UK Government Bans Bots and Third Parties from Booking Driving Tests Amid Backlog Crisis
Published 12 November 2025
Highlights
- The UK government plans to ban third parties and bots from booking driving tests to address a backlog of nearly 670,000 learners.
- Only learner drivers will be able to book tests, with limits on changes to bookings, to prevent reselling at inflated prices.
- The average waiting time for a driving test was 21.8 weeks as of September, with a target to reduce it to seven weeks by summer 2026, though this deadline is unlikely to be met.
- The DVSA has recruited 316 new examiners, but due to attrition, the net gain is only 40; a £5,000 retention payment is being offered to retain examiners.
- The Ministry of Defence will provide 36 civilian examiners to help reduce the backlog, enabling up to 6,500 additional tests annually.
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Rewritten Article
Headline: UK Government Bans Bots and Third Parties from Booking Driving Tests Amid Backlog Crisis
In a significant move to tackle the mounting backlog of driving tests in the UK, the government has announced a ban on third-party and bot bookings. This decision comes as nearly 670,000 learner drivers are currently queued for practical assessments, with many facing inflated prices due to reselling practices.
New Booking Restrictions
Under the new regulations, only learner drivers will be permitted to book their driving tests, effectively eliminating the role of instructors and third-party agents in this process. The Department for Transport (DfT) has also introduced a cap on the number of changes a learner can make to their test bookings, limiting them to two modifications, including location changes. This aims to curb the exploitation of the system by those reselling slots at exorbitant prices.
Efforts to Reduce Waiting Times
Despite these reforms, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has acknowledged that the target to reduce the average waiting time for driving tests to seven weeks by summer 2026 is unlikely to be achieved. As of September, the waiting period stood at 21.8 weeks. To address this, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has recruited 316 new examiners, although the net increase is only 40 due to staff turnover. To retain existing examiners, a £5,000 retention payment will be introduced next year.
Additional Support from the Ministry of Defence
In an effort to further alleviate the backlog, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will deploy 36 civilian examiners to conduct driving tests across England. These examiners will focus on areas with the highest demand and are expected to facilitate up to 6,500 additional tests annually. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, expressed optimism about these measures, stating they would reassure candidates that they are not being sidelined by profiteers.
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Scenario Analysis
The government's crackdown on third-party bookings and bots is a crucial step towards addressing the driving test backlog, but challenges remain. The inability to meet the seven-week waiting time target by 2026 suggests that further measures may be necessary. The introduction of MoD examiners is a temporary solution, and the DVSA may need to explore additional recruitment or technological innovations to sustain progress. Politically, the government's handling of this issue could impact public perception, particularly among young voters and rural communities who rely heavily on driving licenses for mobility.
In a significant move to tackle the mounting backlog of driving tests in the UK, the government has announced a ban on third-party and bot bookings. This decision comes as nearly 670,000 learner drivers are currently queued for practical assessments, with many facing inflated prices due to reselling practices.
New Booking Restrictions
Under the new regulations, only learner drivers will be permitted to book their driving tests, effectively eliminating the role of instructors and third-party agents in this process. The Department for Transport (DfT) has also introduced a cap on the number of changes a learner can make to their test bookings, limiting them to two modifications, including location changes. This aims to curb the exploitation of the system by those reselling slots at exorbitant prices.
Efforts to Reduce Waiting Times
Despite these reforms, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has acknowledged that the target to reduce the average waiting time for driving tests to seven weeks by summer 2026 is unlikely to be achieved. As of September, the waiting period stood at 21.8 weeks. To address this, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has recruited 316 new examiners, although the net increase is only 40 due to staff turnover. To retain existing examiners, a £5,000 retention payment will be introduced next year.
Additional Support from the Ministry of Defence
In an effort to further alleviate the backlog, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will deploy 36 civilian examiners to conduct driving tests across England. These examiners will focus on areas with the highest demand and are expected to facilitate up to 6,500 additional tests annually. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, expressed optimism about these measures, stating they would reassure candidates that they are not being sidelined by profiteers.
What this might mean
The government's crackdown on third-party bookings and bots is a crucial step towards addressing the driving test backlog, but challenges remain. The inability to meet the seven-week waiting time target by 2026 suggests that further measures may be necessary. The introduction of MoD examiners is a temporary solution, and the DVSA may need to explore additional recruitment or technological innovations to sustain progress. Politically, the government's handling of this issue could impact public perception, particularly among young voters and rural communities who rely heavily on driving licenses for mobility.
