The UK Government has confirmed in recent announcements that lockdown restrictions can be eased as planned in England and Wales.

This means driver, rider and vocational lessons and tests will restart in line with the indicative dates we previously shared with you.

Driving lessons will restart on 12 April and driving tests 10 days later on 22 April.

Fleet training and testing will also restart on 12 April.

The DVSA confirmation states:

Test ready

We’ll email candidates with car practical tests booked from the 22 April to let them know their tests will go ahead.

If you have booked a test for any of your pupils during this period, please can you reassure them that their tests will go ahead as planned.

Restarting lessons ten days ahead of tests will give you the chance to provide your pupils with professional refresher training before they take their test. We know many of you wanted the opportunity to carry out lessons and training before we restart driving tests and we agree with this, so do the National Association of Strategic Partners (NASP).

Instructor tests

We will restart instructor testing, ADI part 2 and 3 tests and standards checks from 22 April. If your part 2 or 3 test or standards check is on hold, we will contact you to arrange a new time and date as soon as we are able to.

Theory tests

Theory tests will restart in England and Wales on 12 April 2021. We’ll email all candidates with theory tests booked before 12 April to ask them to reschedule their suspended test.

Plans are in place to open new temporary theory test centres and increase opening times at the majority of theory test centres. We will write to you later this week with more information.

Mobile emergency worker tests

Practical and theory tests for mobile emergency workers which have already been booked will still take place as scheduled.

Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced that driving lessons can potentially restart on 26 April, if coronavirus restrictions are lifted in Scotland as proposed. Theory tests will also restart from this date. Practical tests will restart 10 days later on 6 May, if restrictions are lifted on 26 April.

Chief Executive Letter

DVSA Chief Executive Loveday Ryder will be writing to you again this week to provide further information to help you and pupils prepare for the restart of lessons and tests.

More information

You can find out what financial support is available to you on GOV.UK.

Check GOV.UK for the latest about:
• theory tests
• driving tests
• instructor guidance