• Skip to main content

RouteBuddy

posted on 19/07/2025

Changing your driving test centre can be a smart move to suit your personal preferences or schedule. Whether you want to find a test centre closer to your home or simply prefer a quieter area with more available dates, our step-by-step guide will help you make the switch easily.

Why You Might Want to Change Your Test Centre at Southall Test Centre

  • Test Centre Availability: Your current test centre may not have available dates that suit your schedule.
  • Closer to Home: A test centre closer to where you live might be more convenient.
  • Traffic & Road Conditions: If you’re not familiar with the roads or find them too busy, choosing a quieter location might work better for you.
  • Faster Test Dates: Some centres have shorter waiting times, so changing your test centre can get you a test date sooner.

Change your driving test centre

How to Change Your Driving Test at Southall Test Centre

  1. Log into the DVSA Booking System

    Go to the official DVSA booking system.

    Log in using your details (email address, password) or your provisional driving licence number.

  2. Select the Option to Change Your Test Centre

    Find the “Manage Your Booking” section.

    Select “Change Test Centre”.

    Browse through available centres, considering their locations and availability.

  3. Choose Your New Test Centre

    You’ll be given a list of nearby driving test centres. Select the test centre you want to change to or any other preferred centre.

    Ensure the new centre has available dates that work with your schedule.

  4. Confirm Your New Test Date and Centre

    Review your selection and choose your new test date.

    Confirm your selection, and if you’re happy, proceed to pay the fee for the change (if applicable).

  5. Receive Confirmation

    Once your change is confirmed, you’ll receive an email with your new test centre and date. Don’t forget to check your spam folder!

When You’ll Have to Pay Again

You’ll have to pay again if you give less than:

  • 10 full working days’ notice for car driving tests.
  • 3 full working days’ notice for all other tests.

Please note: Monday to Saturday count as working days, but Sundays and public holidays do not. If you cannot change your driving test appointment, you can cancel your test.

What You Need to Change Your Driving Test Appointment

To change your test centre, you’ll need:

  • Your UK driving licence number.
  • Your driving test reference number or theory test pass certificate number (found on the letter you received when you passed your theory test). If you’ve lost the letter, you can retrieve your theory test pass certificate number online.

Popular Test Routes

Here are common roads and features on UK driving test routes:

  • Main Roads & A-Roads: Test speed control and lane discipline (e.g., A45, A47).
  • Roundabouts: Big and mini roundabouts to test lane discipline and observation.
  • Intersections: T-junctions, crossroads, and give way signs to assess gap judgment and safety.
  • Residential Streets: Narrow lanes, parked cars, and speed bumps to test control.
  • High-Speed Roads: Dual carriageways and motorways (if allowed) to assess lane changes.
  • Slippery Conditions: Weather-related challenges for vehicle control.

Why Pass Rates Matter

Pass rates are an indicator of the percentage of learners who pass their tests at this particular test centre.

If you’re worried about passing your driving test, it might be worth checking out centres with higher pass rates.

Remember, practice makes perfect! Ensure you are prepared by familiarising yourself with local driving test routes.

Preparing for Your Test at Southall Test Centre

To increase your chances of passing your driving test, here’s what you can do:

  • Familiarise Yourself with Local Roads: Practice routes near the test centre with apps like RouteBuddy, which helps you identify common test routes and tricky roads.

Want to make sure you’re fully prepared for your test? Download RouteBuddy and start practising today for a smooth, confident test day!

driving test routes

Start Practising for Your Test Today

Check Now

  • Learn the Test Route: Find out which roads and junctions are frequently used in tests at this centre.
  • Mock Tests: Consider taking a mock test to simulate the actual test environment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I change my test centre on the day of my test?

No, you cannot change your driving test centre on the day of your test. The DVSA requires that you give notice to change or cancel your test; otherwise, you will have to pay again.

What happens if there are no available dates at my preferred test centre?

If there are no dates available at your preferred centre, consider selecting another nearby centre or check back later for cancellations.

Can I change my test centre if I’ve already paid?

Yes, you can still change your test centre as long as you do so within the time limits set by the DVSA.

How long does it take for my change to be confirmed?

Once you’ve completed the process, your new test date and centre will be confirmed almost immediately via email.

Conclusion

Changing your driving test at Southall test centre is easy and can help you get a test date that better suits your needs. Ensure you’re prepared by practising the local test routes and reviewing your test centre’s specific conditions. By following these steps, you’ll be one step closer to acing your driving test!

Other Helpful Resources: Driving Test Centre Pass Rates and How to Change Your Driving Test at Forest Hills Test Centre

Use apps like RouteBuddy, which you can download to your phone or sat nav for real-world practice.

Check Now

Filed Under: Driving test centres

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

© 2025 - RouteBuddy | A brand of New Driver Programme LTD,82A, James Carter Road, Mildenhall, Suffolk, IP28 7DE, United Kingdom

Cookie Policy

This site uses cookies – small text files that are placed on your machine to help the site provide a better user experience. In general, cookies are used to retain user preferences, store information for things like shopping carts, and provide anonymised tracking data to third party applications like Google Analytics. As a rule, cookies will make your browsing experience better. However, you may prefer to disable cookies on this site and on others. The most effective way to do this is to disable cookies in your browser. We suggest consulting the Help section of your browser or taking a look at the About Cookies website which offers guidance for all modern browsers

Website Terms of Use

This website is the property of New Driver Programme Limited. Registered in England and Wales with company number 09981078. Registered office address: 85 Great Portland Street, London, England, W1W 7LT. The information contained in or derived from, the website belongs to New Driver Programme Limited.

Full details of the terms and conditions regarding membership and access and use of our services can be found here: Membership Documents

The following statements provide a summary for the purposes of using this website https://www.newdriverprogramme.com only.

Privacy and Your Personal Data

We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy.

All information you provide to us is stored on our secure servers. Where we have given you (or where you have chosen) a password which enables you to access

certain parts of our site, you are responsible for keeping this password confidential. We ask you not to share a password with anyone.

Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Although we will do our best to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee the security of your data transmitted to our site; any transmission is at your own risk. Once we have received your information, we will use strict procedures and security features to try to prevent unauthorised access.

Whilst we operate principally in the UK, it is possible that the data that we collect from you may be transferred to, and stored on servers at, a destination outside the European Economic Area (“EEA”). It may also be processed by staff operating outside the EEA who work for us or for one of our suppliers. By submitting your personal data, you agree to this transfer, storing or processing. We will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this privacy policy.

Copyright

All materials presented on this website, unless specifically indicated otherwise, is under copyright to New Driver Programme Limited.