Making test arrangements with the DSA Driving Standards Agency

Booking the practical test

Before your clients book their test with your approval do make sure they are aware that:

should they suffer any serious relapse in driving standard;
if they do not maintain expected progress due to cancelled driving lessons; or
if they book a test too early you will ask them to postpone it. Reassure them that you will inform them well in time to enable them to have their test fee refunded.

Whose driving school car will they take their test in?

Often clients ask whether the driving licence examiner’s driving school car will be like yours. To allay any worries, inform them well in advance that they will be taking their test in your driving school car.

Making test arrangements with the DSA (Driving Standards Agency)

As an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) you can set up with the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) arrangements regarding your client’s test bookings. For example, if you calculate that you will require at least three hours between one test and the next, the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) will ensure this happens. You can also request that tests do not take place on certain days. This arrangement can only take place, of course, if your client uses your Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) number when making the booking. That is why it is essential this number is used.

Booking the test date

Give your client a selection of test dates that suit you both well in advance. Make sure they understand the days you do not work. Emphasise that they must quote your Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) number when booking their test. Explain the reason why and the consequences of not doing so: if the driving school car is double-booked for tests, the client who did not supply the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) with your Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) number will have their test cancelled. This information should be stated in your terms and conditions and also in the client’s logbook.

Ensuring they have a booked pre-test driving lesson

Make sure your client knows they will require a pre-test driving lesson to iron out any last-minute snags and to settle them down before the test time arrives. You must make them fully aware of the total cost (i.e. one hour for the driving lesson, plus one hour for the test). If there is any lengthy travelling time from their home to the test area, this will also have to be paid for.

Sometimes people quibble about being charged a driving lesson price while they are out on the test. They may ask what you will be doing, sometimes in a slightly sarcastic tone of voice. Tell them you will be in the test centre because you cannot do anything else. If they are even more persistent, ask them how much they think it would cost for them to hire for an hour on a test day a fully fuelled, taxed and insured driving school car with dual controls, mirrors and L plates.

Arranging the day and time of the test

If your client lives a long way from your home or if you do not want to get up too early for the hour’s pre-test driving lesson, then ask them not to book the first test of the day 8.40 a.m.

If the test routes are in areas where school-runs take place, it may be a good idea to advise your client to avoid those times. Even the best test candidates can buckle under an assault of school buses, taxis, aggressively driven 4 × 4s and hordes of half-asleep children walking and cycling blindly across the roads, as well as the usual people going to work.

Knowing when your client’s test is, in plenty of time

Clients should notify you of their test date and time as soon as they book it. Put this in your diary to avoid driving lessons clashing and ask your client to bring the letter of confirmation to the next driving lesson so you can check the details. Look carefully at the appointment letter as soon as you can. Check the details. Once, when a client of ours booked by telephone, the booking clerk misheard the test centre required and instead of booking the test for Dorchester booked it for Doncaster. Could it be your fault for not checking the appointment letter beforehand?

Who should book the test?

Some instructors undertake the bookings for their clients to save any problems. Whether you think this is a part of the service you provide is for you to determine. Personally, we do not think it necessary. Give your clients dates around which to book them and the other information mentioned above. If you do book for them there will be a great deal of unnecessary money going to and from your credit/debit card account, let alone the time you take to book them online or by telephone. You may also have the problem of the shocked client being told by the senior driving licence examiner on the test day that their short-notice test is not showing up on the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) computer. Did the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) book it? Did the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) agent or computer get it wrong? Who knows? Who is the client going to believe and who needs this kind of problem?