The government has decided not to extend theory test certificates due to the impact on road safety.
DVSA said: ”We understand that this will be disappointing for some of your pupils. But it’s essential that your pupils have the most up-to-date road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills to help prepare them for their test and driving safely on their own once they’ve passed.“
DVSA cannot reschedule your pupil’s driving test that was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic because their theory test certificate has expired. What will happen is:
- DVSA will cancel their driving test booking.
- They’ll get a full refund for their driving test. It will be refunded to the card that was used to pay for the test. They do not need to do anything to get the refund.
- They will need to book and pass a theory test at gov.uk/book-theory-test.
- Revise and practise for their theory test. Check what books and software can be used at gov.uk/theory-test/revision-and-practice.
- They need to book and pass a driving test. They must do this within two years of passing their next theory test.
Your pupil can book a new theory test up to six months before their current theory test certificate expires, or at any time after it’s expired.
If your pupil’s certificate is due to expire, DVSA will email your pupils in the coming weeks to invite them to arrange a driving test. However, it cannot guarantee that they’ll be able to take their driving test before their theory test certificate expires.
If their theory test certificate expires before they can take a driving test, they will need to follow the above steps.
They can cancel their driving test now and get a full refund. To do this, they should email customerservices@dvsa.gov.uk.
Make sure they include their name and two of the following in their email:
- Driving licence number
- Theory test pass certificate number
- Driving test booking reference
2 thoughts on “Theory test certificates will not be extended”
At a very early point at the outbreak of the pandemic, DVSA were very quick to change regulations regarding expired MOT’s. This consequently allowed drivers to continue to drive vehicles which may not meet legal requirements to drive on Britain’s roads.
My experience of dealing with experienced full licence holders is that their HC knowledge is ‘patchy’ to say the least. Once drivers have passed a driving test, their HC knowledge is never tested again unless the driver asks for it to be tested (very rare!).
So during the pandemic we have had drivers running around in cars which are possibly not road worthy and with questionable knowledge of road procedure.
The DVSA’s decision not to change the regulations to accommodate those whose Theory Test expired during the pandemic on the grounds that it would present a risk to road safety is entirely unjustified, especially in light of their actions on MOT testing. It has additionally created a huge ‘bow wave’ of a queue for those waiting to re-book a test, giving themselves additional work, whilst at the same time frustrating their target audience.
Which standard are we working to here?
So what has happened in the last 2 years that my pupils knowledge will be out of date? Has the highway code changed? I dont think so. Has the question bank changed? Possibly but you can only ask what a red traffic light means in so many different ways.
The road safety aspect is smoke and mirrors from the DVSA who don’t have the political will to make an extension legal. It’s a shame that the DVSA are behaving this way – all in it together? Apparently not. I feel very sorry for the youngsters who will be hit the hardest by this, all their exams messed up and the uncertainty around their university placements, and now this – having to take the theory again. Does the theory test actually contribute to road safety? I’m not sure it does because conduct a straw poll of drivers who took the theory and ask them; depth of tread, cats eyes on the motorway, stopping distances etc and etc. Most won’t be able to answer, sad but true. Candidates mug up in order to pass the test and promptly forget it. I can remember right back to when the theory was initially being discussed. The British Government said they weren’t going to do it but then an EEC directive said that they must. But now we are not part of the EEC so……