New rules brought in today now mean that it will be possible only for learner drivers to book their own driving tests, as opposed to their driving instructors.
The rule is part of a clampdown on third-party services exploiting the booking system, which has contributed to a huge backlog of driving tests.
The new rules also make it illegal for instructors to cancel or manage any aspect of booking a test for their students.
It follows changes made to the test booking system two months ago, in which only two changes to a test booking will now be allowed before it is cancelled outright. The previous number of allowed changes was six.
These changes can range from date, time or location changes, but today’s rules will now mean that driving hopefuls will need to be more careful and selective with when and where they are booking a test.
Today’s rules are the second phase of what is set to be a spring of change for learner drivers. From 9 June, driving hopefuls will only be able to move their test to any of the three test centres closest to them, whereas they previously had the choice of selecting any location.