Latest DVSA Announcement for Vehicle Training and Tests
1. Working safely during coronavirus
The government has published guidance about working safely during coronavirus. It includes:
Driving lessons local restrictions
England: You should not carry out driving lessons and motorcycle training in England up to and including Wednesday 2 December 2020.
Scotland: Driving lessons can take place in council areas in local COVID protection levels 0 to 3. You must not carry out driving lessons or motorcycle training in council areas in local COVID protection level 4 unless it’s with someone from your household. You must not travel out of a level 4 area to teach somewhere else.
Wales: Driving lessons can take place.
Wear a face covering in Scotland
You and your pupil must wear face coverings during driving lessons and practice sessions.
If you do not wear a face covering, you must have a good reason, for example:
you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability
wearing it would cause you severe distress
you and the person you’re teaching live in the same household
Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.
You can be fined £60 if you do not wear a face covering during a driving lesson in Scotland. This will be reduced to £30 if you pay within 28 days.
2. How theory tests and driving tests work
DVSA has published guidance about what learners should expect when they take theory tests and driving tests.
England: Theory tests are suspended up to and including Wednesday 2 December. Do not travel to Scotland or Wales to take a theory test. You will not be allowed to take it there.
Scotland: Theory tests are taking place in council areas in local COVID protection levels 0 to 3. Theory tests will be suspended in council areas in local COVID protection level 4. You must not travel out of a level 4 area to take your theory test somewhere else.
Wales: Theory tests are taking place.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will contact you if your test is affected by local restrictions and tell you what you need to do.
Keeping you safe at the test centre
In England and Wales, you will be at least 1 metre apart from other people.
In Scotland, you will be at least 2 metres apart from other people.
Safety precautions
To keep you safe, test centres are:
doing extra cleaning
using protective transparent screens at the reception desk
providing hand sanitiser for you to use when you arrive at the test centre, during your test and when you leave
cleaning workstations (including computers and headphones) before every test
Staff will wear a face covering (unless there’s a medical reason that it’s not recommended for them) and gloves.
You have to come into the test centre alone. This is to help with social distancing.
Wearing a face covering
You must bring and wear a face covering for your test, unless you have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:
having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability
wearing it would cause you severe distress
!! Your test will be cancelled if you come for your test without a face covering and you did not say that you could not wear one when you booked it.
Coronavirus: driving tests
England: Driving tests are suspended up to and including Wednesday 2 December. Do not travel to Scotland or Wales to take a driving test. You will not be allowed to take it there.
Scotland: Driving tests are taking place in council areas in local COVID protection levels 0 to 3. Driving tests will be suspended in council areas in local COVID protection level 4. You must not travel out of a level 4 area to take your driving test somewhere else.
Wales: Driving tests are taking place.
Safety precautions
DVSA has introduced safety precautions. These include:
driving examiners wearing face coverings - they might also choose to wear gloves and use disposable seat covers
limiting the number of people arriving for a driving test at the same time
not allowing your driving instructor or supervising driver to sit in the back during your test
Wearing a face covering
You must bring and wear a face covering when you come for your test, unless you have a good reason not to. This includes if:
you have a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability that means you cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering
putting on, wearing or removing a face covering would cause you severe distress
you need to remove it during your test to avoid harm or injury or the risk of harm or injury to yourself or others
If you wear glasses
Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason not to wear a face covering. You should practise driving wearing a face covering before your test to help you prepare.
When you arrange your test
You need to say if you have a good reason not to wear a face covering when you arrange your test.
Your test will be cancelled if you come for your test without a face covering and you did not declare you could not wear one when you arranged your test.
Read the Governments Coronavirus: driver and rider training guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-restarting-driver-and-rider-training-and-tests/coronavirus-restarting-driver-and-rider-training-and-tests
