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Part of Become a car driving instructor: step by step

Book your driving test

Book your practical driving test for:

  • cars
  • motorcycles
  • lorries, buses and coaches
  • approved driving instructor (ADI) part 2 and 3 tests

This page is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Who can book a car driving test

You must book your driving test yourself. If you need to change, swap or cancel it, you’ll also need to do this yourself.

Your driving instructor is not allowed to do this for you.

It’s against the law to book a car driving test for someone else.

Book a test online

You’ll be put in a queue when you start booking your driving test - you’ll be told how long you’ll need to wait once you begin.

New driving test appointments are added 24 weeks in advance. These appointments are released at 6am every Monday.

If you need a test sooner, earlier driving tests (sometimes called ‘cancellation appointments’) are added whenever another learner changes or cancels their test. This can be at any time during the week. There is no waiting list or cancellation list.

There’s a different service to book your driving test in Northern Ireland.

This service is available from 6am to 11:40pm.

Start now

Before you start

You’ll need your:

  • UK driving licence number
  • credit or debit card
  • driving instructor’s personal reference number if you want to check they’re available

You can check the cost of your driving test before you start.

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

You must usually have passed your theory test before you book - unless you’re taking a taxi, tractor or most ‘upgrade’ tests.

You can change when and where you’ll take your test after you’ve booked.

Book a test to upgrade your licence

You must call the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) if you need an ‘upgrade’ test, such as automatic to manual car, or medium-sized lorry to a large lorry.

DVSA driving test booking support
Telephone: 0300 200 1122
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

Help with your booking

Help accessing the online service

Find out what to do if you’re having problems accessing the online service, for example:

  • you get an ‘error 15’ message after selecting ‘Start now’
  • the service does not load after selecting ‘Start now’
  • you get a ‘search limit reached’ message

Get help booking your test

Contact DVSA to get help booking your test.

This page is Part of Become a car driving instructor: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you can become an instructor

    1. Check if the role is right for you on the Safe Driving for Life website
    2. Check you're eligible to become a driving instructor
    3. Find out about the skills and knowledge you need

  2. Step 2 Apply to become a driving instructor

    You must get a new Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to start your application, even if you already have one.

    1. Get a DBS check

    You need to agree to the responsibilities set out in the 'ADI register guide' before you apply.

    1. Read about driving instructor responsibilities
    1. Start your application

  3. Step 3 Get a trainer

    Get a registered trainer to help you prepare for the 3 qualifying tests.

    1. Find driving instructor training courses

  4. Step 4 Take the theory test (ADI part 1)

    1. Revise and practise for your test
    2. What you need for your test
    3. Find a theory test centre
    4. Book your test £81

    Once you've passed the theory test, you must pass the other parts of the test within 2 years or you'll have to start the whole process again.

  5. Step 5 Take the driving ability test (ADI part 2)

    1. What happens during the test
    2. What you need for your test
    3. Find a driving test centre
    4. You are currently viewing: Book your test £111

  6. Step 6 Get practice teaching

    If you’ve passed ADI part 2 you have the option to apply for a 6 month trainee licence to get experience teaching students.

    1. Find out about trainee instructor licences
    2. Apply for a trainee instructor licence £140

  7. Step 7 Take the instructional ability test (ADI part 3)

    1. What happens during the test
    2. What you need for your test
    3. Find a driving test centre
    4. You are currently viewing: Book your test £111

  8. Step 8 Register and start working as an instructor

    Once you've passed the tests you must register within 12 months.

    1. Register for your first ADI certificate £300

    When you have your certificate you can start charging for lessons. You can either:

    You'll have at least one standards check every 4 years. You also need to renew your registration and get a new DBS check every 4 years.

    1. Find out about ADI standards checks
    2. Renew your registration £300
    3. Improve your skills as an instructor

Also part of