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Booking a driving test

carly burn
carly burn Posts: 19,498
in Not Sports Related
What a sorry state of affairs this current bastion of the united kingdom is in.
Tests only available on a Monday morning at 6 am and an absolute bunfight to get your hands on one.
...... And if you do manage it you've got a 5-6 month wait for the actual test!

This country.
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Comments

  • guinnessaddick
    guinnessaddick Posts: 28,731
    That’s one L of a wait.
  • eaststandmike
    eaststandmike Posts: 14,956
    People are traveling all over the UK to take their tests, it’s just a case of where you are lucky enough to get it.
  • follett
    follett Posts: 1,045
    The system is a farce. When a cancellation comes up the easiest way to get it is to already have a test booked and swap onto the cancelled one. So the recommendation is to book a test anywhere in the country for any date and hold it whilst you look to swap onto one nearby. It means a bunch of people are holding tests they never plan on taking and people in that town can't get a test. Amplified by people profiting and selling tests they don't intend to take for £200+ 

    If it helps @carly burn, the new tests going live at 6am seems to have quite a knock on impact throughout the whole of Monday with lots of people swapping off pre booked tests in other towns, so you tend to find by refreshing the site throughout the whole of Monday a good chunk of cancelled tests come up that can be booked at a sooner date.
  • Chris_from_Sidcup
    Chris_from_Sidcup Posts: 36,090
    Not sure if it's still the case but can you book an intensive course that includes the test at the end of it?
  • fenaddick
    fenaddick Posts: 11,404
    Had this problem recently. My advice is to check every few hours one day a week. I had one booked for months time, at 11am I moved it to 2 months and by lunchtime I had one in 2 weeks. My local test centre also holds back tests for a few weeks time so occasionally more just randomly become available. No one there knew why it happened 
  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 47,771
    It seems wrong that people can profit by selling tests. Surely something can be done about this.
  • eaststandmike
    eaststandmike Posts: 14,956
    MuttleyCAFC said:
    It seems wrong that people can profit by selling tests. Surely something can be done about this.
    Absolutely, it should be under full DVLA control 
  • Plaaayer
    Plaaayer Posts: 9,002
    carly burn said:
    What a sorry state of affairs this current bastion of the united kingdom is in.
    Tests only available on a Monday morning at 6 am and an absolute bunfight to get your hands on one.
    ...... And if you do manage it you've got a 5-6 month wait for the actual test!

    This country.
    Have a look at the cancellation apps. My mates son used one I think it was a one-off £20 fee and it alerts you to any cancellations in your set area and he managed to get one in about 2/3 weeks. 
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,080
    edited December 2024
    Plaaayer said:
    carly burn said:
    What a sorry state of affairs this current bastion of the united kingdom is in.
    Tests only available on a Monday morning at 6 am and an absolute bunfight to get your hands on one.
    ...... And if you do manage it you've got a 5-6 month wait for the actual test!

    This country.
    Have a look at the cancellation apps. My mates son used one I think it was a one-off £20 fee and it alerts you to any cancellations in your set area and he managed to get one in about 2/3 weeks. 
    I'm not saying people shouldn't use them, but to be in a position where the system is so broken that profiteers can ride in and take control is a disgrace. Do other countries have this nonsense? It sometimes feels like the disorganisation and resulting legal-scamming in this country is the worst in the world. We are a proper banana republic. 
  • carly burn
    carly burn Posts: 19,498
    Cheers all.
    I've got the cancellation apps.
    As @follett has said, I've already got a test booked for a different location but it's too far away. I went on this morning at 6 to change it but as fast as I clicked the available ones they've gone!
    I'm hearing about these sell on tests for £200 a pop?
    How is the system that broken that this can even happen?
    Surely one provisional driving licence number one test allocation??
     How the f**k can people be bulk buying these?
    Add to the fact the likelihood of failure the first one or two times and I reckon my son will be closer to retirement before he gets his license.

    It is an absolute joke

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  • red10
    red10 Posts: 837
    Had no idea it was as bad as this, mine was donkeys years ago, how the hell does everything seem to go to hell in a handcart?, too many applicants, not enough examiners? Maybe change the system so the instructors make the test bookings.
  • usetobunkin
    usetobunkin Posts: 2,195
    edited December 2024
    DVSA , not DVLA are responsible for driving test 
  • heckington_reds
    heckington_reds Posts: 728
    Not quite on topic, but on the 23rd, it will be 37 years since I passed my test. Had a car sorted and waiting...just incase I passed. Didn't fancy my first drive out alone, so put our family dog in the front passenger seat and jumped in the drivers seat.....the look he gave me,if he could speak,was quite simply...
    What the fuck are you doing 🤣


  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 47,771
    edited December 2024
    I think they should have a group of all party MPs who should look at things like this, and when it is clear cut rubbish they can do something about it quickly. Them all agreeing would ensure something is rubbish. people buying tests to sell at a profit is rubbish. Who would argue with that?
  • Arsenetatters
    Arsenetatters Posts: 5,989
    edited December 2024
    Oh I’d never cope with that sort of thing. It was bad enough trying to get a test booked for BexleyHeath/Erith to avoid the certain fail of one in Sidcup in the 80s
  • carly burn
    carly burn Posts: 19,498
    edited August 12
    carly burn said:
    Cheers all.
    I've got the cancellation apps.
    As @follett has said, I've already got a test booked for a different location but it's too far away. I went on this morning at 6 to change it but as fast as I clicked the available ones they've gone!
    I'm hearing about these sell on tests for £200 a pop?
    How is the system that broken that this can even happen?
    Surely one provisional driving licence number one test allocation??
     How the f**k can people be bulk buying these?
    Add to the fact the likelihood of failure the first one or two times and I reckon my son will be closer to retirement before he gets his license.

    It is an absolute joke
    Did anyone ever find out how these people are block booking tests and selling them on?
    It seems to be far too difficult for the DVSA to figure out..
    It's impossible to get one because of these block bookers 
    Friend of mine is in contact with one of these sellers and he's constantly advertising them on WhatsApp. Literally hundreds of them all round London and the SE.
    It's quite unbelievable.
  • RedPanda
    RedPanda Posts: 4,995
    Bots. 

    The same as people set up for big ticketed events, and even some golf course in USA. 

    Then the bot master sells the product, in this case driving test, on for profit.

    I saw the DVLA are hiring and improving capacity for 2026 but they need a better IT team first. 
  • Chunes
    Chunes Posts: 17,403
    edited August 11
    I tried to book a test today. I was 9543rd in the queue. When I got in, none available anywhere, predictably. Shambles.
  • PrincessFiona
    PrincessFiona Posts: 5,486
    carly burn said:
    carly burn said:
    Cheers all.
    I've got the cancellation apps.
    As @follett has said, I've already got a test booked for a different location but it's too far away. I went on this morning at 6 to change it but as fast as I clicked the available ones they've gone!
    I'm hearing about these sell on tests for £200 a pop?
    How is the system that broken that this can even happen?
    Surely one provisional driving licence number one test allocation??
     How the f**k can people be bulk buying these?
    Add to the fact the likelihood of failure the first one or two times and I reckon my son will be closer to retirement before he gets his license.

    It is an absolute joke
    Did anyone ever find out how these people are block booking tests and selling them on?
    It seems to be far too difficult for the DVLA to figure out..
    It's impossible to get one because of these block bookers 
    Friend of mine is in contact with one of these sellers and he's constantly advertising them on WhatsApp. Literally hundreds of them all round London and the SE.
    It's quite unbelievable.
    It is a shocking situation - can't they somehow include something at time of booking that can't be replicated by someone who has bought a sold on booking?
  • carly burn
    carly burn Posts: 19,498
    One provisional license. One test. It can't be that hard.

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  • PrincessFiona
    PrincessFiona Posts: 5,486
    edited August 11
    carly burn said:
    One provisional license. One test. It can't be that hard.
    Exactly! Then provide it at the test

    But could the bot bookers ask for a provisional licence upfront, knowing their method guarantees they will get a booking - but at least then then can't sell on to the highest bidder
  • fenaddick
    fenaddick Posts: 11,404
    carly burn said:
    One provisional license. One test. It can't be that hard.
    That is the system, you can’t book without putting in your license number and your license number can’t have 2 tests booked 
  • PrincessFiona
    PrincessFiona Posts: 5,486
    fenaddick said:
    carly burn said:
    One provisional license. One test. It can't be that hard.
    That is the system, you can’t book without putting in your license number and your license number can’t have 2 tests booked 
    That is how it works now? So how can people book tests and sell them on as surely the person who ends up with the test won't have the right provision licence number?
  • fenaddick
    fenaddick Posts: 11,404
    PrincessFiona said:
    fenaddick said:
    carly burn said:
    One provisional license. One test. It can't be that hard.
    That is the system, you can’t book without putting in your license number and your license number can’t have 2 tests booked 
    That is how it works now? So how can people book tests and sell them on as surely the person who ends up with the test won't have the right provision licence number?
    I presume you can either change the number or you pay your money to whoever owns it and they release and rebook immediately for you. I certainly couldn’t book more than one at a time and I passed my test in December
  • PrincessFiona
    PrincessFiona Posts: 5,486
    fenaddick said:
    PrincessFiona said:
    fenaddick said:
    carly burn said:
    One provisional license. One test. It can't be that hard.
    That is the system, you can’t book without putting in your license number and your license number can’t have 2 tests booked 
    That is how it works now? So how can people book tests and sell them on as surely the person who ends up with the test won't have the right provision licence number?
    I presume you can either change the number or you pay your money to whoever owns it and they release and rebook immediately for you. I certainly couldn’t book more than one at a time and I passed my test in December
    Surely you shouldn't be able to change it - that i show they system is being abused. So awful fo people genuinely trying to book tests
  • usetobunkin
    usetobunkin Posts: 2,195
    Having recently retired from the DVSA, the insight I can give 
    1, DE (Driving Examiners) morale is rock bottom. (Many on 2 year contract and reduced pensions entitlement)
    2, Whole organisation is spending time dealing with online training with regards peoples rights issues.
    3., Candidates presenting for test totally unprepared and inadequate training, ( Often driving instructors are little better than useless, because the enforcement side which regulates instructors has been run down, because of the cost of lesson candidates relying on relations/ friends to carry out instruction then present on the day of test in car without duel control and separate rear view mirror.) Also I have issued PG9 ( prohibitions) to car being presented as test cars for serious dangerous defects. 

    The CEO Loveday Ryder has been a n absolute disaster , many senior management have been promoted not on merit but to fulfill quotas . I know of one person who is in charge of an whole “sector “ who started out as a Community Enforcement officer, now in charge of 250 + people and struggling badly, given “ in service support “

  • carly burn
    carly burn Posts: 19,498
    usetobunkin said:
    Having recently retired from the DVSA, the insight I can give 
    1, DE (Driving Examiners) morale is rock bottom. (Many on 2 year contract and reduced pensions entitlement)
    2, Whole organisation is spending time dealing with online training with regards peoples rights issues.
    3., Candidates presenting for test totally unprepared and inadequate training, ( Often driving instructors are little better than useless, because the enforcement side which regulates instructors has been run down, because of the cost of lesson candidates relying on relations/ friends to carry out instruction then present on the day of test in car without duel control and separate rear view mirror.) Also I have issued PG9 ( prohibitions) to car being presented as test cars for serious dangerous defects. 

    The CEO Loveday Ryder has been a n absolute disaster , many senior management have been promoted not on merit but to fulfill quotas . I know of one person who is in charge of an whole “sector “ who started out as a Community Enforcement officer, now in charge of 250 + people and struggling badly, given “ in service support “

    Appreciate that. But surely this is a dev ops type of issue with their booking system.
    It is quite obviously being abused and nobody seems to care? Makes me wonder if there is some sort of collusion going on?
    I'm thinking of writing to my MP about it(for what good it will do)  They are a government run (badly) department after all.
  • BrentfordAddick
    BrentfordAddick Posts: 1,462
    edited August 12
    It's one of those 'why does nothing work anymore' things, isn't it. I mean, organising driving tests shouldn't be beyond the capabilities of a western European country with a developed civil service infrastructure. But, no, we found a way to fuck it up. 
  • iainment
    iainment Posts: 8,044
    How long for motorbike tests?
  • Chunes
    Chunes Posts: 17,403
    BrentfordAddick said:
    It's one of those 'why does nothing work anymore' things, isn't it. I mean, organising driving tests shouldn't be beyond the capabilities of a western European country with a developed civil service infrastructure. But, no, we found a way to fuck it up. 
    Exactly. I really don't get it. We pay for these tests, it's not like it's a free service. 

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