Starting 8 April 2025, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will require learner drivers to give 10 full working days’ notice to change or cancel their car driving test without losing the test fee.
Currently, the notice period is 3 full working days, but the change aims to reduce wasted test slots and help more learners secure appointments.
What’s Changing?
- From 8 April 2025, learner drivers must give 10 full working days’ notice to reschedule or cancel a car driving test without losing their fee.
- This rule only applies to car driving tests.
- Other tests, such as theory tests, motorcycle tests, lorry and bus tests, and driving instructor qualification tests, will still require 3 full working days’ notice for changes or cancellations.
Why Is the Rule Changing?
Many learner drivers cancel their tests last-minute, leaving unused test slots that are difficult for others to fill.
- With the current 3-day rule, learners who are ready to pass often struggle to rearrange plans to take these last-minute slots.
- By extending the notice period to 10 days, more test slots should be reused efficiently, helping to reduce driving test waiting times.
How DVSA Is Informing Learners
DVSA will:
- Email all learner drivers about the new rule.
- Update the booking details on the driving test appointment system from 8 April 2025.
- Publish a list of old and new deadlines for test cancellations and changes until June 2025.
Can You Get a Refund If You Cancel Late?
Learner drivers can still apply for a refund if they cancel their test at short notice due to special circumstances, such as:
- Illness or injury preventing them from taking the test.
- Bereavement (death of a close family member).
- An exam at school or college that clashes with the test.
- A stolen driving licence, making them ineligible to take the test.
What If DVSA Cancels Your Test?
If DVSA cancels a driving test with fewer than 3 full working days’ notice, it will continue to offer out-of-pocket expense reimbursements while reviewing its expense policy.
DVSA Urges Learners to Cancel Tests If They Cannot Attend
In 2024, 60,000 driving tests were wasted because learners failed to turn up. This is equivalent to the workload of 45 full-time examiners for an entire year.
To reduce wasted test slots, the DVSA plans to introduce further measures, including:
- Increasing the waiting time before a learner can rebook after missing a test.
- Charging a penalty fee for missed appointments.
Currently, learners who fail to attend must wait 10 working days before booking another test. The DVSA will hold a consultation later this year to discuss new rules and penalties for no-shows.
The new 10-day cancellation rule is part of 7 key actions the DVSA is taking to reduce driving test waiting times. If you have a test booked after 8 April 2025, make sure to check the new cancellation deadline in your booking details to avoid losing your fee.
