30/03/2026
IF YOU HAVE A PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST BOOKED OR ARE STILL TO BOOK ONE PLEASE READ ON
The DVSA are making changes to how driving tests can be booked and how they can be swapped / managed
🚙 From the 31st March 2026 the maximum number of times a driving test date can be swapped will change from 6 down to 2, any previous changes will not count, so if the test date has already been swapped before this it will still be able to be swapped twice.
After the test has been swapped twice the only other option available would be to cancel the test altogether and rebook a completely new test with a new booking reference number.
🚙 From the 12th May 2026 only learner drivers will be able to book or amend their driving test. That means driving instructors and third party apps (TESTI, Test Shift etc ) will no longer be able to do this on the learners behalf.
At the moment driving instructors can phone the DVSA and swap tests between pupils, or if I booked your test for you I can swap with another Blue Cherry Driving student online, this will no longer be allowed. The only person who will be able to book and manage the driving test will be the student themselves.
🚙 From the 9th June 2026 you will only be able to swap your test to one of the 3 nearest test centres to where the test is booked. So if you book your test at Doncaster, you would only be able to swap your test to another time / date in Doncaster, or the three nearest test centres to Doncaster which are Rotherham, Barnsley or Worksop. If you book a test in Worksop the three nearest test centres to Worksop you could swap to are Sheffield (Handsworth), Rotherham or Chesterfield.
With all these changes it’s important to discuss booking a test with your instructor before you actually do so.
The measures introduced are designed to stop the ‘bots’ booking tests and making availability for all much easier in booking a test when they are ready to take it.
As with all new systems, there could be further updates ahead, so watch this space!
Happy driving!!
