Coronavirus: (COVID 19) Update re: Theory & Driving (4th June 2020)

By Annie | 04/06/2020 | Comments Off on Coronavirus: (COVID 19) Update re: Theory & Driving (4th June 2020)

This is a Coronavirus (COVID-19) update, written on 4th June 2020, to inform you about your driving lessons and test, and your theory test.

Watch my video all about Coronavirus and Driving here:

Theory Tests

Theory Tests in England are cancelled up until and including 7th of June. If you have a theory test booked any time before the 7th of June, then the DVSA will get in touch with you to reschedule. If you’ve got a test booked for after the 7th of June, your theory test is going ahead – at the moment.

Theory tests in Scotland and Wales have been cancelled up until 21st of June. If you are in Scotland or Wales, and you have a test booked before 21st June, then the DVSA will get in touch with you and reschedule your test.

If you are an Essential Key Worker, you can still book and take a theory test. You’ll find a list of what classes as an essential key worker on the Gov.Uk website. You should go to an official website to find out if you are classed as an essential key worker. You can book a test for any date if you are an essential key worker, regardless of Coronavirus and cancellations.  

If you are not an essential key worker, then you cannot book a test a theory test at the moment.

Booking Theory Tests

You can book a theory test if you are not an essential key worker, for any date after the cancellation date. For England, you can book your theory test from the 8th of June, and for Scotland and Wales you can book your theory test from 22nd of June.

This information is correct as of today’s date, 4th of June 2020. 

If you’ve already passed your theory test – your theory certificate will last for two years from the date of passing. This means you must have passed your driving test within two years of passing your theory test.  

If you’re theory test pass certificate expires during coronavirus, the DVSA will not extend it. You will have to book, pay for and retake your theory test.

Driving Lessons

At the current time, you are only allowed to have driving lessons if you are a Critical Key Worker.

To find out if you are classes as a Critical Key Worker, go to https://www.gov.uk/book-theory-test

If you are classed as a Critical Key Worker, and therefore are able to have driving lessons, you can contact a Driving Instructor. Driving Instructors may agree to deliver driving lessons…this will depend on the driving instructor’s circumstances. If an Instructor is in a vulnerable group, or if they’re living with somebody who’s in a vulnerable group, s/he may not want to deliver driving lessons at the moment.

If you are eligible to have driving lessons now, or when your driving lessons commence, your instructor will have steps in place to keep you and your family safe and well. These steps will be made clear to you prior to your lessons commencing.

These steps may include:

  • Texts the day before to ascertain how well you are 
  • Hand washing 
  • Hand gel 
  • Temporary seat covers
  • Face masks
  • Gloves
  • In-car cleaning 
  • Facing forwards during Q&A

Practice Driving Sessions

This is allowed in certain circumstances. You are allowed to practise driving with family or friends as long as:

  • You are from the same household during lockdown
  • You have got a provisional driving licence and current insurance
  • You are driving to a certain location. This means that you Should not be driving around just to simply practise driving. You must use your practise driving session when you are driving somewhere, like to do your weekly shop 

Driving Tests

Driving Tests were cancelled, due to Coronavirus (COVID 19), from the 20th of March 2020, for three months. That takes us up to the 22nd June. Therefore, at the current time, Driving Tests are due to re-start from 23rdJune. 

If you have a driving test booked from the 23rd June onwards, it will not have been cancelled at the current time. Of course, that doesn’t mean it will actually go ahead. The DVSA are constantly assessing the situation and will decide in the days prior to 23rd June.

Due to the constantly changing situation that we’re in, due to coronavirus, the DVSA cannot make decision’s too far in advance.

THINK…Am I Test Ready?

If your test is booked from the 23rd of June onwards, and it is going to go ahead, you need to carefully consider whether you are going to be safe and test ready. If you haven’t seen a driving instructor for many weeks, this may not be the case.

Booking Driving Tests

At the moment you cannot book a Driving Test unless you’re a Critical Key Worker.

You will find a list of what classes as a Critical Key Worker here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-emergency-driving-test

If you are classed as a Critical Key Worker, you can book your driving test.

If you are not classed as a Critical Worker, you cannot book your driving test at this current time. 

If your test has been cancelled due to coronavirus, the DVSA will prioritise re-booking your test, before new tests are booked.

What Can I Do Now?

Although you cannot have driving lessons, or take theory tests or driving tests, you can stay in touch with theory and driving. This will help you when you restart your lessons. 

Theory 

You can make sure that you are fully ready to take your theory test, by the time you are able to take a theory test.

My Online Theory Workshop has sections for all of the theory syllabus including: 

  • Videos
  • Worksheet
  • Facts List
  • Facts Audio
  • Quiz

You will have access to all of the questions that you may be asked on your actual test. 

There’s a section on Test Tactics and Hazard Perception Techniques to help you answer questions and do the hazard perception clips easliy.

The workshop has absolutely everything you need in order to pass your test on your first or your next attempt.

To join the workshop book here: theorytestpractice.online/courses/buy-online-theory-workshop/

Driving

You can prepare for your driving lessons and driving test by joining my Online Driving Workshop.

The workshop includes:

  • Videos
  • Worksheets
  • Quizzes

The workshop has everything you need to know in order to pass your driving test, plus a Bonus Section.

To join the workshop book here: theorytestpractice.online/courses/online-driving-workshops/

Please note that the information provided in this blog is correct at the time of writing it, which is the 4th of June 2020. If you’re reading this blog at any other date, you should check the Gov.Uk website for updated and current information.

I hope you found the information in this blog useful. If you want any further information about how you can use lockdown to prepare for your theory or driving tests, then please get in touch with me and I’ll do my best to help you. 

Ann-Marie Winterburn

Spot On Driving

hello@theorytestpractice.online