Driving test booking problems - logistics question

[phatmanace]

I've read a lot about the problems with driving tests. Actually my son just passed and it was quite hard to get a slot for his test.

The bit I'm confused about is that the claim is that commercial outfits (e.g driving schools) can block book and then resell tests, which then eats up all the slots and 'normal people' that just want to book a test can't. What I was curious about is whether this actually the intention, or simply a side effect of a convenience facility the website offers for driving schools that has gotten way out of hand.

I don't quite understand why the DVSA can't just make it so that only the person can book a test, they can only book one at a time and with some sensible limit, like 5 a year or something. I assumed it must be some commercial angle that I haven't quite understood, but I'm very curious just because it seems a very simple thing to technically stop.

[Deerfoot]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0k2858jj1o

Interesting that this appeared today.

Had difficulty booking a test for my eldest last year, the waiting list for our preferred test centre was about 6 months.

We used to get up early on a Monday morning to try and get a slot. There needs to be a review of the method of booking tests, the idea of paying a tout is crazy.

Will have to go through it all again next year with my daughter, I'm not sure why the booking process can't be tightened up to prevent block booking.

[Road2Ruin]

I don't follow this. I assume we all use the same test booking site? In August we got a slot first time of trying at out preferred centre. There was quite a queue, but that disappeared quite quickly. We initially got a test date of Nov, but moved that forward to Sept. No issues whatsoever.