UK Bans Instructors from Booking Driving Tests to Curb Profiteering
New regulations have come into force in the United Kingdom, prohibiting driving instructors from booking or managing driving tests on behalf of learners. Effective from Tuesday, only learners can now book and manage their own test slots. This measure aims to eliminate scandalous profiteering by third-party touts who use automated bots to secure appointments and resell them at inflated prices, sometimes up to £500 compared to the standard £62 fee. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) introduced these rules to combat a significant backlog, with average waiting times rising to over 22 weeks. Additionally, new restrictions limit slot transfers to the three nearest test centers and reduce allowed booking changes from six to two. These changes are designed to prevent speculative bookings that hinder capacity planning. While the government highlights increased testing volumes, industry experts argue that recruiting more examiners remains essential to resolving long-term delays. The National Audit Office previously reported on the exploitation of learners, prompting this legislative shift to ensure a fairer system for genuine applicants.
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UK Bans Instructors from Booking Driving Tests to Curb Profiteering
New regulations have come into force in the United Kingdom, prohibiting driving instructors from booking or managing driving tests on behalf of learners. Effective from Tuesday, only learners can now book and manage their own test slots. This measure aims to eliminate scandalous profiteering by third-party touts who use automated bots to secure appointments and resell them at inflated prices, sometimes up to £500 compared to the standard £62 fee. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) introduced these rules to combat a significant backlog, with average waiting times rising to over 22 weeks. Additionally, new restrictions limit slot transfers to the three nearest test centers and reduce allowed booking changes from six to two. These changes are designed to prevent speculative bookings that hinder capacity planning. While the government highlights increased testing volumes, industry experts argue that recruiting more examiners remains essential to resolving long-term delays. The National Audit Office previously reported on the exploitation of learners, prompting this legislative shift to ensure a fairer system for genuine applicants.
The Standard