Emergency driving test application service to close

The online service to apply for an emergency driving or theory test if you’re a critical worker has closed today (14 August 2020).

Inviting critical workers to book a test

We’ll continue to provide emergency tests to critical workers who have already successfully applied for a driving test. We’ll email them to invite them to arrange a test appointment online as soon as possible.

When critical workers book their test they will be able to see all available appointments for the next 6 weeks.

Limiting the booking window to 6 weeks allows us to respond to any change to COVID-19 government guidance on a national and local level.

When the booking service will reopen

At present the booking system remains closed to all new non-critical tests. We’ll let you know when we are reopening the service for everyone. This includes people who:

  • have now taken a test that was originally cancelled due to coronavirus, but failed and need to retake their test
  • are taking a test for the first time

Until we reopen the booking service to the general public, only critical workers who have been invited to book a test can use it.

Tests for non-critical workers should not booked.

We’ll monitor tests booked for non-critical workers and we’ll cancel any that do not match our records.

Why the critical worker service is closing

Since we introduced the emergency test service the situation has changed significantly.

The crucial need to provide NHS staff and ambulance drivers with a driving test to support the government response to the pandemic has eased.

Public transport is now much more readily available, and people are allowed to share cars with appropriate measures in place, in most of the UK.

The country is going back to work.

To help us return our services to normal, we need to move away from offering tests exclusively to critical workers and reopen our services to the general public.

We will update you again once the date for reopening the online booking service to the general public has been confirmed.

More information

Check GOV.UK for the latest about: