DVSA update over changes to systems for booking your driving tests | Personal Finance | Finance

January 15, 2026 4,854

Emran Mian answering questions

Government official Emran Mian answered questions about data systems (Image: Parliament TV)

Government officials have issued an update about changes to the system for booking your driving test online. Under the current rules, you can book your practical test through the Government website.

Guidance on the webpage explains: “You’ll be put in a queue when you start booking your driving test – you’ll be told how long you’ll need to wait once you begin. This is faster than booking by phone because the phone lines are very busy at the moment.”

You can request to book your test online from 6am to 11.40pm. Learners can book their test up to 24 weeks in advance of the test date. There is no waiting list or cancellation list.

To book your test, you have to provide details of your type of vehicle, your provisional licence, as well as information about the test itself, including the test centre, and the date and time for your test.

The topic of driving tests came up in a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament today, Thursday, January 15. MPs were scrutinising public officials about the use of data to prevent error and fraud.

One consistent problem that was raised is the issue of ‘legacy systems’, where there are issues due to older processes and software being used. Committee chair Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said these dated systems often need to be “patched” so they can keep working.

In a troubling word of warning, he also said: “Now we’re hearing that they make it more difficult to root out fraud and error because they are not AI compatible.” He asked what is being done to modernise these systems.

Emran Mian, permanent secretary of the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, responded, mentioning the driving test booking service as one area of concern.

He said: “One of the challenges around the system for booking your driving test online has been some challenges with the fact that it’s a legacy system. That is something that the Department for Transport is looking at as part of their investment plans, and their plans to improve that service.”

You currently book your driving test through the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), which operates as part of the larger Department for Transport. Mr Mian said he was unsure if the fact that driving tests are booked through an agency rather than a larger Government department is a factor with the issues around legacy systems.

But Mr Mian went on to say that even “core Government departments” have challenges around the fact they operate legacy systems. He said: “Investment in updating these legacy systems is the thing that tends to get traded off when spend on data and digital is very, very tight.

“What departments will often then do is invest in the data and digital that deals with the service issue that is present there and then, rather than dealing with the legacy system.”

To address this problem, Mr Mian said his department is now working with other departments to make sure they invest in improving their legacy systems. He also said his team is taking “a much closer approach” to make sure the departments carry out the improvements.

Upcoming changes to the driving test system

From spring 2026, new rules will be brought in around booking and managing driving tests. Under the new regime, only learner drivers will be able to book a test. Their driving instructor will no longer be able to.

Learners will only be allowed to make two changes to their driving test appointment and you will only be able to change the test centre, to a centre near to the one where you originally booked to have your test.

Doing any of these things counts as making a change:

These things each count as a change: