Driving Lesson and Tests in Oxford – 2021 Changes

Find out how driving tests are affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) and what changes to expect when you take your driving test here

Guidance for Driving School pupils and instructors by the AA

The AA have released this notification:

The following information is accurate at the time of posting, but check with your instructor for the most up-to-date information. Here’s the latest across each region.

England

All driving lessons, practical tests and theory tests are are suspended in England because of the national lockdown.

Scotland

All driving lessons, theory tests and practical tests are suspended in Scotland because of the temporary lockdown.

Wales

All driving lessons, theory tests and practical tests are suspended in Wales because it’s in alert level 4.

Northern Ireland

All lessons, practical tests and theory tests are currently suspended.

How theory tests and driving tests are affected

Taken from the GOV website

Driving test centre waiting rooms

Not all driving test centre waiting rooms are open because of coronavirus.

There are temporary rules for using waiting rooms which are open.

Check which driving test centre waiting rooms are open and the rules for using them.

Sending information to the NHS Test and Trace service

DVSA will share your details and your pupil’s details with the relevant NHS service if a DVSA member of staff you had close contact with both:

  • develops coronavirus symptoms within 48 hours of your driving test
  • tests positive for coronavirus after their symptoms developed

There’s more information in the privacy notices for:

Check if theory tests are taking place

England

Theory tests are suspended in England because of the national lockdown.

If your theory test is affected

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will contact you if your test is affected by local restrictions and tell you what you need to do.

Keeping you safe at the test centre

In England and Oxford – Safety precautions

To keep you safe, test centres are:

  • doing extra cleaning
  • using protective transparent screens at the reception desk
  • providing hand sanitiser for you to use when you arrive at the test centre, during your test and when you leave
  • cleaning workstations (including computers and headphones) before every test

Staff will wear a face covering (unless there’s a medical reason that it’s not recommended for them) and gloves.

You have to come into the test centre alone. This is to help with social distancing (Updated 5th January 2021) read more

Photo of a woman handing her driving licence to a member of staff behind a desk. They are both wearing face coverings.
Hand sanitiser will be available when you arrive at the test centre.
Photo of a woman taking an antiviral wipe from a packet.
Antiviral wipes will be available for you to wipe your locker before you put your belongings in it.
Photo of a woman cleaning the inside of a locker with an antiviral wipe.
Antiviral wipes will be available for you to wipe your locker before you put your belongings in it.
Photo of a woman sat at a desk taking a theory test
In England workstations and chairs will be spaced so you’re 1 metre away from other people.

Wearing a face covering

You must bring and wear a face covering for your test, unless you have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:

  • having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability
  • wearing it would cause you severe distress

You need to say if you have a good reason not to wear a face covering when you book your test.

Your test will be cancelled if you come for your test without a face covering and you did not say that you could not wear one when you booked it.

Checking your ID

You will need to remove your face covering so the test centre staff can check your ID.

Find out how to wear and make a cloth face covering.

When you must not go to your test

Do not go to your theory test if:

Change your test appointment or cancel your test if you’re not able to go.