Driving test cancellations leaving learners stressed and disappointed
21/04/2026
The DVSA say they are working hard to restore testing capacity
Learner drivers are being left stressed and disappointed as a result of cancelled driving tests due to a lack of testing capacity at Banbury Driving Test Centre.
The situation is also leaving the town’s driving instructors out of pocket.
The Banbury Association of Driving Instructors (BADI) say a “challenging” situation has developed over the last year with a number of examiners not being available to take tests. It’s a problem they feel has worsened in recent months.
Robert Wingrove is the Chairman of Banbury Association of Driving Instructors. He said: “For our students, test day can be a life changing event and the preparation and build up to the big day can be quite stressful, in fact it’s up there with getting married, results day and even buying your first home. So, to then have it cancelled and set back by up to 3 months can be heartbreaking and usually it’s their instructor that bears the brunt of their upset and frustration!
“For the instructor, they lose out financially. Generally speaking, a 2 hour slot is allocated for each test, only for it to be cancelled which leaves an unpaid gap in their diary that they can’t fill. The student then cancels further lessons, because they feel they are test ready and understandably, don’t want to ‘waste’ any more money, which leaves the instructor with an increasing list of students who are test ready ‘loitering’ on their books, that should have passed and moved on with their lives.”
Mr Wingrove added that members of BADI appreciate tests are only cancelled as a last resort, but the impact it has on a student can be catastrophic.
Banbury Driving Test Centre is operated by the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency. A spokesperson told Banbury FM: “We apologise to those learner drivers who have had their practical driving test cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
“We are working hard to restore testing capacity at Banbury Driving Test Centre.
“Learner drivers whose tests have been cancelled will be contacted to have their test rearranged at the earliest opportunity.”
Car practical test waiting times remain at a high level due to a sustained increase in demand and reduced confidence in test availability. This has resulted in a sustained change in booking behaviour.
The DVSA is introducing changes to the way driving tests are booked, aiming to make the process fairer whilst clamping down on businesses that resell tests and inflated prices. Since March 31 only 2 changes can be made to a booking. From May 12 only learners are allowed to book a practical car driving test and make changes to their own booking and from June 9 learners can move their booked test, but only to a nearby centre.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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