Helen's Driving School

12/06/2026

Booking your driving test? Make sure you’re doing it the right way. ✅

Since 12 May, it has been against the law for anyone but the learner driver to book a driving test. Using unofficial apps, bots or automated tools also breaks the terms and conditions of our booking service.

We've already cancelled 450 tests where tests have been booked outside the new rules – and we're continuing to monitor activity closely. 💪

If misuse of the booking system is identified, we can cancel your booking and suspend your ability to manage your test online.

Our priority is to make the system fair for every learner and to stop you being exploited by third parties. The only way to book and manage a test is through GOV.UK. 💻

👉 Find out more about the risks of using unofficial driving test booking services: https://ow.ly/86GB50Zb0Jh

02/06/2026

Congratulations to Adam passing his test first time in York with 2DF. Well done , great drive after a slightly stressful start !!
Safe driving in the car or on your bike 🚘

01/06/2026

Huge congratulations to James passing first time in York with Zero DF. Fantastic feedback from the examiner on your brilliant drive and parallel park. You have done brilliantly passing in under 20 hours after putting in loads of private practice , so thanks to mum. Enjoy the freedom over summer 🚘

15/05/2026

Congratulations to Stanislav on your First Time pass in York. Didn’t start well as i left my window open at the test centre , it then rained leaving a wet seat for the examiner. Towel and plastic bag later and off you went to secure yourself a pass. Have fun car shopping. Safe driving 🚘

13/05/2026

Instructors can no longer manage your driving test. We have previously been able to manage swapping tests with other local instructors and phoned DVSA for you to arrange the swap. This is no longer the case. While we still can try to find you a swap with another pupil we CANNOT facilitate the swap ourselves. Below is the HOW TO in this situation. !!

12/05/2026

09/05/2026

IMPORTANT DRIVING TEST UPDATE
🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘
From 12 May 2026, only the learner taking the practical driving test can book, change or swap their own test and you will only be allowed to do this twice.
After that, it will need to be cancelled and rebooked. To not lose your fee you need to be within the 10 days cancellation date.
You can still swap your test with another learner but this will need to be done via the DVSA with both leaners calling to confirm the intention to swap.
I’m not sure how this will affect the “ cancellation apps “ that are out there and whether they will find a way round this. But as the sole manager of your booking and data please be careful who you share your private information with.

02/05/2026

Congratulations to Sam who passed his driving test First Time in his own car today in York. Well done you’ve put in lots of private practice , I’m so pleased for you. Well done and safe driving. 🚘
Good luck with everything post school.

29/04/2026

Congratulations to Liv for passing her driving test First Time in York this morning with just the 1DF. The examiner said it was a lovely drive and felt like you had been driving years. Well done I’m so pleased with you. Go and concentrate on that dissertation now and good luck with everything post uni.
Safe driving 🚘

17/04/2026

Great to see NYP cracking down on illegal driving instructors and other learners without correct insurance.
Make sure your driving instructor is fully qualified and displaying their ADI badge. You can check this against the DVSA register.

TC Matt Harvey from our Roads Safety Team said: “This operation was about protecting learner drivers and the wider public. Becoming a qualified ADI is not optional - it requires formal training, testing, licensing and proper insurance.

Joint operation targets unlicensed driving instructors 🚗

On Tuesday (14 April), our Road Safety Team and Roads Policing, working in partnership with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) held a joint enforcement operation targeting unlicensed and illegal driving instructors.

To operate legally as a qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), individuals must complete a formal, official qualification process set by the DVSA. This involves multiple stages of testing, including theory, advanced driving assessments, and practical instructional examinations.

Only those who successfully complete this process and are correctly licensed and insured are permitted to charge for driving lessons.

During the day of action, North Yorkshire Police and the DVSA stopped more than 45 learner driver vehicles across York and Knaresborough and carried out visits to driving test centres.

Officers and DVSA examiners checked instructor credentials, vehicle insurance, and compliance with licensing requirements.

Thankfully, the majority of vehicles stopped were compliant, with instructors correctly qualified, licensed, and insured to the required standards. This demonstrates that most driving instructors operate professionally and within the law, helping learners develop safe and responsible driving skills.

However, a small proportion of vehicles were found to be operating without the required ADI licence and/or appropriate insurance. Enforcement action was taken immediately, and those involved were prosecuted for the relevant offences.

TC Matt Harvey from our Road Safety Team said:“This operation was about protecting learner drivers and the wider public. Becoming a qualified ADI is not optional - it requires formal training, testing, licensing and proper insurance.

“Anyone attempting to bypass that process is putting learners at risk and undermining the system. We will continue to work with the DVSA to identify illegal instructors, enforce the law, and take action where standards are not met.”

We remain committed to working with the DVSA on robust enforcement and will continue joint operations to ensure only properly qualified, licensed, and insured instructors are teaching learner drivers.

Members of the public are encouraged to check that their driving instructor is registered and authorised by visiting the official DVSA ADI Register before starting lessons.