Book or Change the Date of Your Driving Test
Booking your test
To book a practical driving test in the UK, you must have passed the theory test and have your theory test certificate to hand. There is a reference number on this certificate which you'll need to enter as part of the booking process.
You don't need to have a theory test if you're taking one of the following tests:-
- Taxi test
- Tractor test
- Test to upgrade from automatic to manual transmission
- Test to progress through the bike categories
- Car and trailer test
- Lorry and trailer test
- Bus and trailer test
- Large lorry test (and you've already got a medium lorry licence)
- Large bus test (and you've already got a medium bus licence)
To book a practical driving test in the UK, you must have passed the theory test and have your theory test certificate to hand. There is a reference number on this certificate which you'll need to enter as part of the booking process.
You don't need to have a theory test if you're taking one of the following tests:-
- Taxi test
- Tractor test
- Test to upgrade from automatic to manual transmission
- Test to progress through the bike categories
- Car and trailer test
- Lorry and trailer test
- Bus and trailer test
- Large lorry test (and you've already got a medium lorry licence)
- Large bus test (and you've already got a medium bus licence)
To book your test
Be sure to ensure that you use the above link as there are a lot of third party websites who will try and charge you extra to book the test on your behalf. They often appear above the official DVSA website because they pay to appear at the top of search results.
Click the 'Start Now' button.
First you will be asked what type of test you're booking.
You will then be asked for your licence details.
You'll need to select your test centre and the date and time from a list of options.
You will then be asked for your personal details and will have to pay for the test.
Cancelling Your Driving Test
Follow this link if you need to cancel your practical driving test - https://www.gov.uk/cancel-practical-driving-test
When cancelling, you’ll need a note of your driving licence number - this is on your licence. You’ll also need your application reference number, which was given to you when you booked the test. If you don't have your application reference number, you can use your theory test certificate number.
You'll get a full refund only if you give at least 3 clear working days' notice. Sundays and public holidays don't count as working days so ensure that you give sufficient time.
Changing Your Driving Test Date
To change your driving test date, use this link - https://www.gov.uk/change-date-practical-driving-test
You will need 2 of the following:
- Great Britain or Northern Ireland driving licence number
- application reference number
- theory test pass certificate number
Check if your driving instructor is available on the new date.
You can find your theory test pass certificate number online if you have lost your original letter.
You must give at least 3 clear working days’ notice to change your test date or you’ll have to pay again. Sundays and public holidays don’t count as working days.
You can change your appointment 3 times for free - after that, you’ll have to cancel your test and book a new one.
On the Day of the Test
You’ll be expected to take the test in the car you arrive in. Make sure it's correctly insured and is road legal. If you take your test with a driving instructor, you’ll ordinarily use their car and they’ll make sure it's appropriate for test use.
It's also a good idea to arrive about fifteen minutes before the test starts so that you have plenty of time to park and get to the waiting room.
You must take your photocard driving licence to the test centre. Without this you won't be able to take the test.
You should also take your theory test certificate if possible (although you can still take the test if you don't have this).
Remember that some test centres don't have toilet facilities. It might therefore be a good idea to know where the local public conveniences are – just in case!
You’ll be expected to wait in the waiting room and the examiner will come in at the time of your test and call your name. He or she will ask to see your driving licence and ask you to sign the test sheet to confirm that you are who you say you are.
The examiner will also ask you if you’d like your instructor or another accompanying driver to join you on the test. This will involve the said person sitting in the back seat. They won't be allowed to talk to you at any point during the test.
You’ll be asked to read a number plate before you go out on the test. The minimum requirement is that you can read it from 20 metres for cars with the new style of number plate and 20.5 metres for cars with the old style.
You’ll be asked two “show me, tell me” questions before you leave for the test. These can be found here>>
You won't fail your test for answering the questions incorrectly, but you will receive a driver fault on your test sheet. To pass your test, you must have 15 driver faults or less and no serious or dangerous faults.
Your test will last for roughly forty minutes and you’ll be asked to perform one manoeuvre, drive independently –either following road signs or a very basic map –and may also have to perform an emergency stop.
At the end of the test you’ll be told if you've passed or failed. If you pass, the examiner will offer to take your licence so they can send it off on your behalf. You’ll be given a pass certificate, which means you can drive as soon as you have your car insured. Remember – your previous insurance policy as a provisional licence holder won’t provide cover for you to drive anymore.
Be sure to ensure that you use the above link as there are a lot of third party websites who will try and charge you extra to book the test on your behalf. They often appear above the official DVSA website because they pay to appear at the top of search results.
Click the 'Start Now' button.
First you will be asked what type of test you're booking.
You will then be asked for your licence details.
You'll need to select your test centre and the date and time from a list of options.
You will then be asked for your personal details and will have to pay for the test.
Cancelling Your Driving Test
Follow this link if you need to cancel your practical driving test - https://www.gov.uk/cancel-practical-driving-test
When cancelling, you’ll need a note of your driving licence number - this is on your licence. You’ll also need your application reference number, which was given to you when you booked the test. If you don't have your application reference number, you can use your theory test certificate number.
You'll get a full refund only if you give at least 3 clear working days' notice. Sundays and public holidays don't count as working days so ensure that you give sufficient time.
Changing Your Driving Test Date
To change your driving test date, use this link - https://www.gov.uk/change-date-practical-driving-test
You will need 2 of the following:
- Great Britain or Northern Ireland driving licence number
- application reference number
- theory test pass certificate number
Check if your driving instructor is available on the new date.
You can find your theory test pass certificate number online if you have lost your original letter.
You must give at least 3 clear working days’ notice to change your test date or you’ll have to pay again. Sundays and public holidays don’t count as working days.
You can change your appointment 3 times for free - after that, you’ll have to cancel your test and book a new one.
On the Day of the Test
You’ll be expected to take the test in the car you arrive in. Make sure it's correctly insured and is road legal. If you take your test with a driving instructor, you’ll ordinarily use their car and they’ll make sure it's appropriate for test use.
It's also a good idea to arrive about fifteen minutes before the test starts so that you have plenty of time to park and get to the waiting room.
You must take your photocard driving licence to the test centre. Without this you won't be able to take the test.
You should also take your theory test certificate if possible (although you can still take the test if you don't have this).
Remember that some test centres don't have toilet facilities. It might therefore be a good idea to know where the local public conveniences are – just in case!
You’ll be expected to wait in the waiting room and the examiner will come in at the time of your test and call your name. He or she will ask to see your driving licence and ask you to sign the test sheet to confirm that you are who you say you are.
The examiner will also ask you if you’d like your instructor or another accompanying driver to join you on the test. This will involve the said person sitting in the back seat. They won't be allowed to talk to you at any point during the test.
You’ll be asked to read a number plate before you go out on the test. The minimum requirement is that you can read it from 20 metres for cars with the new style of number plate and 20.5 metres for cars with the old style.
You’ll be asked two “show me, tell me” questions before you leave for the test. These can be found here>>
You won't fail your test for answering the questions incorrectly, but you will receive a driver fault on your test sheet. To pass your test, you must have 15 driver faults or less and no serious or dangerous faults.
Your test will last for roughly forty minutes and you’ll be asked to perform one manoeuvre, drive independently –either following road signs or a very basic map –and may also have to perform an emergency stop.
At the end of the test you’ll be told if you've passed or failed. If you pass, the examiner will offer to take your licence so they can send it off on your behalf. You’ll be given a pass certificate, which means you can drive as soon as you have your car insured. Remember – your previous insurance policy as a provisional licence holder won’t provide cover for you to drive anymore.
