It has become almost impossible to book a driving test on the government website due to bots on the booking system, driving instructors have told Sky News. The only official way to book a practical car driving test is through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) website.
New test slots are released by the DVSA at 6am every Monday, but «no matter how fast I am, there’s nothing available,» said Aman Sanghera, a driving instructor based in west London. When asked about the cause, she said, «All of the tests are taken by bots, they are definitely taking over the booking system.»
In this context, bots are automated software designed to mimic human behavior and programmed to carry out actions like searching for and reserving driving test appointments on the official government website much faster than humans can. Individuals and companies use bots to block-book driving test slots and then resell them at a profit, which is not illegal, although it is a violation of the DVSA’s terms of use. Recent data shows the DVSA has closed over 800 business accounts for misuse of its booking service in the past two years.
Ms. Sanghera, who has been in the trade for over a decade, said the usage of bots started a few months ago but is now getting out of hand. She mentioned, «I’ve actually heard about driving instructors being approached by certain individuals to then take on their IDs to log in and to run this scam.» She added that driving instructors can book driving tests on behalf of their pupils using a dedicated service, allowing them to bypass the general queue and potentially secure test slots more efficiently. As a result, students are forced to go to third-party sites to secure the same test dates, which are then available later in the day at a premium rate of like £200-£300. Ms. Sanghera emphasized the need for a more robust and fair system by the DVSA to ensure affordability and accessibility for all candidates.
The standard test fee is £62, offered by the DVSA, which is responsible for carrying out driving tests in Great Britain. The biggest concern for the driving instructors Sky News has spoken to, including Ms. Sanghera, is the fact that students are being exploited. When Ahmed Ali struggled to find a practical test on the DVSA website, he turned to third-party sites, a decision he now regrets. He mentioned, «I’ve spent about £650 on driving tests, and I’ve sat zero tests. I’ve given all this money to third-parties that look for cancellations so they could try to get you a faster test.» Despite making the payments, he didn’t hear back from them again, which is illegal. Ahmed expressed his frustration at not being able to afford another driving test after losing all that money and time into driving without sitting a single test.
The DVSA urged applicants to only book tests via the official Gov.uk website and stated that it deploys enhanced bot protection to help stop automated systems from buying up tests unfairly. The DVSA mentioned that these applications are constantly evolving and changing, and their work on this issue is ongoing.
From Tuesday, the DVSA will require learner drivers to provide 10 full working days’ notice to change or cancel their car driving test without losing the test fee, up from the current three days. As part of the DVSA’s crackdown to reduce waiting times, a consultation is expected to launch in spring 2025 to streamline the driving test booking process and tighten terms and conditions.
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