Asked by: Lord Strasburger (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when driving tests will be permitted to restart; and whether the maximum period between passing the theory test and taking the driving test will be extended for those whose test was due when tests were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) priority throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been to protect the public and save lives. That remains its priority as it restarts its services.
Driver and rider instruction can restart in England from Saturday 4 July 2020.
Car driving tests will restart in England on Wednesday 22 July 2020, which will give learner drivers time to have refresher lessons and practice before taking their test.
The DVSA is aware that some individuals may be in a situation whereby their theory test certificate will expire before they are able to take their practical driving test. The two-year validity period of the theory test certificate is set in legislation. This is so the candidate’s theoretical knowledge remains current. To extend the validity period would require legislative change.