Driving lessons and tests to be suspended for second lockdown
Learner drivers face lockdown frustration from today, as lessons and tests will be suspended in England between now and December 2nd.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) confirmed the move in a tweet posted on Monday:
“Following the Government announcement on tougher national restrictions from Thursday, driver and rider training and tests will be suspended in England from 5 November until 2 December 2020.
“We will be providing further guidance and contacting those affected as soon as we can.”
Although driving tests have been suspended in Wales as part of their ‘firebreak lockdown’, they’re due to start again from Monday 9 November. Tests will continue in Scotland.
Updates to the DVSA website show that theory tests will also be suspended in England until Wednesday 2 December.1
Theory tests follow the same pattern in other countries. Wales will offer the tests from Monday 9 November, while no suspension is planned for Scotland.
Theory test certificates will not be extended during the suspension period. The DVSA website explained: “This is because your road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills need to be up to date when you restart driving lessons and take your driving test.”
Learner Driver Car Insurance
Only pay for the cover you need until you’ve passed your test.
Get learner driver insurance so you can practice outside of your lessons.
Around 210,000 tests were cancelled due to the suspension between March and July earlier this year.
Although the latest rules forbid lessons with a professional, there’s nothing to stop a provisional licence holder from learning with someone in their support bubble.
‘Instructors’ should:
- be at least 21
- be qualified to drive the same type of car as the learner e.g. manual or automatic
- have held their licence for at least three years
- meet the minimum eyesight standards
- not be paid to supervise the learner
Our How to teach a learner driver guide covers everything you need to know to keep provisional licence holders ready for a test when they return.
Make sure you pick up Learner Driver Insurance to stay protected on the road as well.
Get 30 driving tips that will save you money
Running a car isn’t cheap, but there are some easy things you can do to keep your costs down.
Get these tips and more useful driving articles sent straight to your inbox now.
You might also like
How to teach a learner driver
Getting experience behind the wheel with a friend or family member is invaluable. These are the steps supervising drivers should take.
How to pass your driving test – a full guide from novice to pro
How to pass your driving test made simple, with our comprehensive five-step guide that covers everything you need to know in one place.
How to get a provisional driving licence
You must apply for your provisional driving licence before you start your driving lessons, you can apply just before you turn 17. Learn more here.
15 driving test tips to help you pass first time
Ease those nerves with our expert driving test tips to help you pass quickly. Use our 15 expert tips to help you keep your cool on the big day.
How much does it cost to learn to drive?
To help you budget for learning to drive, we’ve researched the rates and tallied up the total to give you a rough guide to learner driver expenses.
Popular in News
1
Car buyers to save thousands as EV grant returns
2
Private parking companies issue a record 14.4m tickets to drivers in a single year
3
Drivers fined £1m from just 36 yellow box junctions in 2024
4
Road deaths on the rise in Great Britain
5
Private parking industry urged to publish ‘full and transparent’ complaints and appeals data
6
Drivers now able to search for new home that comes with EV chargers
7
Leicester’s Sean Kimberlin named as RAC Mobile Mechanic of the Year
8
Number of drivers caught using unroadworthy vehicles jumps by 52% in a year
9
Warning to drivers across the UK over fake parking apps
10