DVSA encourages lateral flow tests for lessons and tests

DVSA recommends all ADIs and their pupils take lateral flow tests twice a week. The agency also recommends learner drivers to take a test in the four days before their driving test.

Lateral flow tests are not compulsory for ADIs or students for the driving test or lessons but DVSA strongly encourages taking them to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Rapid lateral flow tests are used to identify people with COVID-19 who are not showing symptoms. Around one in three individuals with COVID-19 do not have any symptoms. If left undetected they will continue to spread the virus.

Lateral flow test kits are free, easy to use and give results in 30 minutes.

A lateral flow test is less accurate than a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and testing regularly helps to detect the virus. You should take a rapid lateral flow test twice a week (every three or four days).

You should take a test twice a week even if you’ve had the first dose or both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to reduce the chance of you suffering from COVID-19 disease. You may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you should book a PCR test instead.

Click here for more information on lateral flow tests in England.

Click here for more information on lateral flow tests in Wales.

Your pupils will not need to take a rapid lateral flow test to be able to take their driving test, but by doing one, they’ll help to stop the spread of COVID-19.

For the rapid lateral flow test to be valid, your pupil will need to take the test in the four days before their driving test.

If your pupil or anyone they live with tests positive from a rapid lateral flow test, everyone in the household must:

• Self-isolate immediately
• Get a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to confirm the result

If your pupil and everyone they live with gets a negative PCR test result back before their driving test, they can stop self-isolating and take their driving test.

Your pupil must not go for their driving test if either:

• They or someone they live with has a positive PCR test result
• Their rapid lateral flow test result is positive, and they do not get a PCR test result back before their driving test

They will need to change their driving test appointment to a later date.

They can then email DVSA if they’d like us to try and find an earlier appointment. They should email customerservices@dvsa.gov.uk with the email subject ‘Lateral flow rebooking’ and include two of these three pieces of information:

• Driving licence number
• Theory test pass certificate number
• Driving test reference number

DVSA will only do this if they changed their test appointment within four days of their test. This service cannot be used by anyone else to try to get an earlier appointment. 

DVSA will contact all driving test candidates to let them know how to get a rapid lateral flow test and encourage them to get them while they’re learning to drive and before they take their driving test.

If you have booked a driving test for any of your pupils, you need to pass this information on to them.