Unofficial driving test booking websites: advice for customers

Directgov is the only official driving test booking website.

Other websites offer driving test booking services, but might charge extra administrative fees on top of the Driving Standards Agency’s (DSA) fee. Those websites are not run by or connected to DSA or Directgov.

DSA recommends that all learner drivers book their driving test through the official booking service on Directgov by visiting direct.gov.uk/drivingtest.

If you have used an unofficial website 
DSA gets complaints from customers who have used unofficial booking websites. In most cases these websites are doing nothing illegal. This means that DSA’s powers to respond may be limited.

If you have used an unofficial booking website, you might have seven working days to cancel your order and get all your money back. However, this will depend on the terms and conditions of the website you used.

You can find more information about your consumer rights on Directgov. You can also use template letters to complain to businesses. Each letter includes details of the law that you want the trader to follow.

• Internet, mail order and telephone shopping
• Making a complaint - what to do first
• Create a complaint letter from a template

What DSA is doing about unofficial booking websites 
DSA takes consumer protection very seriously. So, DSA is:

• protecting its trademarks to make sure they are not:
  • used to advertise unofficial booking sites in search engine results
  • used as part of website addresses for unofficial booking websites
• asking the Advertising Standards Authority to make sure unofficial booking websites are following the rules in the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing
• asking local Trading Standards to investigate those unofficial booking websites that appear to be misleading consumers

DSA reminds learner drivers on Facebook

What DSA is doing to promote the official booking service 
DSA makes improvements based on learner drivers’ feedback to promote the official booking service. For example DSA:

• made sure that the official Directgov website pages appear at the top of search engine results where possible
• created videos showing how to use the practical test booking service – videos are being developed for the theory test booking service too
• reminded learner drivers on Twitter and Facebook about using the official booking service on Directgov

What approved driving instructors (ADIs) can do 
DSA is encouraging ADIs to remind their trainees to use the official booking service by visiting direct.gov.uk/drivingtest.

If ADIs run their own websites they can also link to the official booking service. The best links to put on your website are:

• direct.gov.uk/booktheorytest – Book an official DSA driving theory test
• direct.gov.uk/bookpracticaltest – Book an official DSA practical driving test

DVLA reminds motorists of new motor insurance law

The DVLA in conjunction with the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) and the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) are reminding drivers that a new law to be rolled out in late Spring will mean that they must keep their vehicle insured unless they have notified the DVLA that is it is being kept off the road.

Information about the new law is being distributed with all V11 tax renewal forms from March in addition to the guidance and video available now on Directgov.

David Evans, DVLA’s corporate affairs director, said:

“We know that uninsured drivers are a menace on our roads and add around £30 to honest motorists’ premiums.

“It is vitally important that motorists understand the change and how it will impact on them. That is why we have added new information to Directgov which offers clear advice to help motorists understand the new rules.”

Neil Drane, MIB’s head of motor insurance database services said:

“The change in law is a stepping up of enforcement activity, so that not only those vehicles driven without insurance will be caught. Now the registered keeper must make sure that their vehicle is insured all the time. And if it is, then they need not be concerned. The DVLA and MID will be systematically checked, so that the levels of uninsured driving are reduced even further.”

Graeme Trudgill, BIBA’s head of corporate affairs said:

“Continuous Insurance Enforcement will help reduce the £500 million burden on innocent motorists caused by uninsured drivers, vehicle keepers should ensure they stay insured or SORN their vehicle if it is laid up, vehicle keepers can always check at askmid.com or speak to their insurance broker or company if they have any doubt.”

The government drove the UK firmly into the fast lane of the electric and ultra-low emission car revolution today as Ministers unveiled nine trailblazing models that will be eligible for generous grants of up to £5,000.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond and Business Minister Mark Prisk announced the milestone which could make 2011 the year of the electric car for the UK - and revealed five more regions that will be installing local charging points having successfully bid for a share of a £20m fund.

From January, the motoring map of the country will start to be redrawn as government and car industry work in partnership to give drivers a wide choice of clean, green transport.

The first nine cars to become eligible for eco-friendly car grants are: Mitsubishi iMiEV; smart fortwo electric drive; Peugeot iON; Citroen CZero; Nissan Leaf; Tata Vista EV; Toyota Prius Plug-in; Vauxhall Ampera and Chevrolet Volt. More will follow next year.

The grant will be available to motorists across the UK from 1 January 2011, reducing the cost of eligible cars by a quarter, up to a maximum of £5,000.

The government is also encouraging a new network of electric vehicle recharging points in streets, car parks and commercial retail and leisure facilities as driving electric cars becomes a part of everyday life for pioneering British drivers. The successful bidding consortia in this second phase are based in: the Midlands; Greater Manchester; East of England; Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said:

"A few years ago, ultra-low emission cars with mass market appeal appeared just a pipe dream. Now they are a reality and we can have all the convenience of the car without all the carbon that normally goes with it.

"Government action to support affordable vehicles and more local charging points means we are on the threshold of an exciting green revolution - 2011 could be remembered as the year the electric car took off.

"The British public has in the past shown it's ready to embrace new technology and take practical steps to adopt a lifestyle kinder to the environment, so we could really be at the start of something big."

Business Minister Mark Prisk said:

“Today’s news that motorists will be able to choose from at least nine cars under the consumer incentive scheme and that we are expanding the infrastructure for charging electric vehicles will further reinforce the message that the UK is Europe’s leading producer of ultra low carbon vehicles."

Today’s announcement further confirms the UK as a global front runner in the market for ultra-low emission cars and open for business for hi-tech green manufacturing. This builds on Nissan's decision to produce the Leaf in Sunderland and the work the Automotive Council is doing to improve the way government works with industry. 

Consultation on amendments to driver medical standards on eyesight, epilepsy and diabetes

The measures are contained in a consultation on the implementation of European minimum medical standards for drivers. While UK standards must be at least at the level of a minimum standard, the UK is not required to relax existing domestic standards where these are justifiably higher than the EU standards. However, where the Secretary of State’s Medical Advisory Panel has advised that a relaxation in standards is consistent with road safety, the recommendation is that this is adopted as the UK standard. 

Road Safety Minister, Mike Penning, said: 

“Britain has some of the safest roads in the world and licensing rules have an important role in maintaining this position. We must make sure that only those who are safe to drive are allowed on our roads, while at the same time avoiding placing unnecessary restrictions on people’s independence. 

“We have taken expert advice on the latest evidence on eyesight, epilepsy and diabetes and believe these proposals strike the right balance in allowing as many people as possible to drive, without compromising safety. We would welcome views from anyone affected by the changes and will consider all representations before setting out our final decisions.” 

The main aspects of the new standards are: 

Eyesight

Group 1 – Cars and Motorcycles – A reduction in the distance that a number plate can be read from to test visual acuity. Currently, a number plate test is conducted at a distance of 20 metres, this will be reduced to 17.5 metres. 

Group 2 – Buses and Lorries – A change for those who wear spectacles in how they are assessed. The eyesight test will concentrate on vision standards with the driver wearing their glasses. 

Epilepsy 

Group 1 – Cars and Motorcycles – Drivers who only suffer seizures whilst asleep would be considered for a licence after one year instead of the current requirement of three years. 
Drivers who suffer seizures that have no impact on consciousness or the ability to act could, for the first time, be considered for a licence after one year. 

Group 2 – Buses and Lorries – For the first time, there will be a definition of epilepsy. The new EU Directives provide a definition as being “two or more epileptic seizures less than five years apart”. The Secretary of State’s Medical Advisory Panel on neurology is content with this definition for Group 1 drivers. However, the panel recommends that for Group 2 drivers, the UK treats epilepsy as being “two or more epileptic seizures less than ten years apart”. Therefore, for Group 2 drivers the DVLA is proposing to adopt a higher standard than the EU standard. 

Diabetes

Group 1 – Cars and Motorcycles – Under the proposals, licences will not be issued or renewed for drivers with recurrent severe hypoglycaemia and/or impaired hypoglycaemic awareness. 

Group 2 – Buses and Lorries – Drivers who are treated with insulin would be considered for all Group 2 driver licensing, providing strict medical monitoring is met. Currently, Group 2 drivers treated with insulin are restricted to certain categories of vehicle. 

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:

1. Driver licensing rules in the UK are governed by the second European Council Directive on driving licences (91/439/EEC) originally adopted in 1991. The minimum medical standards for the issue of driving licences are detailed in Annex III of the second Directive and the forthcoming third European Directive on driving licences. 

2. Member States may apply stricter standards than those imposed by the EU. 

3. The Secretary of State’s experts on the Honorary Medical Advisory Panels for eyesight, diabetes and epilepsy have considered the medical Directives and how these compare with existing UK standards. 

4. The consultation period will run until 28^th April 2011, and can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/consultations/currentconsultations.aspx

Press enquiries: 

All press enquiries should be directed to: 
DVLA Press Office 
Tel: 0300 123 0791 
Out of Hours: 0300 123 2407 
press.office@dvla.gsi.gov.uk 
www.dft.gov.uk/dvla