We welcome the announcement by the Department for Transport that major changes are being introduced to the UK driving test booking system, aimed at tackling long waiting lists and ending the exploitative resale of test slots by third-party websites and automated “bots.”
Under the new rules, only learner drivers themselves will be able to book tests directly through the DVSA, preventing third parties from bulk-reserving and reselling appointments — sometimes for as much as £500.
The reforms will also:
-
Restrict the number of times a test can be swapped or moved.
-
Limit the geographical area in which a test can be changed once booked.
-
Bring in 36 additional examiners from the Ministry of Defence and offer retention payments to existing staff to help reduce the backlog.
The average national waiting time for a driving test currently stands at 21.8 weeks, with many candidates waiting over six months for an available slot.
Why this matters to the social care sector
For hundreds of overseas care workers working in the UK, these delays have had serious implications. Many international recruits are ready and willing to work in domiciliary and community-based roles, but are unable to do so until they obtain a full UK driving licence.
SESCA hopes that these reforms will make the system fairer, more transparent, and more accessible — ensuring that legitimate applicants, including overseas care workers, can secure test slots without being priced out or trapped in long queues created by automated booking systems.