Military driving examiners are being deployed to rural areas as part of a series of initiatives aimed at assisting learner drivers in obtaining their driving licenses. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has announced stringent measures to combat the practice of bots and third parties reserving driving test slots and reselling them at inflated prices.
The government’s target of reducing the average waiting time for booking a driving test to seven weeks by summer 2026 is anticipated to be missed, with the waiting period standing at 21.8 weeks at the end of June. To address this issue, military examiners will now be available to conduct tests for civilians, expanding the testing capacity by up to 6,500 additional tests at high-demand locations over the next year.
In addition, the Department for Transport revealed a new policy that restricts test bookings to only learner drivers themselves, preventing instructors from booking on their behalf. This change, along with limiting the number of test changes allowed, aims to eliminate the resale of tests by third parties at exorbitant prices.
These actions follow reports of young individuals falling victim to scammers posing as third-party test sellers on social media platforms. To further streamline the process, learner drivers will now be limited to a maximum of two changes to their test, including moves and location adjustments, before needing to cancel and rebook. Test centers will also be restricted to a select few in proximity to the original booking location.
Data from the DVSA indicates that as of the end of October, there were 642,000 learner drivers in Britain with future test bookings. The MoD will deploy 36 Defence Driving Examiners (DDEs), comprising civilian Ministry of Defence personnel, to conduct driving tests one day per week for a year, with a focus on car driving tests and the flexibility to conduct vocational tests as necessary.
Transport Secretary Alexander emphasized the importance of providing equal opportunities for all learners to take their tests promptly, expressing confidence that the new measures will result in a significant increase in test availability over the coming year. The MoD will charge the DVSA £100,000 for the use of the DDEs.
Armed Forces minister Al Carns commended the collaboration between the military and civilians within the Ministry of Defence, highlighting the dedication to supporting the public during times of need. Emma Bush, managing director of AA Driving School, welcomed the additional support from military examiners, stating that it should help alleviate the current pressure on the system and deter unscrupulous individuals from exploiting learners.
Bush emphasized the necessity of sustained efforts to reduce waiting times to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting the recruitment and retention of examiners as vital components of a long-term solution.