DVSA services: Update on industrial action

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union has announced that its members have been asked to take national strike action on 28 April. This has changed from just being a regional strike day in London, south-east England, south-wet England and Wales.

Prospect Union are also asking members to strike on 10 May and 7 June. However, we do not expect this to have any additional impact on driver, rider and instructor testing services.

You can find the latest information about the driving, rider and instructor examiner strike on GOV.UK.

We 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, we will not know which staff are participating in strike action until it takes place. 

If your pupil has booked a test themselves

We’re contacting all pupils who have a test booked on 28 April. This will tell them that they 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 we are rescheduling some tests in advance.  

We 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

Our 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 throughout March and April. 

Keep checking for updates

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

Comments

Leave a Reply