Urgent driving tests changes will see less emergency stops for learners

During your driving test, you are always told to ‘expect the unexpected’. Now in a bid to clear the huge waiting list for the big day, some pretty fundamental tweaks to the test have been announced.

Securing a valuable driving tests slot has become like scoring Glastonbury tickets.

So learner drivers are rightly nervous that if they have to retake, the average wait times are more than 20 weeks.

In a bid to cut that down, there are now three key changes coming to the practical car driving test itself after the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) ran a trial.

Here are the changes, which will become a permanent part of the test from November 24, 2025:

• The number of stops during a test will be reduced from four to three
• Less frequent emergency stop exercises in tests are reduced from 1 in 3 to 1 in 7
• More flexibility during the independent driving section will run for the full duration of the test, which can be following a sat nav, traffic signs or both

The changes won’t affect learners and the test will still cover all essential skills needed to drive safely and independently, the DVSA insists.

The government also announced last week that military driving examiners will be deployed to test centers to add an extra 6,500 test slots, and measures to stop bots and middlemen from taking up and reselling tests.

Why is the driving test changing?

Amanda Lane, DVSA head of driver testing and driver training policy, told Metro:  ‘Following the success of the recent trial, we’re introducing some subtle but meaningful changes to the driving test to better prepare learners for a lifetime of safe driving.    

‘High speed roads, including those in rural areas, are among the most treacherous for novice drivers.   

‘To keep all road users safe, it’s crucial that the practical driving test assesses learners on the skills required to drive in the real world.’

Road safety advocate and driving instructor Sanjib Bhattacharjee largely welcomed the upcoming tweaks, but he raised concerns over the reduced emergency stops.

He told Metro: ‘Reducing the number of stops streamlines the test, while extending independent driving better reflects the challenges of everyday journeys.

‘Learners will gain a more authentic experience of managing routes independently, and instructors are already preparing them for sat nav use and faster roads. For some, it may feel daunting to carry out independent driving for the full duration rather than the current 20 minutes, but with proper guidance this will build confidence and demonstrate their ability to drive safely and independently.’

He continued: ‘If time is the issue, I would suggest reducing the number of normal stops further—from three down to two—so that the emergency stop remains a consistent part of the test.

‘As a Teacher Trainer and ADI Mentor, I have noticed that even many years‑experienced drivers are not always able to stop a car safely with full control when observed in training. I am pleased that my BBC mantra (Brake Before Clutch) continues to prove useful for learners and future driving instructors alike.

‘Knowing how to perform the emergency stop correctly can save lives in real-world situations.’

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