Driving Test Booking UK
Table of Contents
Key information in this section explains how to book your official DVSA practical driving test for a car and manage your appointment.
First of all, it is worth checking that you meet the requirements and what information you will need to provide. To make a booking, you will need:
- The number of your United Kingdom driving licence.
- A method of payment (e.g. a credit or debit card).
- The personal reference number of your driving instructor if you will use their car (to check whether it will be available).
You must also have lived in England, Wales, or in Scotland for a minimum of six months (185 days) within the last twelve (12) month period (prior to the test date).
The DVSA driving test booking service only operates between the hours of 6am and 11:40pm. During these times, you can book your practical driving test for:
- A car
- A motorcycle
- A lorry, bus, or coach
- The approved driving instructor (ADI) part 2 and 3 test
Note: Further guides below explain how to check the cost of a driving test and search for an earlier appointment once you have booked (e.g. to find a cancellation appointment).
Booking a Test to Upgrade a Licence
The DVSA conduct ‘upgrade’ tests for drivers looking to enhance licence categories. So for example, you might want to change from driving an automatic to a manual car.
Similarly, people who drive lorries or buses might want to change from driving a medium-sized lorry to a larger truck.
In this case, you would need to contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Their staff can also help if you find it difficult to book your driving test online.
DVSA Driving Test Booking Support
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0300 200 1122
Monday to Friday: 8am to 4pm
Find out about call charges.
Note: You can use your postcode to search online for the nearest driving test centres in your area.
When You Don’t Need the Theory Test
As a rule, you will need to book your theory test – and pass it – before booking the practical part. But, you do not need to take a theory test to make an appointment for a:
- Bus and trailer test
- Car and trailer practical driving test
- Large bus test (for medium bus licences)
- Large lorry test (for medium lorry licences)
- Lorry and trailer test
- Progressive access bike test (for progressing through the motorcycle categories)
- Tractor test
- Test to upgrade from an automatic car to a manual car
Note: The main section explains when to make a booking, what you should bring with you, and what will happen during the DVSA practical driving test.
How to Check Driving Test Details
You can check the date and time of your appointment via the online service. Use it to find a lost or deleted confirmation email of your driving test appointment.
The facility allows you to check:
- The address of the driving test centre you have booked with.
- The date and the time that the centre scheduled for your driving test.
You can only check your driving test appointment details online between 6am and 11:40pm. When you use the driving test booking service, you should have:
- Your United Kingdom driving licence number.
- Your theory test pass certificate number (or driving test reference number).
You may need to find your lost theory test pass certificate number to book your driving test or to change a driving test appointment.
Note: There is no need to take confirmation of the booking to the practical driving test. The section below explains how to check driving test appointment details in Northern Ireland.
How to Change a Driving Test Appointment
The service is only available from 6am in the morning to 11:40pm in the evening. The facility allows you to:
- Find a cancellation appointment (e.g. an earlier driving test).
- Move your scheduled driving test to a later date.
- Change which particular test centre you will use for taking the test.
When you use the driving test booking service, you should have:
- Your United Kingdom driving licence number.
- Your theory test pass certificate number (or driving test reference number).
Note: You would need to provide advance notice of at least three (3) working days to avoid having to pay again. Sundays and public holidays will not count as a working day.
Limit for Changing Test Appointments
You will be allowed to change your driving test appointment up to six (6) times after making the original booking. Following that, you would need to cancel the test and rebook it if you still need to make more changes.
- The section below explains how to cancel your driving test. You would get a full refund providing you give at least three (3) clear working days of notice.
- The section above explains how to book a new practical driving test. You would need to pay for the new test at the time of booking.
Note: The online service is for finding any available earlier test appointments (not for adding your name to a cancellation list). The section below explains how to change driving tests in Northern Ireland.
Driving Test Costs 2022
The tables show the current cost for booking a theory test and a practical driving test through the GOV.UK website. Be aware that unofficial ‘copycat websites‘ may charge more than the prices quoted below.
Car Test Price
| Type of Examination | Weekday Scheduling | Evening, Weekend, or Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Theory test | £23 | £23 |
| Abridged theory test (if you have a Safe Road User Award) | £18 | £18 |
| Practical driving test | £62 | £75 |
| Extended driving test for disqualified drivers | £124 | £150 |
Car and Trailer Test
| Type of Examination | Weekday Scheduling | Evening, Weekend, or Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Practical driving test | £115 | £141 |
Lorry, Bus, Minibus, and Coach
As a rule, you would need to take four Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) tests before becoming a lorry or bus driver. But, in some cases you do not need the full Driver CPC and would only need to take two (2) of them.
| Type of Examination | Weekday Scheduling | Evening, Weekend, or Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Driver CPC part 1a (theory: multiple-choice questions) | £26 | £26 |
| Driver CPC part 1b (theory: hazard perception) | £11 | £11 |
| Driver CPC part 2 (case studies) | £23 | £23 |
| Driver CPC part 3 (driving ability) | £115 | £141 |
| Driver CPC part 4 (practical demonstration) | £55 | £63 |
Note: There is no difference in the costs for all categories of lorry and bus (e.g. C1, C, D1, and D).
Motorcycle and Moped Tests
Individual training schools set the course price for conducting the compulsory basic training (CBT). You can search online to find a motorcycle or moped CBT course in your area.
| Type of Examination | Weekday Scheduling | Evening, Weekend, or Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Theory test | £23 | £23 |
| Module 1 motorcycle test (off-road) | £15.50 | £15.50 |
| Module 2 motorcycle test (on-road) | £75 | £88.50 |
| Extended test for disqualified riders (on-road) | £150 | £177 |
Tractor (and other specialist vehicles)
| Type of Examination | Weekday Scheduling | Evening, Weekend, or Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Practical driving test | £62 | £75 |
Note: The driving test fees are cheaper in Northern Ireland if you make a booking direct with the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA).
Taking a Test in the Evening or at Weekends
Not all centres offer evening (from 4:30pm onwards) and weekend schedules as standard practice. You will see the availability of evening and weekend appointments when booking a driving test or when searching for a cancellation (e.g. an earlier date).
Rebooking the Tests
There are several things to be aware of if you do not pass your test. But, if you choose to rebook it you will have to pay the full amount again.
How to Cancel a Driving Test Appointment
You can get a refund if you cancel your practical driving test (or riding test) providing you give three (3) clear working days of notice.
This online service is only available from 6am to 11:40pm and you will need:
- Your United Kingdom driving licence number.
- Your theory test pass certificate number (or driving test reference number).
Note: You would need to provide advance notice of at least three (3) working days to avoid having to pay again. The section below explains how to cancel a driving test appointment in Northern Ireland.
Book a Driving Test in Northern Ireland
You only pay the cost of the test when booking a practical driving test in Northern Ireland. There would be no extra booking fee to pay.
You must have already passed the required theory test and you would also need to have:
- A valid UK driving licence with a Northern Ireland address.
- A valid debit or credit card for payment (they accept Visa, Visa Electron, Delta, MasterCard, and Solo cards).
Archebu Eich Prawf Gyrru
Archebu eich prawf gyrru ymarferol ar gyfer:
- Ceir
- Beiciau modur
- Lorïau, bysiau a bysiau moethus
- Profion hyfforddwr gyrru cymeradwy (ADI) rhan 2 a 3
Note: Mae’r gwasanaeth hwn ar gael rhwng 6am a 11:40pm.
Note: The short video clip [3:46 seconds] explains how to book your practical driving test on Directgov.