The Scottish First Minister introduced an updated Strategic Framework for COVID-19 on 16 March. This included a timetable of when restrictions can start to be lifted in Scotland.

In the framework, Scottish Government has indicated that driving lessons and tests can restart from 26 April if areas currently in protection level 4 move to level 3 as planned. Following this, DVSA has been working with the Scottish Government to agree indicative restart dates for tests.

You can read more about the measures on the Scottish Government’s website.

Confirmation of restart dates

We have been working with the Scottish Government and stakeholders to agree the indicative restart dates of all our driver, rider and vocational testing services.

We wanted to share these proposals with you now to help you plan for reopening your businesses and to start teaching again.

The Scottish Government has indicated that lessons and tests can resume from 26 April, as the aim is for Scotland to move from protection level 4 to level 3 on that date. This is subject to confirmation, based on the prevalence of the virus.

Driving lessons

The Scottish Government has announced that driving lessons can potentially restart on 26 April, if coronavirus restrictions are lifted in Scotland as proposed.

In the meantime, your pupils can continue to practise driving with an accompanying driver from within their household or extended household, as long as it is part of an essential journey.

Until Scottish Government confirms restrictions have lifted, driving lessons must not take place in areas in lockdown (protection level 4).

You must not travel out of these areas to give driving lessons.

If you live on an island not under protection level 4 measures you can continue to provide lessons to any of your pupils as long as they do not live in an area in lockdown.

Driving tests

We know many of you want the opportunity to carry out lessons and training before we restart tests and we agree with this.
Therefore we have agreed with Scottish Government that tests will restart 10 days later on 6 May, if restrictions are lifted on 26 April.

Until then, all car driving tests remain suspended in areas in lockdown (level 4). This covers mainland Scotland and some islands. This includes ADI part 2 and 3 tests and standards checks. You can check the protection level for an area here: https://www.gov.scot/check-local-covid-level/

As a result of travel restrictions our examiners are unable to travel to other areas in lower levels to take driving tests. We are suspending all tests booked in level 3, where the examiner is coming from mainland Scotland to deliver the test, until the travel restrictions are lifted.

We’ll email candidates affected by this to let them know we will reschedule their test.

If you have booked a test for any of your pupils, you will receive an email to let you know it will be rescheduled to a new time and date. You will need to contact your pupil to let them know.

We’ll send you an email with the new time and date as soon as possible; please ask your pupils to be patient.

If the new time and date is not suitable for you or your pupil, you can choose a different time and date on GOV.UK. You will need your pupil’s driving licence number to do this. Your pupil does not need to pay again to do this.

Theory tests

Theory tests will restart on 26 April if areas return to protection level 3 as planned.

Until then, all theory tests remain suspended in lockdown areas (level 4).

Theory tests can currently go ahead on the isles of:
• Shetland
• Orkney

Candidates must not travel out of areas in lockdown (level 4) to take a theory test.

We will email anyone who has booked a theory test and is affected by this to let them know their theory test is on hold and they need to reschedule it at https://www.gov.uk/change-theory-test.

If you booked your pupil’s theory test, you will need to use the booking system to rearrange their test for a new date and time.

Mobile emergency testing service

Because of the current COVID restrictions, we are not able to offer a mobile emergency worker test service in Scotland.

More information

COVID-19 advice and funding information in Scotland is available via the Find Business Support website.