Covid

Making sure your pupils are ready

It's important that you 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, we 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.

What your pupils can expect when taking their test

When you come for your driving test

Do not arrive for your driving test more than 5 minutes before your appointment time.

The driving test centre waiting room will be closed to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, but the toilets will be available on request.

Keeping you safe when you take your test

DVSA has introduced social distancing measures and safety precautions.

These include:

• driving examiners wearing face coverings - they might also choose to wear gloves and use disposable seat covers
• limiting the number of people arriving for a driving test at the same time
• not allowing your driving instructor or supervising driver to sit in the back during your test

Wearing a face covering

• you have a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability that means you cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering
• putting on, wearing or removing a face covering would cause you severe distress
• you need to remove it during your test to avoid harm or injury or the risk of harm or injury to yourself or others

You need to say if you have a good reason not to wear a face covering when you arrange your test.

Your test will be cancelled if you come for your test without a face covering and you did not declare you could not wear one when you arranged your test.

You will need to remove your face covering briefly so your driving examiner can check your ID.

Find out how to wear and make a cloth face covering.

During your driving test

If you have a problem with your face covering during the test, your driving examiner will ask you to stop so you can adjust it. Your driving examiner will end the test early if it becomes a safety issue.

If you make a mistake

You can carry on if you make a mistake during your driving test.

If you make a serious or dangerous fault, which means you’ve failed, your driving examiner will direct you back to the driving test centre, where the test will end. This is to minimise the amount of time you need to spend in the vehicle.

Find out more about how the car driving test works.

At the end of your test

Your driving examiner will:

• ask you to get out of your vehicle before they give you your test result feedback
• ask if you want your instructor to come over to listen to the feedback if it’s safe to do so

This is to minimise the amount of time you need to spend in the vehicle.

When you must not come for your test

You must not come for your driving test if:

• you or someone you live with has coronavirus symptoms
• you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has coronavirus
• you have returned to the UK in the last 14 days, unless you travelled from certain countries or territories (there’s a different list of countries if you live in Scotland), or are in other very limited situations

You have to stay at home (self-isolate).

Change your driving test appointment if you need to self-isolate on the day of your driving test.

You can do this free of charge if you’re self-isolating, including if you do it at short notice (within 3 clear working days of the test).

If you’re clinically extremely vulnerable from coronavirus

If you’re clinically extremely vulnerable, you should have received a letter telling you that you’re in this group or have been told by your GP.

DVSA recommends that you take your test after shielding has been paused. This is from:

• 1 August 2020 in England
• 1 August 2020 at the earliest in Scotland
• 16 August in Wales

If your theory test certificate expires

You need to have passed a theory test in the last 2 years to be able to book most types of driving tests.

Legally, your theory test certificate cannot be extended in any circumstances.

You’ll need to book and pay to take another theory test. You can book a new theory test up to 6 months before your current theory test certificate expires, or at any time after it’s expired.