Lessons and tests on hold

(04/01/2021)

On 4 January, the government announced a new national lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus.

You can read more about the lockdown measures on GOV.UK

Driving and riding lessons, including CBT must not take place until the restrictions are lifted. This includes ADI part 2 and 3 tests and standards checks.

All driving and riding tests have been suspended from 5 January until the restrictions are lifted.

DVSA will email candidates who are affected by this to let them know when they will reschedule their test.

If the new time and date is not suitable for you, you can choose a different time and date on GOV.UK. You will need your driving licence number to do this. You do not need to pay again to do this.

All theory tests will be suspended until the restrictions are lifted.

DVSA will email anyone who has booked a test and is affected by this to let them know their theory test is on hold and that they will need to reschedule it by visiting https://www.gov.uk/change-theory-test.

Introducing planned changes to the car theory test

(24/09/2020)

DVSA will introduce the planned changes to the car theory test on Monday 28 September 2020.

We wrote to you in February this year to let you know we were updating parts of the car theory test. These changes were postponed as the theory test service was closed on 20 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What are the changes;

The updated part of the test will make it more realistic and improve the accessibility for all candidates.

Video clip scenarios will replace the written case study within the multiple choice part of the current theory test. Candidates will be asked 3 questions based on the short video clip.

Candidates will still:

be asked 50 multiple-choice questions in total
need to get the same pass mark (43/50)
be tested on the same content

Updated learning materials

The full set of updated official learning materials is available from the Safe Driving for Life website, where your pupils can also practice with the free video clips.

Practical Driving Test Update

(14/08/2020)

The guidance for practical driving tests has been updated, you can find more information in the links below;

News from the DVSA

(28/07/2020)

Theory tests have now restarted but due to social distancing measures there are not the usual number of spaces available. You may currently be looking at October for a theory test date so it may be wise to get one booked now!!

The DVSA has announced that over 210,000 driving tests were put on hold due to coronavirus. So far, they have invited over 67,000 people to choose a new appointment. It may still take several weeks before all the emails have been sent.

There has been no announcement as to when the booking system will re-open for everyone else to book the practical driving test.

Coronavirus - Guidance

(02/07/2020)

The guidance and advice for theory and practical tests has been updated, you can find more information here;

New Guidelines and Advice

(02/07/2020)

The NASP (National Associations Strategic Partnership) has issued new guidelines with regard to driving lessons and tests. You can read more about it here.

New Guidelines and Advice

(26/06/2020)

Great news at last.....

Driving lessons can begin on July 4th.

Theroy tests will begin again on July 4th.

Driving tests will begin again on July 22nd.

Guidance has been given so please take time to read through it. If you have and queries then please don't hesitate to contact me direct via email or text,

Email from the DVSA Chief Executive

(16/06/2020)

Email from the Chief Executive begins......

I wrote to you on 22 April 2020 to set out the steps that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has taken to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), and what support the government has put in place for you.

I now want to update you on the planning we’re doing to help return to life that is as close to normal as possible, as quickly and fairly as possible, in a way that avoids a second peak of infections.

Statement from the DVSA

(15/06/2020)

All theory tests in England, Scotland and Wales from 22 June up to and including 3 July have been rescheduled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

We will update you with a start date for theory testing as soon as we are able.

What DVSA are doing

We are emailing anyone with a test booked from 22 June up to and including 3 July to let them know it has been rescheduled.

If you have booked a test for any of your pupils during these dates, you will need to contact them to let them know that their test has been rescheduled.

You can do this on GOV.UK. You will need your driving licence number to do this. You’ll get another email from Pearson Vue. You do not need to pay again to do this.

An emergency theory testing service will still be available to those who have a critical need to take a test, such as NHS and social care workers.

Please do not call our customer service centre as they will not be able to help. Stay up to date on the latest information on GOV.UK.

We will be monitoring the situation and we will let you know if we need to cancel any more tests.

Statement from NASP

(11/06/2020)

Latest update from NASP with regard to driving lessons and tests.

Latest email from the DVSA

(13/06/2020)

All theory tests in England from 15 to 21 June have been rescheduled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

We will update you with a start date for theory testing in England as soon as we are able.

What DVSA are doing

We are emailing anyone with a test booked from 15 to 21 June to let them know it has been rescheduled.

We wrote to you on 29 May to let you know that tests in Scotland and Wales will be rescheduled up to and including 21 June 2020. This is in line with government guidelines in the respective countries.

If you've booked a test for your pupils

If you have booked a test for any of your pupils during these dates, you will need to contact them to let them know that their test has been rescheduled.

You can do this on GOV.UK. You will need your driving licence number to do this. You’ll get another email from Pearson Vue. You do not need to pay again to do this.

Emergency theory tests

An emergency theory testing service will still be available to those who have a critical need to take a test, such as NHS and social care workers.

Please do not call our customer service centre as they will not be able to help. Stay up to date on the latest information on GOV.UK.

We will be monitoring the situation and we will let you know if we need to cancel any more tests.

Driving lessons

Driver, rider and vocational trainers should continue to limit instruction to key workers preparing for an essential test.

We provided the industry with advice on this in April and will provide further information about broader training as soon as we can.

Latest email from the DVSA

(05/06/2020)

All theory tests in England rescheduled up to the 14 June

All theory tests in England from 8 - 14 June have been rescheduled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

We are preparing test centres for a safe return to testing for all candidates and social distancing measures are being put in place.

We will update you with a start date for theory testing in England as soon as we are able.

What DVSA are doing

We are emailing anyone with a test booked from 8 - 14 June inclusive to let them know it has been rescheduled.

We wrote to you on 29 May to let you know that tests in Scotland and Wales will be rescheduled up to and including 21 June 2020. This is in line with government guidelines in the respective countries.

If you've booked a test for your pupils

If you have booked a test for any of your pupils during these dates, you will need to contact them to let them know that their test has been rescheduled.

You can do this on GOV.UK. You will need your driving licence number to do this. You’ll get another email from Pearson Vue. You do not need to pay again to do this.

Emergency theory tests

An emergency theory testing service will still be available to those who have a critical need to take a test, such as NHS and social care workers.

Please do not call our customer service centre as they will not be able to help. Stay up to date on the latest information on GOV.UK.

We will be monitoring the situation and we will let you know if we need to cancel any more tests.

Driving lessons

Driver, rider and vocational trainers should continue to limit instruction to key workers preparing for an essential test.

We provided the industry with advice on this in April and will provide further information about broader training as soon as we can.

Guidance from the DVSA

(29/05/2020)

Theory tests are currently suspended.

The DVSA has issued guidance with regard to driving tests.

Statement from the DIA

(19/05/2020)

The National Associations Strategic Partnership (composed of DIA, ADINJC and MSA) has published updated guidance for driver and rider trainers as lockdown starts to ease, and there is the potential of returning to a wider level of training by the start of July.

We have not received official guidance from the government yet in respect of a date they feel it is appropriate for driver and rider training to fully resume. DVSA recently tweeted:

“Driving Instructors should limit instruction to key workers preparing for an essential driving test”.

However, NASP wished to offer guidance to trainers who want to start preparing for their return to work now.

We are asking the government every day for updated guidance for driver and rider trainers and, as soon as we receive it, we will share it with members.

Click the button below for the official NASP guidance.

Guidance from the DVSA

(24/04/2020)

Driving tests are currently suspended for up to 3 months (from 20 March 2020) due to coronavirus.

The DVSA has issued guidance with regard to driving tests.