AUTOMATICALLY SHAMROCK DRIVING SCHOOL
PASS QUICKLY, DRIVE SAFELY!
WHAT DOES THE PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST INVOLVE?
2026 DRIVING TEST BOOKING CHANGES
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have announced the following driving test booking changes:
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From 31st March 2026 - Only 2 changes per booking to the driving test date, time or location will be allowed. Otherwise it will be necessary to cancel and rebook. This excludes changes made by DVSA.
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From 12th May 2026 - Only driving test candidates can book and manage, including swap, driving tests. It will be illegal for third parties to do so.
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If DVSA detect automated tools (e.g. cancellation finders) have been used in making test bookings, they will flag the driving licence number and the driving test candidate will only be able to manage their driving test booking going forward by phone with DVSA.
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Tests can only be swapped by the driving test candidates involved by way of a three way phone call with DVSA involving both driving test candidates, who must be available at the same time. There is no need to share personal details (e.g. name, address, email address, telephone number, driving licence number) with the other test candidate and only the two test Booking Reference Numbers are needed to initiate the swap with DVSA. DVSA require that both driving test candidates must have at least one of their 2 allowed changes available, weekday tests can only be swapped with weekday tests and from 9th June 2026 (see below) tests can only be swapped at the same Driving Test Centre (DTC) or to one of the three nearby DTCs.
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When arranging the call to DVSA, they are open 8am-6pm Monday to Friday. The DVSA number to call is 0300 200 1122 and they will normally ask for at least two, probably all, out of your provisional driving licence number, both driving test booking reference numbers (to also identify the other candidate to contact) and your theory test pass certificate number. They will often also request your full name as it appears on the licence, full postal address, current test date, time and centre for both tests and your contact phone number for confirmation. Both candidates must consent to the swap so, after the first call, DVSA will phone the other candidate separately on the number recorded against their booking on the DVSA system. Therefore, It is vital both candidates have the correct phone number recorded on their DVSA bookings. Once DVSA have verified both sets of details, they can manually swap the appointments on their system. The swap counts as one of both candidate’s 2 allowed changes.
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Driving instructors may assist by matching each other's pupils to facilitate test swaps.
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If matches involve Automatically Shamrock Driving School, individual pupils will be responsible for ensuring they comply with DVSA requirements above together with agreeing between each other the date, time for and which of them will make the initial call to DVSA along with making themselves available to make and take the DVSA phone call. in case of queues and to allow DVSA security checks, it is recommended at least half an hour be allowed after the agreed call time to undertake the swap. To help ensure privacy and security, it is suggested pupils use Apps such as Signal (click here) and, where possible, consider using a pseudonym for their Name and any Username together with ensuring their phone number is visible to and searchable by nobody. If Automatically Shamrock Driving School match a pupil with another driving instructor's pupil, they may be willing, at their discretion, to exchange pupil's' Signal Username and test Booking Reference Numbers via the other driving instructor, but it is the sole responsibility of the pupils involved to make and adhere to arrangements required by DVSA to undertake the swap.
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There are websites (e.g. Swappy - see Links) offering portals to find a swap partner.
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Apart from fees to use any legitimate websites, be aware of anyone asking for payment to facilitate a swap (e.g. on social media), since it may be a scam (e.g. they don't have a test booked). There is no need to share sensitive or personal information (e.g. name, address, email address, phone number, driving licence number, etc.) to facilitate a test swap. All that needs identifying is the test location, date and time together with your preferred test centre, if it's one of the other 3 nearby options, along with exchanging each other's test booking reference number once a swap is agreed.
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From 9th June 2026 - Any changes to the DTC at which a test is to be taken will be limited to nearby DTCs. For Chippenham tests these are either Trowbridge, Bristol Kingswood or Swindon. For Trowbridge tests these are either Chippenham, Bristol Kingswood or Salisbury.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Practical Driving Test is more demanding than it used to be and a high standard of driving is required. The best way to learn to drive is to take regular driving lessons tailored to your individual needs and covering the DVSA syllabus with a professional DVSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), such as Automatically Shamrock Driving School, together with as much private practice as possible once it's safe for you to do so. Everyone's different, so it 's impossible to say how many driving lessons you will need but it would not be unreasonable to expect to take between 40 and 45 hours of professional driving lessons.
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE "BIG DAY"?
Shamrock Driving School use Chippenham and Trowbridge DVSA Driving Test Centres. On the "big day" pupils need to take their Plastic Photocard Provisional Driving Licence (if you don't have a photo card licence you need to take your paper licence and a valid passport) and it's advisable to take the DVSA Theory Test Pass Certificate / Letter along with the DVSA Practical Test appointment confirmation e-mail. On arrival at the Driving Test Centre, after reversing the driving school car into a parking bay in the car park, the pupil and their instructor sit in the Driving Test Centre waiting room.
The DVSA Driving Examiner will introduce themselves and ask the pupil to sign a residency and insurance declaration before asking them to take an eyesight test by reading a car number plate in the car park outside the test centre. The Examiner will then ask the pupil one "Tell Me" question regarding basic car maintenance and the use of controls (e.g. how check the oil, how check the brakes are working, etc). Click on the button below to study the "Show Me / Tell Me" questions and answers tailored to the Automatically Shamrock Driving School car.
The practical driving part of the test lasts between 37-40 minutes using a variety of roads, including national speed limit roads. The pupil will be required to undertake one reversing manoeuvre chosen from pulling in on the right hand side of the road and reversing back two car lengths before moving off, reverse park behind a parked car, pulling front first into a parking bay and then reversing out and reverse park into a parking bay. The pupil may additionally be asked to undertake an emergency stop (included in one in seven driving tests). The Examiner will ask the pupil one "Show Me" question regarding the use of controls (e.g. operate windscreen washers and wipers, sound the horn, etc). See our "Show Me / Tell Me" video above. The test will include an "independent driving" element where the pupil will be asked to drive for about 20 minutes, 4 out of 5 tests will require following directions from a sat nav and 1 out of 5 tests will require following traffic signs. Other activities, including the reversing manoeuvre and undertaking the "Show Me" question may be undertaken during the independent drive.
To pass the practical driving test the pupil must make no more than 15 Driving Faults (e.g. less than adequate observation during manoeuvres, briefly exceeding the speed limit, not undertaking a mirror check before reducing speed on approach to a bend, etc.). One or more Serious Fault (e.g. cutting a corner causing a car to slow down, excessive speeding, loss of control during manoeuvres, signalling to move off with a car approaching close behind, etc.) or Dangerous Fault (e.g. pulling out in front of a car at a junction causing them to stop) will result in a fail.
At the end of the test the DVSA Driving Examiner will give the pupil their result and, in the unfortunate event that they have not been successful, they will give a debrief as to why and the pupil will have to wait 10 working days before they can take another practical driving test. When you pass the DVSA Driving Examiner will normally give you a pass certificate enabling you to drive unaccompanied while they send your licence to DVLA who will send you a full licence within about 3 weeks! BY PASSING YOUR TEST IN AN AUTOMATIC CAR, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE A CATEGORY B VEHICLE BUT ONLY AN AUTOMATIC ONE.
For information on how to book or amend your practical driving test go to the DVSA section of our Links page!
Watch an official DVSA video about what happens during the practical driving test below. For information on how to book or amend your practical driving test go to the DVSA section of our Links page!
READY TO GET YOUR DRIVING LICENCE AND GET ON THE ROAD?
For full details of how we can help you to succeed PHONE 01225 700287 or 07456897087 or E-MAIL by clicking on the button below and get in touch with Automatically Shamrock Driving School!
The national average practical driving test pass rate is about 49%, so make sure that you take regular driving lessons tailored to your individual needs and covering the DVSA driving lesson syllabus with a professional DVSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) at Automatically Shamrock Driving School so you maximise your chances of passing first time!
Using realistic Mock Driving Tests Automatically Shamrock Driving School will ensure you are ready and prepared for your DVSA Practical Driving Test!