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Driving Tests: Slough

Asked by Mr Tanmanjeet Singh DhesiLabourDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 7 May 2025UIN 48506

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps she has taken to prevent block booking by bots for driving tests in Slough.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood

The table below shows the number of car practical driving tests booked and available in the 24-week booking window, as of 28th April 2025, for driving test centres (DTCs) serving customers in the Slough constituency:

DTC

Car practical driving tests booked

Car practical driving test available

Slough

1836

1

Yeading

1952

32

Uxbridge

2309

20

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country and has announced further measures to review the driving test booking system.

On the 18 December 2024, a call for evidence was launched, seeking views on the current rules to book tests. This will lead to consultation on improving processes, with potential future legislative changes. On the 23 April the Secretary of State announced that this consultation has been fast-tracked to May 2025.

On 6 January 2025, DVSA introduced new terms and conditions for use of the service driving instructors and trainers use to book and manage practical driving tests for their pupils. Since this change DVSA has issued 25 warnings, 4 suspensions, and closed 90 business accounts.

DVSA has deployed bot protection to help stop automated systems from buying up tests unfairly. These applications, however, are constantly evolving and changing, and DVSA’s work on this is ongoing.

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