Booking a practical test using the trainer booking facility
- Applications for tests
- Availability of tests
- Confirmation of appointments
- Cancelling a trainer-booked driving test
Applications for tests
Trainer booking application forms are available online (see link below) or from the trainer booking section, who can be reached on the national booking line (0870 0101372).
Download a trainer booker application form
The application form is in two parts:
- DLV26 Train A and DVL26 Train B for large goods vehicles (LGV), passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) and car with large trailer (B + E) bookings
- DLMC26 Train A and DLMC26 Train B for motorcycle bookings
In both cases, form Train A is used to apply and pay for up to eight test appointments. This is confirmed by a business booking schedule. Likewise, form Train B is used to provide the names of candidates and details of vehicles to be used on test.
Appointments will normally be made available ten weeks before the test. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) needs to receive a fee before an application may be processed. Applications may be made in four ways:
- telephone application using a credit or debit card - this is the only method by which appointments may be made by telephone - trainers should supply details to the DSA by calling the booking line number
- faxed application using a credit or debit card - trainers should fax form Train A and submit their credit card details and business identity number, these details should be sent to the DSA using the fax
- emailed application using a credit or debit card - trainers should email information usually contained in form Train A using the email address - please also note that DSA's target for acknowledging receipt of emails is 48 hours.
- postal application using cheque, postal order, credit or debit card - trainers should send form Train A enclosing a cheque or postal order, or submit their credit/debit card details - this should be sent to DSA at the Newcastle office
Availability of tests
No guarantee can be given about the availability of tests requested. All tests will be allocated on a first come, first served basis once the slots have been opened up. DSA will hold back a proportion of test slots for individual applicants and their instructors. This proportion will vary depending on local circumstances.
If an organisation indicates that appointments should not be made unless all of the requested slots are available, the DSA will contact the organisation prior to booking any test to discuss requirements.
DSA will deal with all applications in order of receipt. DSA will not accept responsibility for late receipt of applications, faxes or emails, nor for appointments missed because of time spent contacting organisations to discuss booking requirements.
Back
Confirmation of appointments
The DSA will confirm the booking by returning a weekly business schedule endorsed with the test details and application reference number. This number should be quoted on all future correspondence connected with the appointment.
The individual organisations are responsible for checking the test details. DSA will not rebook the test or accept responsibility for costs incurred by candidates who attend the wrong location, on the wrong date or at the wrong time.
Form Train B must be sent, faxed or the details notified by email by the training organisation to the DSA no later than midday one clear working day before the test - by 4pm on Tuesday for a test booked on Thursday (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, Bank Holidays, Christmas Day and Good Friday). Details may also be notified by telephone.
If the correct details are not received at DSA by the required time, the test will be cancelled and the fee will be forfeit without exception. Allowance should be made for postal transit time.
Back
Cancelling a trainer-booked driving test
You can reschedule or cancel a practical test either online or over the phone up to three clear working days before the test without loss of fee. Since 1 November 2005 DSA counts Saturday as a working day, this means you can rearrange a test for a Tuesday on the Thursday before.
Organisations may not change the candidate within the three day cancellation period without losing the fee. However, they may change the vehicle details, if within the same category, within one clear working day of the test date.
DSA needs to plan carefully the deployment of its examiners to maximise efficiency. Organisations that book appointments and then cancel them continually, therefore, may have the trainer booker facility (TBF) either suspended or withdrawn from them.
The transfer of reservations between training organisations is not permitted under any circumstances. Failure to comply with this rule will result in TBF being either suspended or withdrawn from the organisations concerned.
The transfer of reservations between training organisations is not permitted under any circumstances. Failure to comply with this rule will result in TBF being either suspended or withdrawn from the organisations concerned.
Back
DSA cancellations
Every effort will be made to avoid cancelling trainer booked tests. When this is unavoidable, DSA will contact the training organisation immediately to arrange an alternative appointment. Arrangements will normally be made to provide another appointment within three weeks.
Payment defaults
DSA takes a serious view of payment defaults. In the event of any trainer defaulting on a payment for TBF reserved slots, DSA will generally seek to cancel the test(s) concerned and may suspend TBF from the offending organisation.
Back
Page last updated: 17/01/2006