Car insurance provider Ageas is predicting a significant shift in how the UK takes its driving tests, as a upcoming DVSA booking overhaul is expected to trigger a surge in “DIY” driving tests.
Under the upcoming DVSA reforms, learners will be responsible for booking their own tests, in an attempt to reduce long waiting times and make the system fairer by stopping third parties from exploiting learners.
However, Ageas predicts this could lead to unexpected consequences surrounding instructor availability, whereby learners grab the first test slot they can find, only to discover their instructor is unavailable.
So, rather than forfeit their appointment, an increasing number may opt to take their test in their own vehicle instead
“We’re already seeing a shift in behaviour,” says Alan MacEwan, Chief Customer and Operations Officer, at Ageas UK. “Our internal data shows an increase in learners seeking expert guidance on taking the test in their own vehicle. Once the new rules are implemented, the own-car test could well to move from a plan B to the primary strategy for thousands of drivers who don’t want to risk losing a hard-to-find test slot due to a lack of instructor availability.”
While the familiarity of your own car can be beneficial when taking your test, it comes with its own risks. Analysis of data from Darlington Driving Test Centre revealed that tests taken in instructor-led vehicles had a higher pass rate (58%) compared to those taken in private cars (45%).
As well as a knock to your confidence, failing a driving test has other implications, including a cost of up to £75 to book another test and a potential wait of up to 6 months or more for a new appointment. With this in mind, Ageas has provided a five-point checklist for learners to make sure their car is test-ready.
- Documentation: Your car must be taxed, with a learner driver insurance policy in place and a valid MOT certificate if the vehicle is three years or older. Also, if you pass your test and want to drive your car home afterwards, you’ll need to take out a new insurance policy as a qualified driver because your learner driver policy will now be invalid.
- Additional Mirror: You must have an extra interior rear-view mirror in place for the examiner to use.
- Dashboard Health: You can’t have any dashboard warning lights showing, for example the airbag warning light.
- Tyre Tread: Your car must have no damage to the tyres, which must meet the legal tread depth.
- Speedometer: Your car must have an mph speedometer and be able to reach at least 62mph.
Ageas has also shared a list of popular “first cars” which are actually prohibited from being used in practical tests due to visibility issues for the examiner. These include the following:
- BMW 218 convertible
- BMW Mini convertible
- Ford KA convertible
- Smart Fortwo (2-door)
- Toyota iQ
- VW Beetle convertible
