Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what data her Department holds on the number of driving test bookings where the initial driving licence number on the booking form was subsequently changed in each month since January 2019.

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests.

DVSA is experiencing some of the highest demand for driving tests it has ever seen. This, and continued high waiting times for tests, has contributed to a major shift in customer booking behaviour. Many customers now book their car practical test far earlier in their learning journey, sometimes before they have even had a practical driving lesson.

DVSA does not employ, encourage or licence anyone to provide a cancellation service checking for newly open slots. These apps or bots are not approved by the DVSA as they make it harder for candidates to get a test and can result in people paying more for a test than the official test fee of £62. Using such services also means that any changes to the test may not necessarily be relayed to the candidate.

The attached spreadsheet shows the number and percentage of practical driving test bookings where the initial test candidate’s driving licence number was subsequently changed to a different driving test candidate’s licence number in each month since January 2019.