Book your driving test at GOV.UK

Since 12 May 2026 the DVSA only allows the learner to book, move, swap or cancel their own car practical driving test. Driving schools, instructors and cancellation-finding services can no longer do it for you.

That is a change worth knowing about, because it used to be common for instructors to book on a pupil’s behalf. It also means you should be wary of anyone still offering to do it — they are not working within the current rules.

Booking it yourself is straightforward, and it is free to do on the official service.

Book on the official site — and only the official site

The only place to book a practical driving test is gov.uk/book-driving-test. Other sites charge a fee on top for doing exactly the same thing, and some of them are no longer permitted to act for you at all.

You can also check the current test fee before you start, so you know what you should be paying.

What you will need

• Your UK provisional driving licence number.
• Your theory test pass certificate number. A theory pass lasts two years — if it expires before you take your practical, you have to sit the theory again.
• A debit or credit card.
• Your instructor’s details, if you want to make sure your lesson car is available on the day.

You must also have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 185 days in the 12 months before the day you take your test.

Choosing a test centre

Most of our pupils test at Colwick, Chilwell or Ashfield. They are not interchangeable — the routes, the junctions and the traffic are all different, and waiting times vary between them.

This is the part we can genuinely help with. Tell your instructor which centre you are thinking of and they will tell you honestly whether you have driven those roads enough. It is a better question to ask before you book than after.

Our driving test centres page covers what to expect at each one.

Changing or cancelling

You can move or cancel your own test through the same service, using your licence number and booking reference. Do it at least three clear working days before, or you lose the fee.

Cancellations from other candidates do appear, so if you are hoping for an earlier date it is worth checking back regularly — see our page on earlier tests and cancellations.

What Elevate does around the test

• Tell you honestly when we think you are ready, so you book at the right moment.
• Advise which test centre suits your driving.
• Provide the car on the day, with a warm-up lesson beforehand.
• Fit lessons around the date you have booked, including at short notice where we have space.

If you want to talk it through first, get in touch — or see our lesson prices and intensive courses.