Useful Information
Studying For Your Theory Test
You do not need anything other than the Focus “Driving Test Success” DVD in order to study for your theory test (also available from PC World and Amazon). It costs Between £6-8 (watch out for Amazon’s postage costs). This includes PDIs as well as learners.
Booking Your Theory Test
Do not use any of the booking services which come up in the Google Ads on this (or any other) website. I can’t control which ads appear, unfortunately. They will charge you extra for something you don’t need, and some of them are genuine scams.
Book directly via the DSA.
If you want to book your theory test, use this link to the DSA site.
If you want to alter your theory test booking, use this link to the DSA site.
Booking Your Practical Test
Exactly the same applies to this: do not use any booking service and ignore whatever ridiculous promises they make to entice you. They cannot guarantee anything, and you stand a better chance of getting a cancellation than they do.
Book directly via the DSA.
If you want to book your practical test, use this link to the DSA site.
If you want to alter your practical test booking, use this link to the DSA site.
Remember: you can alter the date and the location of your test up to three times.
Pass Plus
This is relevant to you if you are a new or existing driver wishing to find out more about Pass Plus.
The Pass Plus site is also important if you are an ADI wishing to obtain the starter pack (or refills).
Use this link to get to the Pass Plus site.
Note that the old standalone Pass Plus site no longer exists.
The Pass Plus course is still available – although the DSA is planning to revamp it at some stage. Examiners are currently not required by the DSA to promote it at the end of a test, so you will find that some do and some don’t.
How Much Does It Cost?
These prices are correct as of the time of writing (5 July 2010). For learners:
- Theory Test – £31.00
- Practical Test (car) – £62.00 weekdays; £75.00 weekends
- Practical Test (car – extended) – £124.00 weekdays; £150 weekends
- Practical Test (car + trailer) – £115.00 weekdays; £141.00 weekends
The up-to-date information is always found through this link.
For ADIs and PDIs, prices are:
- Part 1 (theory) – £90.00
- Part 2 (driving) – £111.00
- Part 3 (instruction) – £111.00
- Registration/re-registration – £300.00
- Trainee Licence – £140.00
The latest details can be found on the BusinessLink site.
How To Find Test Cancellations
There’s no magic involved. You just need to make or check your booking at the same time there is a cancellation slot available.
People cancel tests all the time. As soon as they do, their slot becomes available for others to book. Once it is booked, it disappears from the list again.
Book your test online. Check it as often as you can and look for other dates.
Do not use a booking service. At best, all they can do is what you could do yourself – except you pay them to do it.
Test Centres And Test Routes
Using this link you can find your nearest test centre(s). Choose the letter your target town starts with, then scroll down to find which test centres are available.
Choosing ‘N’ for Nottingham reveals two test centres – Chalfont Drive and Colwick. Colwick is identified as ‘MPTC’ (multi-purpose test centre) because it also conducts motorcycle tests.
Selecting a test centre reveals its full address, special facilities (or absence thereof), test waiting times, and pass rates at that centre.
You can also download all the test routes for that centre in PDF format - for example, Colwick MPTC has 18 possible routes.
DSA Fast Track Service – Driver Trainers
Call DSA Customer Service on 0300 200 1122 and dial 11 for theory tests, or 25 for practical test enquiries or bookings (including ADI Parts 2 and 3).
This gets you through to a customer service rep. It’s probably worth pointing out this is for driver trainers and if you don’t have an ADI number then you won’t get far.
Having An Interpreter On Your Test
You can find out about having an interpreter on your test via this link.
Special Needs
Special needs candidates take the same theory test as everyone else, though additional facilities are available:
- voiceovers available in Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Dari, English, Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri, Kurdish, Mirpuri, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Pushto, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish, Urdu, Welsh
- you can use a DSA-approved translator if your language is not covered by the above
- if you are dyslexic or have reading difficulties you can have extra time
- you can take the test using BSL
- you can make requests for other special needs facilities
You must make the situation clear when you book your test. Find out more via this link.
Special needs candidates also take the same practical test as everyone else, though more time is allowed. You must let the DSA know when you book your test – find out more via this link.
