DVSA services: Update on industrial action

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union has announced that its members will take part in discontinuous strike action in March.

The DVSA are unable to confirm what level of impact this action might have on our services. Not all DVSA staff are PCS members, and even if they are, they might choose not to go on strike. So, they will not know which staff are participating in strike action until it takes place.

Driving test centres

PCS has told DVSA the strike action will affect driving examiners employed at a number of driving test centres. You can find a list of affected driving test centres on GOV.UK.

Tests might also be affected at other driving test centres that are not listed. DVSA will not know this until the strike action takes place.

If your pupil has booked a test themselves

The DVSA are contacting all pupils who have a test booked on one of the strike dates in an affected region. This will tell them that they them should attend their test as planned unless DVSA contacts them. Or they can also choose to change the date of their test if they want to.

If you have booked a test for your pupil

Talk to your pupil to tell them that their test may be affected by the strike action.

If they want you to, you can change the date of their test now through your normal online booking system. You must give at least 3 clear working days’ notice to change the test date, or you’ll have to pay again.

If they do not want to change the date, they should turn up for their appointment as planned. If the test cannot go ahead, the test will be rescheduled for the first available date and they’ll be able to claim out-of-pocket expenses. They must have turned up for their test to be able to do this.

Rescheduling some tests in advance

To help minimise the impact of the strike action the DVSA are rescheduling some tests in advance.

They will email candidates who this will affect ahead of the strike action. If you have booked a test for your pupil that is affected and you receive the message, you must let them know.

Customer service centre

The customer service centre might be affected by the strike action and it may take longer than usual to answer your query. The customer service centre will be open from 8am to 4pm on Wednesday 15 March 2023.

Keep checking for updates

You can find the latest information about the driving examiner strike on GOV.UK. Please also keep checking your emails.