DSA Stop Issuing "Proper" Theory Test Pass Certificates

Theory Test pass certificates have been scrapped.

From 01 April 2008 the DSA stopped issuing separate Theory Test certificates. They now merely print the test pass number on the bottom of the computer generated results page that the test centre staff give to Theory Test candidates before they leave the test centre.












The Theory Test pass certificate used to look OK. It looked like a "proper" certificate and for many people gaining a pass and having a certificate to mark their achievement was tangible evidence that they'd succeeded and was rightly something for them to be proud of.

The Theory Test requires study and self-motivation. The test isn't so simple and straightforward that "everyone passes first time" - far from it, many people fail - so why does a Government agency treat laudable success with what amounts to derision?

This time last year it cost £21.50 to take the Theory Test. This increased to £28.50 in September 2007 and on 01 April 2008, a mere seven months later, the price increased again, this time to £30.00.

An increase of £8.50 - 39.5% over the course of a year. That's a big increase.

One can only assume that the "proper" Theory Test pass certificate has been abandoned in a cost-cutting measure...I would say perhaps that's fair enough, after all thrift is a virtue - if it weren't for the recent massive increases in the test fee...

How can they justify charging people more but giving them less?

It smacks of penny-pinching in the worst possible way...

Your Driving Licence - Look After It!

I had a phone call today from someone saying she'd lost the "letter" that came with her driving licence and was it important...closer questioning revealed that she had lost the paper part of her licence....this is bad...this is not something you want to do...no, really, I'm not joking...

Those of us who deal with learner drivers on a daily basis have come across this time and time again. People (especially teenagers) get their provisional driving licence and eagerly grab the plastic photocard bit for use as ID to get into pubs, clubs etc and ignore the boring paper bit it's stuck too...BAD MOVE...THE PAPER BIT IS IMPORTANT SO DON'T LOSE IT, THROW IT AWAY OR DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN PUT IT SOMEWHERE VERY SAFE...

Why?

I'll tell you why...

Both the photocard and paper counterpart constitute your driving licence and they should ideally be kept together.

You should take good care of your driving licence as it is an important document and is widely acceptable as proof of identity - losing or throwing away the paper part of your driving licence could easily leave you vulnerable to identity fraud...

YOU MUST PRODUCE BOTH THE PAPER AND PHOTOCARD PARTS OF YOUR DRIVING LICENCE WHEN YOU TAKE BOTH THE THEORY AND PRACTICAL DRIVING TESTS - IF YOU DO NOT PRODUCE BOTH PARTS OF YOUR LICENCE YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE EITHER TEST AND YOU WILL LOSE THE FEE YOU HAVE PAID FOR THE TEST.

You must replace your driving licence if it has been lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed.

You must also replace your whole licence if you've lost either the paper counterpart or the photocard.

You can apply for a replacement driving licence online, by telephone or by post.

Fee For A Replacement Driving Licence
The fee for a duplicate driving licence is £17.50


How To Apply For A Replacement Driving Licence
The DVLA accepts the following forms of payment for online or phone applications; Visa, Eurocard, Mastercard and Maestro.

Apply for a replacement driving licence online

Telephone - 0870 240 0009 (Monday to Friday 8.00 am - 8.30 pm or Saturday 8.00 am - 5.30 pm)


For full details of how to apply for a replacement driving licence, please see DirectGov-Duplicate driving licence, replacing if lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed


You must also report any changes affecting your driving licence to the DVLA such as change of address, change of name etc - for more details, please see DirectGov - Change of name and address on your driving licence

Driving Instructor Testing (check tests)

A couple of days ago someone found one of my websites using the search term "how often do driving instructors get tested ". I do give the answer there, but it's somewhat buried in a mass of other information and having looked round the internet, there seems to be a lack of information that answers that question properly. Hopefully this will help the next person wanting to know :)

Once the third and final part of the Approved Driving Instructor qualifying exams is successfully passed you must pay the registration fee (currently £300.00) and apply to join the Driving Standards Agency Register of Approved Driving Instructors . Your registration will last four years, then you will have to pay again.

In that four year period you will also have to undergo at least one "check-test" on the quality of your instruction. This will be performed by a senior grade driving examiner (SEADI) and will consist of the SEADI either observing you during a lesson with a pupil, or, if you prefer, the SEADI can "role-play" the part of a pupil for you to teach (similar to the Part Three test).

The first check test is often referred to an an "educational" check test and is usually carried out roughly 6 months or so after you qualify.

You will have to undergo periodic check-tests as long as you are a registered ADI. The frequency between check-tests depends on what grade you achieved on the previous check-test - generally speaking, the higher the grade achieved, the longer the interval between checks. You must however, achieve a grade 4 or above.

If you don't get a standard grade 4 at your check-test, then you will be asked to take another check-test within a certain time limit. These are:
* grade 3 - further check-test with six months
* grade 2 - further check-test within two months
* grade 1 - further check-test within a month

If you're given a grade 1 after three check-tests, you will be formally told that you will be struck off the ADI Register.

Beware of unlicenced driving instructors - what to look out for...

On 26 February 2008, the BBC programme "The One Show" highlighted the fact that there is a growing problem with unlicenced instructors giving driving tuition illegally. These instructors are more often than not, untrained and their vehicles are frequently uninsured for the purposes of driving tuition which could mean serious consequences in the event of an accident...

To read a synopsis of the programme and to see an online video of the report featured on the show please click the following link - BBC - The One Show - Driving Instructors.

A driving instructor MUST have their name entered on the register of driving instructors held by the Driving Standards Agency. It is illegal for anyone other than a DSA licenced driving instructor to give driving instruction in exchange for money.

A fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) must display their licence (green octagon) on the windscreen of his/her tuition vehicle at all times when giving driving tuition in exchange for payment.

If the instructor is a trainee (Potential Driving Instructor/PDI), they must display their licence (pink triangle) on the windscreen of his/her tuition vehicle at all times when giving driving tuition in exchange for payment.

IF THERE'S NO LICENCE DISPLAYED ASK TO SEE IT - the instructor may simply have forgotten to stick it back on the windscreen after washing the car...or it may mean that the person you are paying to teach you is acting illegally...

You can check if someone offering driving tuition is registered at the ADI branch of the Driving Standards Agency:
Email: ADIReg@dsa.gsi.gov.uk
Phone: 0115 901 2618

Increase in cost of UK provisional driving licence and theory and practical driving test fees

On 01 April 2008 in what appears to be a rather unfunny April Fool's Day joke, the cost of a provisional driving licence and the fees for both the Theory and Practical tests increased.


The cost of a provisional driving licence is now £50.00. This time last year it was £38.00. It went up to £45.00 in May 2007. An increase of 31.5% in a year.


The Theory Test fee is now £30.00. This time last year it was £21.50. It increased to £28.50 in September 2007. An increase of 39.5% in a year.


The Practical Test fee for cars is now £56.50 (daytimes) / £67.00 (evenings & weekends). Prior to 01 April it was £48.50 (daytimes) / £58.00 (evenings & weekends). An increase of 16.5%/15.5% in a year.


Massive increases...well above the rate of inflation (around 2.5%), but the customer has no alternative but to pay if they want to drive legally.


Value for money?


Has the service improved?


How are increases of this size justified?


Beats me...