The PCS union has launched a nationwide strike over pay, pensions, jobs, and redundancy terms, putting driving tests across the UK at risk of disruption.
Strike action could affect a wide range of practical driving tests, including car driving tests, motorcycle tests, HGV, bus, coach, and minibus (vocational) tests, tractor and specialist vehicle tests, Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) Part 2 and Part 3 tests, ADI standards checks, and moped and motorcycle compulsory basic training (CBT) checks. However, the strike will not impact the training courses themselves or theory tests.
If your driving test is booked through a private provider, you are not expected to be affected. This includes Driver CPC Part 3a off-road exercise tests and Driver CPC Part 4 practical demonstration tests.
The PCS union has notified the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) about which examiners at specific test centres will participate in the strike. The strikes will take place on various dates and locations across Great Britain, with disruptions potentially extending beyond the listed centres.
Major affected regions and test centres include:
- London & South-East England: Ashford, Aylesbury, Banbury, Basingstoke, Belvedere, Bletchley, Burgess Hill, Canterbury, Chertsey, Chichester, Crawley, Eastbourne, Enfield, Erith, Farnborough, Folkestone, Gillingham, Greenford, Guildford, Hastings, Hendon, Herne Bay, Isleworth, Lancing, Maidstone, Mitcham, Newbury, Oxford (Cowley), Portsmouth, Reading, Redhill Aerodrome, Southampton, Tottenham, and more.
- South-West England & Wales: Abergavenny, Aberystwyth, Bangor, Barnstaple, Bodmin, Bridgend, Bristol, Caernarfon, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Dorchester, Exeter, Gloucester, Llanelli, Newport, Plymouth, Swansea, Taunton, Wrexham, Yeovil, and others.
- East of England, Midlands & Parts of London: Ashfield, Barking, Barnet, Basildon, Birmingham, Boston, Cambridge, Chesterfield, Coventry, Derby, Dudley, Ipswich, Leicester, Loughborough, Northampton, Nottingham, Peterborough, Stafford, Stoke on Trent, Watford, Wolverhampton, Worcester, and more.
- North-West England, Yorkshire & Humber: Atherton, Barnsley, Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Bradford, Carlisle, Chester, Doncaster, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Sheffield, York, and others.
- North-East England & Scotland: Aberdeen, Airdrie, Ayr, Bishopbriggs, Blyth, Darlington, Dundee, Edinburgh, Gateshead, Glasgow, Greenock, Hamilton, Hartlepool, Inverness, Kilmarnock, Middlesbrough, Paisley, Perth, Stirling, Sunderland, and more.
If you want to avoid any inconvenience, it is advisable to change your driving test date online as soon as possible. You must provide at least 3 clear working days’ notice to avoid losing your fee.
If your test is scheduled on a strike day, attend as planned unless the DVSA contacts you to cancel. The DVSA will notify candidates about instructor tests such as ADI Part 2 (driving ability), ADI Part 3 (instructional ability), and ADI standards checks.
Missing your test without notice will result in the loss of your fee and you will need to rebook at your own expense.
If your test is cancelled due to the strikes, the DVSA will automatically rebook your appointment and send new details within 5 to 10 working days. There is no need to contact the DVSA. You may also claim out-of-pocket expenses if you attended a test that was cancelled. For motorcycle or vocational tests booked by a trainer, any refund will be issued to the trainer, who will arrange your new test.
To claim expenses, complete the official application for refunding out-of-pocket expenses, ensuring you attended the test on the strike day.
The DVSA apologises for the disruption caused and thanks everyone for their patience during this period.
Originally published by UKNIP.
