Driving Test Cancellations
In this article
How to Find Driving Test Cancellations
- Enter your driving licence number
- Enter your driving test reference number
- Select a new date
- Select your driving test centres
- Choose how often you would like to receive your alerts
- Save your preferences
- Text back book when you find a suitable test appointment
There are two main ways you can find a cancelled driving test. The first is to check the DVSA’s website for any cancelled tests. The second is to sign up to our driving test cancellation service that will automatically check and book a short notice driving test on your behalf.
Searching the DVSA’s Website Yourself
You must have a driving test already booked before you can look for an early driving test date. Once you have a test scheduled, you’ll need to log in to the DVSA’s driving test rescheduling portal to look for an earlier test date. To log into the portal, you’ll need your driving license number and either your driving test reference number or your theory test certificate number.
Your driving license number is over 10 characters and made up of a sequence of letters and numbers. You can find the number under the date the license was issued. Your driving test number will be on the confirmation email you received from the DVSA when you initially booked your driving test.
Check Your Test Details
Once you have accepted a test slot and the driving test cancellation service you are using has confirmed the time and date of your test, it’s important to check the DVSA’s website to ensure that everything is in order. The DVSA has a free service you can use to check the details of your driving test. Again you’ll need your driving license number and either your theory test certificate number or driving test reference number to gain access to the portal.
When Should You Use a Driving Test Cancellation Service
When Your Theory Test is About to Expire
One of the main reasons learner drivers seek out short notice driving tests is because their theory test is about to expire. You must pass and hold a valid theory test certificate before you’re allowed to book a driving test and your theory test is valid for two years, from the date at which you passed. If you’ve had a number of driving lessons and you are confident behind the wheel, bringing your driving test forward to ensure you take it before your theory test expires could save you time and money in the long run.
If you are searching for emergency test dates on the DVSA’s website, keep in mind that any appointments that are after the expiry date of your theory test will not be shown in the booking calendar.
On Your Driving Instructors Recommendation
If your driving instructor thinks you are ready to pass your driving test, a short notice test can help you get on the road quickly. The average waiting time for a driving test is 6 weeks and if you’d prefer not to wait for this long for a test, a cancellation checker could prove to be a useful service.
Before booking an early test it’s important to ensure you have an honest and frank conversation with your driving instructor about your current driving ability and your chances of getting your license. If your driving instructor doesn’t think you have a good chance of passing the test and you go ahead and book one anyway, there’s a good chance you’ll end up failing your test. If you are determined to book an early driving test, but you are anxious or worried about your chances of passing, read our guide on how to overcome your driving test nerves.
When You Have Just Failed Your Test
Many learner drivers who have just failed their driving test, often feel confident enough to take another one right away. If you’ve just failed and your instructor feels you can easily correct the error(s) that prevented you from passing, look for a test cancellation spot and arrange a new test date as soon as possible.
When You Need Your Driver’s License by a Certain Date
A service that checks for test cancellations becomes especially important when you require your driver’s license by a certain date. Common deadlines many learner drivers face include the start of a new job, travelling or going back to study for an extended period of time. In these scenarios, bringing your test date forward could prove to be the only viable solution.
Frequently asked questions
If you have unfortunately just failed your driving test, you will have to wait at least 10 working days before booking another test. Once the 10 working days have passed, you are free to book a test as you normally would, or use our test cancellation checker, to find a short notice driving test near you
Our driving test cancellation checker is legitimate and not a scam. We offer concrete money-back guarantees and if we are unable to find you an earlier test date, we’ll happily refund you your money no questions asked. All you need to do to get your early test date is fill in the form and complete the booking process and we’ll do the rest.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a DVSA driving test cancellation list that you can sign up or add your name to. It’s a question many learner drivers ask, however, the only way to find an earlier driving test is to search for a short notice test yourself or use our driving test cancellation service to find yourself a short notice driving test.
The list of cancelled driving test dates on this page show recent test appointments we’ve found for learner drivers using our app.
The best time of day to find a driving test cancellation is between 9am and 11am in the morning. You are more likely to find a vacant spot at this time of the day as learner drivers that intend on cancelling or rescheduling their driving tests, often do so at the start of the day.
The worst time of day to find a driving test cancellation is in the evening after 8pm. Cancellations rarely occur after this time as most people tend to unwind in the evening, reducing screen time as the day comes to an end.
The same can be said for the weekend. Most people have quite full weekends and when people are busy, outside and away from a screen, we see fewer cancelled appointments.
Our software works by automatically checking the DVSA’s driving test booking website multiple times a day, for recently cancelled driving test appointments. When a test slot matching your criteria is found, you’ll automatically be sent a text message with the details and the option of confirming the appointment.
Yes, you can get notified when an early driving test becomes available. To do so, choose a date and a set of test centres and we’ll send you an alert when a suitable driving test appointment becomes available.
You will be notified by text message when a driving test appointment matching your criteria becomes available. If you are happy with the time, date and location and wish to accept the appointment, simply reply to the message with the word Book. Once you have confirmed your attendance you will receive an email from the DVSA confirming the details of your driving test.
Yes, our driving test cancellation checker can automatically book you a new test if you’d like it to do so. To set this up, go to order.booklearnpass.co.uk, choose 3 test centres where you’d like to take your test, choose your ideal date and time and then select the option ‘automatically change my test’. Once this option is ticked, we’ll automatically move your test to the first slot we find matching your preferences.
When you sign up to our driving test cancellation checker, you will be asked to choose two test centres, a date range for your new test and select your preferred times. If for any reason you would like to change your preferences, send an email to bookings@booklearnpass.co.uk and we’ll update your account.
Once your account is updated, you’ll receive alerts for tests dates that match the new details.
Once you have booked your driving test, you’ll be able to change the test date up to 10 times without being charged for a new test. There are 2 ways you change your driving test date. The first is by logging into the DVSA’s website and searching for a new test date. You can do so using the login details contained in the email you would have received when your test was booked.
The second is by logging into your account on Book Learn Pass and filling in the change of date request form. Once we have received your request we’ll start looking for a new driving test date based on the dates you have chosen.
Our driving test cancellation checker scans the DVSA’s website at 5-minute intervals. We check your chosen test centre every 5 minutes, as this gives us the best chance of finding a cancellation. Once we find a date that matches your preferences, we’ll send you a notification or reschedule your test automatically, if you’ve selected that option.
When we send you a notification for a cancellation, you have 15 minutes to respond if you would like to accept the slot. You only have 15 minutes because this is how long the DVSA allow candidates to hold onto a test slot before the appointment is released back into the system. Unfortunately, if you respond after 15 minutes, we’ll be unable to book that particular slot.
The best way to get a driving test cancellation is to choose a reasonable date range for a test – we recommend between 3 weeks and a month – and then select automatically change my test when signing up.
Selecting this option improves your chances of securing an early test date, as our driving test cancellation checker performs best when it doesn’t have to send texts or wait for confirmation messages from customers.
List of new short notice driving test dates
| Location | Date of Cancellation | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth Driving Test Centre | 12/08/2021 | 9:07am |
| Norris Green (Liverpool) Driving Test Centre | 19/08/2021 | 8:47am |
| Croydon (London) Driving Test Centre | 20/08/2021 | 8:10am |
| Weston-super-Mare Driving Test Centre | 27/08/2021 | 8:20am |
| Northampton Driving Test Centre | 30/08/2021 | 2:22pm |
| Goodmayes (London) Driving Test Centre | 01/09/2021 | 1:45pm |
| Hither Green (London) Driving Test Centre | 06/09/2021 | 9:37am |
| Sale (Manchester) Driving Test Centre | 07/09/2021 | 11:16am |
| Greenford (London) Driving Test Centre | 08/09/2021 | 8:00am |
| Belvedere (London) Driving Test Centre | 20/09/2021 | 8:10am |
Considerations
Last-minute driving tests are by their nature somewhat unpredictable. Booking, taking and passing a short notice test, can be a challenge and there are a number of ways in which learner drivers can get caught out during the process. To ensure you are as prepared as can be, we’ve highlighted some of the key considerations and issues to be aware of when thinking about taking an early test
Your Driving Instructor’s Availability
One of the first things you need to consider before booking a cancellation driving test is your driving instructor’s availability. If you book a test at a time your instructor is unable to attend, you will have to find another instructor or a suitable vehicle to take your test in.
Having to source an alternative instructor or vehicle for your test can be challenging especially at short notice. To avoid this situation, always ask your driving instructor if they will be available at the proposed time and location, before booking or accepting a short notice test.
Although we always recommend asking your instructor first before booking or accepting a test earlier test slot, you could end up missing out on the slot if your instructor is unable to respond right away.
Choice of Driving Test Centre
Your choice of test centre and the amount of time you spend practising at it, has a direct impact on your chances of passing on the day. If you’re unable to get a short notice test at the test centre you are familiar with, you may have to take your driving test at a location you have limited knowledge of.
If you accept a test date at a centre you’re unfamiliar with, we’d recommend you set aside at least a couple of hours with your driving instructor before your test, to familiarise yourself with the local area. If time permits, ask your driving instructor to take you on a few of the possible routes you might encounter, as just a couple of hours practice could make the difference between passing and failing.
It’s also worth making sure that your driving instructor covers the test centre you intend to take your test at. Most instructors only cover a handful of test centres, so bear this in mind when booking.
Higher Associated Costs
If you do need to find a driving instructor at short notice, you may have to pay a premium to secure their services. Instructors often charge a premium for short notice tests as they may have to cancel existing lessons to accommodate you. Be prepared to pay up to £130 for the cost of hiring the vehicle and a couple of hours of practice beforehand.
Finding a Short Notice Driving Instructor
If you bring your driving test forward and the driving instructor you’ve been learning to drive with is unavailable at the time of your rescheduled test, you’ll need to find a replacement instructor or hire a suitable vehicle to take your test with.
Finding a driving instructor at short notice is one of the most challenging aspects of booking an early driving test. If you know you’ll need to do so, it’s important to leave enough time to complete the search process. It’s likely you’ll have to make several enquiries before you’re able to find an available instructor that covers the area you’ll be taking your test at.
How to secure a short notice test
The tips in this section will help you lock in your preferred driving test date. Read these instructions before you sign up to receive alerts for cancelled driving tests.
Select an appropriate date range
When you're creating your account, make sure you select an appropriate date range. Choose dates that you know you can attend. Keep in mind that if you leave the 'before' date blank, the automated system will look for the earliest possible driving test date it can find. In some cases, this will be a test taking place in 24hrs time.
Keep your phone close by
When you receive a notification of a new driving test date, you have 15 minutes to confirm whether or not you want us to move your test to that slot. At the end of this period, we have to release the appointment back to the DVSA. If you take longer than 15 minutes to reply you will, unfortunately, miss that opportunity.
Contact support if you need a new date
If we reschedule your test and later on you find out that you can no longer make that date, contact support as soon as possible, The quicker we know about your change of circumstances, the easier it'll be for us to update your account and find you a new date that you can attend.
Hiring a car for an emergency driving test
One of the challenges of booking an early driving test is securing a car for the big day. It’s straightforward if you’re using your own vehicle; however, there are a few things to be aware of if you plan on hiring a car at the last minute.
The test centres they cover
Before you agree to hire a vehicle from a company, check to see whether they cover the test centre you’ll be taking your test at. Some firms mention test centres that they don’t cater to, so double-check which locations they cover before making payment.
The type of vehicles they have
There’s nothing worse than hiring a car for an emergency driving test, only to find out that it’s the wrong transmission. When making your enquiry, ask the company whether they have the vehicle type you need, available at your chosen test centre, at the time of your test.
Hiring conditions
Look out for conditions that may prevent you from hiring a car at short notice. Some businesses only rent out their vehicles to candidates that have taken a test within a certain number of weeks. Other companies may insist on your taking driving lessons with them before the day of your test. Find out about any hiring conditions before handing over your hard-earned, as this will help you avoid any unwanted surprises.
If you’ve made an urgent driving test booking and you’re ready to hire a car at short notice, we’ve done a bit of research to help you out. The table below contains the contact details of businesses that have dual-controlled hire cars available right now. We’ve listed their hire price, test centres covered, and any conditions that customers need to be aware of before hiring.
Hire companies we've vetted
| Company | Phone number | Vehicles | Locations | Price | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold Clark | 0141 237 4374 | Manual and Automatic | National | £15 per hour | You must have hired an ducal controlled car from them in the past |
Pros and Cons of Using a Driving Test Cancellation Service
Pros
You avoid having to repeatedly check the DVSA's website
You can find a test within a specific window of time
You can find a test at a specific time of day
Cons
Your driving instructor may not always be available
You could end up at an unfamiliar test centre
You might have to rearrange your schedule at short notice
Additional driving test dates
As society returns to some sort of post-COVID-19 normality, the DVSA has made some changes to make it easier to find an earlier driving test. To help ease the backlog of tests, 20,000 extra slots are being added each month. and you can now book early morning and early evening appointments as well. The DVSA hasn’t specified what exactly early morning is, but some test centres are now offering 7am tests, and this is an hour earlier than the start time pre-COVID-19.
This video from Learn to Drive Travis goes into more detail about the recent changes and it’s well worth a watch.
Driving Test Cancellations by Year
| Year / Reason | Leave | Disputes | Acts of Nature | Medical Absences | Total Tests Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010/11 | 20,179 | 17 | 76,686 | 41,480 | 138,362 |
| 2011/12 | 8,278 | 1,839 | 17,410 | 17,550 | 45,077 |
| 2012/13 | 5,435 | 5,211 | 49,483 | 11,764 | 71,893 |
| 2013/14 | 8,602 | 1,256 | 6,927 | 17,017 | 33,802 |
| 2014/15 | 9,396 | 1,955 | 16,309 | 23,720 | 51,380 |
| 2015/16 | 13,100 | 10,429 | 7,623 | 43,541 | 74,693 |
| 2016/17 | 19,336 | 5 | 14,370 | 45,137 | 78,848 |
| 2017/18 | 16,418 | 679 | 39,808 | 42,800 | 99,705 |
| 2018/19 | 13,594 | 3 | 11,174 | 40,751 | 65,522 |
| 2019/20 | 4,568 | 2 | 137 | 10,385 | 15,092 |