AS industrial action by examiners is ongoing, there could possibly be n effect on the test date for your Intensive Driving Course
Advice to driving test candidates
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (
DVSA) is doing all it can to make sure that tests go ahead as planned.
Not all examiners are union members, and
DVSA expects most driving test centres to operate as normal. You should turn up for your test as planned.
Changing your driving test date
You can
change your test to another date if you want to.
You must give at least 3 clear working days’ notice to change your test date or you’ll have to pay again.
If your driving test is cancelled
DVSA will book a new test appointment for you automatically if there’s no examiner available for your test.
You’ll be rebooked for the earliest available date, and
DVSA will send you the details of the new appointment.
Out-of-pocket expenses
You can
claim out-of-pocket expenses
if your test is cancelled, but you must have turned up for your test to
be able to do this. If you don’t turn up, you’ll have to rebook your
own test and won’t be able to claim expenses.
Theory tests
Theory tests aren’t affected by the strike action and will be taking place as planned.
Vehicle examiner strike action
Some vehicle examiners who are members of the
PCS union are planning to take strike action at the same time as driving examiners, as listed in the table above.
DVSA is doing everything it can to make sure that vehicle tests will go ahead as planned.
You should follow the usual process and contact your local
DVSA network manager if your vehicle examiner doesn’t arrive at your authorised testing facility on the day.
Minimising disruption to customers
Paul Satoor,
DVSA’s Interim Chief Executive, said:
We’re doing everything we can to minimise any disruption to customers and we apologise for any inconvenience.
Staff signed up to a new standard employment contract in April 2014
in exchange for a lump-sum payment and a 3-year pay deal. This was
agreed with the trade unions, and applies to all staff in the Department
for Transport and motoring agencies. The pay deal included transitional
arrangements that came to an end on 1 November 2015.
It’s disappointing that the trade unions have now chosen to oppose the contract they agreed in 2014.
