UPDATED March 2026 with new DVSA rules for booking tests

If you have a young person about to embark on the joy of learning to drive, you’ll want to take a look at our listings for local Driving Instructors.  You may need to try a number of different instructors to find someone with availability at the right time, and if at first you don't succeed you do need to just keep persevering and checking back. If your child can take lessons during the day during a school study period this will help, but not all schools allow this.

One of the first things your young person will have to do is study for and pass the theory test, as this is a pre-requisite for booking the practical driving test.  So you’ll want to know that library members can get free access to Theory Test Pro.  You just need to register here using your library card number.  Making use of a service like this is invaluable, especially to practise the hazard perception part of the test, which you can’t learn from a book. You can't book the theory test until you turn 17 and in the past there has also been a bit of a backlog with booking the theory tests too, but if you can take a weekday slot you will have more choice (e.g. perhaps aim to book it during a school holiday).  You don't need to have had any driving lessons to sit the theory test, though some practical experience of being behind the wheel may help.

It is also worth knowing that when it comes to booking the practical test there is currently a huge backlog for these in certain areas of the country including St Albans.  New test dates are released by the DVSA 24 weeks ahead at 6am on Monday morning.  So, if you can log on early, it is possible to secure a test date at the St Albans Test Centre (I can vouch for this!), but it will be almost 6 months away. However, you will have at least secured a date and you can always keep checking for earlier cancellations if required.  You can change the date of your test twice for free (from 31st March 2026).  You can also cancel with a full refund as long as you cancel within 10 full working days of the test.

In a bid to reduce the use of automated cancellations services to secure preferred dates and locations, and instructors block booking test dates, which have contributed to blocking up the system, the DVLA is introducing new rules for booking tests from spring 2026:

• Instructors will no longer be able to book tests, only the learner can book.
• Only the learner will be able to manage changes to the booking
• As mentioned above, only two changes to the booking will be allowed. After that, it must be cancelled and rebooked to make any further changes.
• Changes to the test venue will only be allowed to venues near the location of the original booking.

Of course, you don't have to sit your test in the same place you have been taking lessons. It may be possible to find better test availability at another centre nearby if the instructor is happy to travel there and your young person doesn’t mind sitting the test somewhere less familiar. You can use your own car for the test, as long as it meets DVLA rules.

Good luck to you and your young learner!