Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of potential impact of restricting driving instructors and driver trainers from managing practical test bookings and amendments on behalf of learners on road safety; and if she will set out the safety mitigations to prevent learners from attempting practical tests before they are ready.

On the 12 November 2025, The Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced next steps following the consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) considered all of the representations made by different parties before reaching a final decision. The agency published the full results of their consultation on improving the rules for booking a driving test.

An options assessment of the proposed measures has been carried out and reviewed by the Better Regulation Unit. This assessment will be published once the statutory instrument amending the legislation has been laid before Parliament.

Approved driving instructors (ADI) and driving schools will continue to play their important role in advising learners when they are ready to take their practical driving test. DVSA’s Ready to Pass? campaign encourages learner drivers to take a test only when fully prepared and to follow guidance from their driving instructor. ADIs will continue to be able to decline to take a learner to a test if they do not consider they are ready to pass. DVSA will support ADIs who use their professional judgement to make this decision.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is seeking views on introducing a minimum time period between passing a theory test and taking a practical driving test. The consultation covers driving tests taken for a category B licence, the standard licence used to operate a car, and closes at 11:59pm on 31 March 2026.