DVSA is selectively inviting people to book their driving test.

after Driving Test photo

DVSA is selectively inviting people to book their driving test.

DVSA will send emails out:

·    on 15 July to critical workers in England, Scotland and Wales who had a test booked during lockdown 

·    from 16 July to candidates in England whose practical car test was put on hold due to lockdown

Both emails will include a link to book a new test date as the candidate booking system remains closed.

This link will only work for people who have been invited to rebook their test.

When DVSA emails candidates whose tests were put on hold due to lockdown, they will initially invite around 10,000 each day, split in batches to spread out demand on the service.

All available appointments will be shown on the online service. Do not contact DVSA customer service centre as they will not be able to book any alternative test slots.

Making sure your pupils are ready

Driving Instructors should speak to your pupils before they rebook their tests to make sure:

·    they are ready to take their test

·    you are available to take them

As examiners will only be at test centres when they have a test booked, dvsa have increased the minimum notice period for booking a test from 60 minutes to 10 hours.

Wearing a face covering

All candidates must wear a face covering when taking their driving test, unless they have a good reason not to. This includes if:

·    they have a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability that means they cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering

·    putting on, wearing or removing a face covering would cause them severe distress

When they arrange their test, they’ll need to say if there’s a good reason they cannot wear a face covering. The email will tell them how to do this.

Driving Lessons, Theory Test and Driving Test to restart in England

Driving lessons and theory tests will restart on Saturday 4 July 2020 in England, and car driving tests will restart from Wednesday 22 July 2020.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced that learners can resume driving lessons in England from Saturday 4 July 2020.

Theory tests will restart in England on Saturday 4 July. The tests will take place with social distancing measures in place to help stop the spread of Coronavirus.

Car driving tests will restart in England on Wednesday 22 July, which will give learner drivers time to have refresher lessons and practice before taking their test.

Driving lessons, theory tests and driving tests are still remain suspended in Scotland and Wales, in line with guidance from the devolved administrations. There are different dates for Northern Ireland.

DVSA will make further announcements on the resumption of testing, training and lessons, including publishing information on how services will be restarted safely, shortly.

When lessons and tests for car will restart

Service	Date
Driving lessons	Saturday 4 July 2020
Theory tests	Saturday 4 July 2020
Driving tests	Wednesday 22 July 2020

What should you gain from your driving lessons ?

Learning to drive and getting ready for full driving lessons,  is a big investment, both in time and in money over a number of months. So it is important to choose  right driving school and driving instructor  to make sure you’re getting :

·    Good value from your driving lessons and  

·    Making progress, towards driving safely and

·    Pass your driving test in the quickest time .

·    Learning to drive should also be enjoyable, so you should be looking forward to your lessons and not dreading it.

Listed below are 5 areas of driving that  you should be getting from your lessons, regardless of who you are learning with or where you are in the country.  

Driving Seat, and Paper Resources

Learning to drive is a practical skill, so you should be spending most of your lesson time driving.

There are of course times when you need to look at the theory side of driving – it can be easier to explain a manoeuvre or the correct route to take across the lanes of a roundabout when you can see it charted on paper, and you need to make sure you’re up to speed on things like the Highway Code – but learning to drive requires  hands on the steering wheel and gear stick, to gain experience

From your very first lesson, you should have the opportunity to learn and practice new skills from the driving seat.

Progress Reports

Learning to drive is a process – from the first time you get behind the wheel until you walk out of the test centre with a big grin on your face. There is of course a logical order to mastering the skills you need; you can not  be reverse parking before you’ve learned how to find reverse gear.

Your instructor should be keeping a record of your progress and giving you feedback at each stage. This not only shows how far you have come, and also gives you  record of where you are up to and what you need to focus on next.

You should also be able to have an input on the direction your lessons take – if your instructor thinks you’ve mastered a manoeuvre but it still just doesn’t feel 100% to you, you should be able to ask for more practice on it.

Remember the end goal is not just getting through your driving test, but to be a safe driver for life, and able to drive independently and safely. So it’s important that you finish your driving lessons feeling comfortable dealing with any scenarios that may come your way.

Feedback

Your instructor should always be willing to give you an honest assessment of how things are going – in a constructive and encouraging way!

Your instructor’s honesty should also extend to when you aren’t quite ready to sit your test – putting you forward to take it before you are likely to pass is a complete waste of your time and money.

Instructor with a positive attitude

Your driving instructor should  instill confidence in you and offer reassurance and encouragement, rather than a stressful learning environment.  Your instructor should be on your side and not looking for any opportunity to knock you down.

Your driving lessons should be enjoyable, yes sometimes hard work, but ultimately focused on you and your needs.

Value for your Money

Learning to drive is a big financial commitment, when you take into account the cost of learning plus getting a car and keeping it on the road. When you’re using your hard-earned money to finance the process, it’s important to know you are getting good value.

It’s not just about getting lessons cheaper, rather it’s about what you’re actually getting for your money and how you are treated.

Your lessons should not be finishing early, despite taking full payment, having set mileage limits to save fuel.

Some of the stories we have heard of other driving schools and instructors include not getting refunds on unused lessons when you’ve passed your driving test, the instructor turning up late or finishing lessons early, despite taking full payment.

Driving Lessons near your home and driving instructors near your home are preferable and you can find them by searching "driving lessons near me " in google.

Photocard Driving Licence Expiry Extended

Photocard driving licence expiring between 1 February and 31 August 2020. are granted months extension

DVLA has announced today that, Drivers whose photocard driving licence is due to expire between 1 February and 31 August 2020 will be granted a 7 month extension from the date of expiry. This will help drivers to make necessary journeys without having to obtain a new photograph to renew their licence.

Normally drivers are required to renew their photocard licence every 10 years, and bus and lorry drivers every 5 years. A new EU regulation has now been introduced which means photocards that expire between 1 February and 31 August 2020 will be automatically extended for a further 7 months from the date of expiry.

Drivers will be sent a reminder to renew before their 7 month extension ends.

This extension applies to the photocard. If a driver’s entitlement to drive is due to expire and they wish to continue to hold a valid licence, they will need to renew this entitlement in the normal way.

DVLA Chief Executive Julie Lennard said

This extension will make it easier for drivers who need to update their photocard licence with a new photograph. This means as long as they have a valid licence, drivers will be able to continue to make essential journeys.

The extension is automatic so drivers do not need to do anything and will be sent a reminder to renew their photocard before the extension ends.

This change will be introduced from today 4 June 2020.

A car (Group 1) licence generally remains in force until the driver reaches 70, unless revoked or surrendered. At aged 70 the driver must renew their entitlement to drive every 3 years if they wish to continue to hold a valid licence. Bus and lorry (Group 2) licenceholders aged 45 and over are required to renew their entitlement to drive every 5 years. Holders of short- term medical licences will also need to renew their entitlement to drive. The 7 month extension does not apply to renewal of entitlement to drive.

The DVLA’s online services to renew your driving licence and replace a driving licence are available for those drivers who need to renew their entitlement to drive or replace a lost or stolen licence.

Can I Learn To Drive as Lockdown Eases ?

Can I learn to drive as lockdown eases?

Official routes to obtaining a licence are suspended, except for key workers

Can you take driving lessons from a professional driving Instructor during lockdown?

The short answer is: no. Although driving instructors are technically  able to return to work during this first phase of lockdown easing, none of their clients will be able to join them in the car – unless the instructor erects a screen between himself and the driver. 

And if they did it would leave the instructor without proper control of the car – he or she wouldn’t be able to grab the wheel in an emergency, for example, so that probably isn’t going to work.

Driving  Instructors will not  be able to accompany learner drivers under social distancing guidelines, but  there are some exceptions.

Official advice to instructors from the Driving Instructors’ Association is that they are still allowed to train key workers who have an essential need to drive –doe example a key worker who need to drive on motorway or at night etc.

In these circumstances, driving instructors are being told to conduct a risk assessment, and to follow safe working practices, so if you can find a driving  instructor willing to teach you, you may take lessons but be prepared to answer  about your and your household before each lesson; you may have to sanitise your hands or to wear a face mask. 

Learning to drive privately

There’s nothing in the regulations which prohibits provisional DRIVING licence-holders from driving to essential  shopping trip, as long as they’re accompanied by an eligible member of their household and the car is correctly insured and wearing L-plates. 

Learning to drive with someone who isn’t within your household is not allowed under the current lockdown rules.

Are driving tests still taking place?

Currently driving tests are suspended until at least June 20, and this suspension may  be extended further. If you already had a car driving test booked, and it was cancelled, you’ll be emailed details of a new date when tests are once again taking place. 

If you’re a key worker, and you need to drive in order to continue to do your job, it may be possible for you to apply for an emergency driving test. However, you’ will need to be available  to take your driving  test at short notice if you apply, so only do so when you’re ready and you feel you’ve had enough training and practice.

Visit https://www.gov.uk/apply-emergency-driving-test to find out more.

What about theory tests?

Theory tests have been suspended until at least May 31. And suspension may be  further  extended. If you already had a theory test booked, and it has been cancelled, you’ll get a refund and you’ll have to rebook it yourself when tests suspension is lifted.

As with the practical driving test, if you’re a key worker you can apply for an emergency theory test. Again, the DVSA says you’ll need to be  available  at very short notice, so make sure you’ve done plenty  of  practice and feel confident enough to take the test at short notice.

Visit https://www.gov.uk/apply-emergency-theory-test to find out more.

MOT status and Driving during lock down ?

The Government has now  suspended all MOTs for six months for cars, motorbikes and vans starting from Monday 30th March  2020. This means that all MoTs are now effectively 18 months long. The Department for Transport said that car owners' MoT dates will change about a week before their test is due, and they will be able to check the new date online. This will means MoTs due from March 30 with be valid for another six months, and so your  insurance won't be effected. 

However, ministers have warned that people need to keep their cars roadworthy and anyone found driving a dangerousvehicle will be prosecuted. 

Drivers whose MoT was due before March 30 will still need to have their test done. If they have been unable to do so because they are self-isolating, they can still have their test done at a later date. An agreement has been negotiated with insurance companies and the police so they will not be unfairly penalised.

Garages Driving Schools will remain open for critical workers and people who depend on their cars for essential trips like shopping to get necessary repairs done.

Driving Test Rescue

Driving Tests for Critical Workers-Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Theory tests are suspended for one month, and driving tests are suspended for up to 3 months due to coronavirus - but tests are available for critical workers

The DVSA have updated for critical workers on how they can apply for tests, whilst the Theory Test & Practical Test centres are closed.

Booking Emergency Test Procedure for Critical Worker

You can still get an emergency test during the suspension period if your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in a critical sector. These include:

·         health and social care

·         education and childcare

·         key public services

·         local and national government

·         food and other necessary goods

·         public safety and national security

·         transport

·         utilities, communication and financial services

Book an emergency theory test

Email DVSA to ask for an emergency theory test.

You must send a photo or scanned image of valid ID such as your work ID badge.

If you do not have an ID badge you can send:

·         an email from a work email address

·         evidence from your employer, such as email or scanned document including company letterhead

·         a scan of your payslip

This is not an exhaustive list and evidence will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

You also need to tell them :

·         your telephone number and preferred contact time

·         which test centre you want to take your test at (currently only Birmingham, London, Glasgow and Ballymena)

·         the type of theory test you would like to take (car, car and trailer, motorcycle, lorry, bus or coach)

·         your driving licence number

If you meet the critical worker criteria, DVSA will contact you to explain what happens next.

Emergency theory tests
critical.worker.theory.test@dvsa.gov.uk

Book an Emergency Driving Test

Email DVSA to ask for an emergency driving test.

You must send a photo or a scanned image of a valid ID such as your work ID badge.

If you do not have an ID badge you can send:

·         an email from a work email address

·         evidence from your employer, such as an email or scanned document including company letterhead

·         a scan of your payslip

This is not an exhaustive list and evidence will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

You also need to tell us:

·         your telephone number

·         your preferred test location

·         the type of driving test you would like to take (car, car and trailer, motorcycle, lorry, bus or coach)

·         your driving licence number

·         the driving test reference number (if you have one)

·         your theory test certificate number

If you meet the critical worker criteria, DVSA will contact you with a test date.

This may take a while, please do not send another request.

Theory Tests Cancelled

Due to the unfolding COVID-19 situation, all Theory Tests are cancelled for 4 weeks starting Friday 20 March 2020, until Monday 20 April 2020.  What DVSA is doing  DLVA are emailing anyone with a test booked during this time to let them know their test has been cancelled and that they will be automatically refunded. All candidates are asked not to rebook or rearrange their test at this time untill further notice.  DVLA will continue to monitor emerging situation and update regularly.