Strike action is continuing to disrupt key services as trade unions walk out in disputes over pay and working conditions amid the cost of living crisis
Walkouts have affected everything from rail services and Royal Mail deliveries to NHS nurses, ambulance staff and teachers this year.
Driving examiners represented by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are launching fresh action in March that will disrupt people’s tests.
The walkout is part of national industrial action by PCS over pay, pensions, jobs and redundancy terms. Here is everything you need to know.
When are driving examiners striking?
Driving examiners are striking over 11 days in March. There is one day of national action on Wednesday 15 March, while the other strikes are regional.
Here is the full schedule:
- Monday 6 March and Tuesday 7 March – London and south-east England
- Thursday 9 March and Friday 10 March – South-west England and Wales
- Wednesday 15 March – across Great Britain
- Monday 20 March and Tuesday 21 March – East of England, East Midlands, West Midlands and parts of London
- Thursday 23 March and Friday 24 March – North-west England and Yorkshire and the Humber
- Monday 27 March and Tuesday 28 March – North-east England and Scotland
The strike action may affect:
- Car driving tests
- Motorcycle tests
- Lorry, bus, coach and minibus driving tests (these are known as vocational tests)
- Tractor or specialist vehicle driving tests
- Approved driving instructor (ADI) part 2 (driving ability) or part 3 (instructional ability) tests
- ADI standards checks
- Moped and motorcycle compulsory basic training (CBT) checks – but not the training courses themselves
Theory tests will not be affected.
You can find a full list of the testing centres affected by the strike here.
More on Strikes
How do you change a driving test?
You should go to your driving test appointment as planned if it’s on the date of strike action, unless the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) contacts you to tell you not to go. You will lose your fee for the test if you do not go for your appointment, and you’ll have to rebook your test yourself.
DVSA will automatically rebook your driving test for you if it cannot go ahead because of the strike action.
You will be sent the new details within five to 10 working days. You do not need to contact DVSA.
If you want to change the date of your test yourself you must give at least three full working days’ notice or you will have to pay again. Monday to Saturday count as working days but Sundays and public holidays do not.
You can change your appointment online via the Government website here. This service is available from 6am to 11.40pm.
