual. Since they already have a license they can not book via the website, it does not let you so the only thing we can do is call at 0800 and spend 20-30 minutes on hold, another 10 minutes explaining why we can't use the website/giving details and then finally get told that there is nothing available at that time.
I do find it hard to believe there is nothing available, anywhere, in the country. We aren't able to see that, they are just telling us that before they fob us off the phone.
That's the part we can't seem to get over, we have been calling every morning for 2 weeks and had no luck.
That does put a different spin on it.
Not real suggestions from me apart from I think there are third parties that block book and re-sell - although of course you are paying over the odds.
Alternatively, I've heard that some driving instructors do the same as they get earlier access (this may or may not be true). Know any friendly ones?
Not real suggestions from me apart from I think there are third parties that block book and re-sell - although of course you are paying over the odds.
Alternatively, I've heard that some driving instructors do the same as they get earlier access (this may or may not be true). Know any friendly ones?
according to the google machine, you can obtain a provisional manual licence even though she holds an automatic licence.
That is probably your answer , but I suspect you will give me some noise about wasting money on another licence/when you don't need to/ the system is broken/ why wont it do what i want etc.
That is probably your answer , but I suspect you will give me some noise about wasting money on another licence/when you don't need to/ the system is broken/ why wont it do what i want etc.
Dynion Araf Uchaf said:
according to the google machine, you can obtain a provisional manual licence even though she holds an automatic licence.
That info might be outdated, the gov website says you don't need to do that. We have been driving my MX-5 for a month now and as long as I'm in the car and we display L plates that's good enough.Dynion Araf Uchaf said:
That is probably your answer , but I suspect you will give me some noise about wasting money on another licence/when you don't need to/ the system is broken/ why wont it do what i want etc.
Well if part 1 is true then yes but I think we are already sort of doing that considering we need learners insurance which we have had to get from a 3rd party. Insurance for the automatic car that she owns won't allow her to take out learners insurance on another car, my insurance policy is special via the MX-5 owners club (makes it cheap as buttons) so no learner drivers can be added as additional drivers.However I will entertain you and complain because the system is utter b
ks if I have to go outside the provided system to utlise aspects of the service.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff