Swapping your driving test with another learner: how it works

You can swap your car driving test with another learner driver — exchanging your existing bookings with each other — but both of you must call DVSA separately on the same day. If the second learner does not call by the end of that day, the swap request expires, DVSA will not notify the first learner, and the whole process has to start again.

The rule in full

Swapping is different from changing your test. Changing means finding a new date, time or centre for yourself online. Swapping means you and another learner exchange the bookings you already hold. A swap counts as one of the two changes you are allowed to make to your test, and you cannot swap a test for someone else.

Who can swap. You can only swap your own car driving test with another learner driver, and you must both want to swap to each other's exact test date, time and test centre.

Changes left. You both need at least one of your two allowed changes available. You cannot swap if either of you has already used both changes.

Timing. You must request the swap at least 10 full working days before the earlier of the two tests. Monday to Saturday count as working days; Sundays and public holidays do not.

Location. You can only swap with a learner whose test is booked at the same test centre as yours, one of the three nearest test centres to yours, or the test centre you first booked at. The location rule must be met for both of you.

Test type. You can only swap with a learner who has the same type of test booking as you. Weekday tests can only swap with weekday tests, evening, weekend and bank holiday tests only with the same, and likewise for tests given extra time and for extended tests for disqualified drivers. The GOV.UK guidance lists the matching fees for each type; check the page itself for the current figures before you call.

Instructors first. Before making the swap, both of you should check with your driving instructors that they agree you will be ready on the date you are swapping to, and that they will be available to take you to the test at that date, time and centre.

How the calls work

You can only swap by phone. You cannot do it online, by email or by webchat.

Learner 1 calls first. Learner 1 calls DVSA, completes security checks, agrees to a legal declaration, gives DVSA the test details for both tests including the other learner's booking reference number, and DVSA records the swap request.

Learner 2 calls the same day. Learner 2 must call on the same day as learner 1. DVSA recommends learner 2 calls by no later than 4pm to leave enough time to complete the swap, and warns that if learner 2 calls after 4pm there may not be time to finish that day. Learner 2 goes through the same security checks and declaration, gives the test details for both tests, and DVSA completes the swap.

If the request expires. If learner 2 has not called by the end of the day, the swap request expires. DVSA will not notify learner 1 that learner 2 did not call — it is your responsibility to agree with each other whether and when you will each call. If a request expires, you start again from learner 1's call.

Other ways a swap fails. DVSA will not complete the swap if either of you fails the security checks, does not agree to the legal declaration, does not agree for the swap to go ahead, or has already used both allowed changes. It also cannot complete the swap if learner 2 does not call before expiry, either test is changed after learner 1's call, or the details given on the two calls do not match. In those cases both driving tests stay exactly as they were.

Withdrawing or changing your mind. If learner 1 calls again before learner 2 has completed their call and asks to swap with a different learner, that request will be declined — the existing request must be completed or allowed to expire first. Learner 1 can also call DVSA again to withdraw consent after the first call.

What you need before you call. Your own driving licence number, your own booking reference number, the other learner's booking reference number, the date, time and test centre of both tests, details of any driving tests you have taken before, and the details of the payment card you used to book (not needed if your instructor booked the test for you before the rules changed on 12 May 2026). DVSA will never ask you for your payment card's full number or security code, and you should never give your driving licence number, theory test pass certificate number, address, phone number, email address or payment card details to another learner driver.

After the swap. Once completed, you will have the other learner's original date, time and test centre and they will have yours, both booking records will be updated, and you will each receive an email confirming the new booking details. You keep your booking reference number, your payment details, and any special requirements you added.

DVSA contact (from the guidance page). DVSA customer services, telephone 0300 200 1122 (select option 2), Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

What to avoid

Do not agree a swap and leave the second call to chance — the expiry trap is the whole story. Agree the day and the order in advance, get learner 2's call in well before 4pm, and do not change either test after learner 1 has called, or the request dies. And never hand your personal booking details to a stranger in order to arrange a swap: DVSA's own guidance warns against exactly that.

Sources

• GOV.UK, "Swapping your driving test with another learner driver", https://www.gov.uk/guidance/swapping-your-driving-test-with-another-learner-driver — checked 31 October 2026 (guidance updated 1 October 2026 per the DVSA activity feed). Every rule, deadline and contact detail above comes from this page.

Note on dating: press coverage describes a same-day-call change taking effect on 1 October 2026. This post does not rely on press coverage for any claim; the effective-date claim is deliberately omitted because the GOV.UK page itself, as fetched, does not state it. The rules described are the current published rules as checked on 31 October 2026.