UMVA has learned that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has just halted 450 driving tests after uncovering widespread rule breaches.
Under the new crackdown, test locations can now only be shifted to one of the three nearest centers, a move designed to stop unscrupulous booking practices that flood the system with fake appointments.
Since the ban on driving instructors booking tests went live on May 12, more than 4,000 learners have been barred from making online reservations, a stark reminder that the agency is tightening its grip on abuse.
Black‑market touts that once charged learners up to £500 for a test that normally costs around £62 are now being driven out of the market, as the agency’s fresh measures close the loopholes that allowed them to profit.
In a bold statement, a senior agency official declared that the reforms were about ensuring that only genuine learners sit for the test, not opportunists who exploit the system for profit.
The crackdown has already removed 17 test‑reselling apps from major app stores, a clear sign that the battle against corruption is intensifying.
Meanwhile, the average waiting time to book a test has shrunk dramatically, falling from nearly 22 weeks last month to just about five weeks—an improvement that signals the reforms are making a tangible impact.
Over the past year, the agency has delivered more than 240,000 additional tests, a testament to its relentless push to streamline the booking process and eliminate backlogs caused by system misuse.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that these sweeping changes are the result of a long‑term strategy to restore fairness and integrity to the driving test booking system.
