MID Cheshire's learners must now be aware of a big change to the making and managing of bookings for driving tests.
It is no longer lawful for anyone other than learners themselves to make or to manage bookings as of Tuesday, May 12.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency's intention is to put a stop to the practice of block booking by third parties for sale and resale at increasingly inflated prices.
The Northwich and District Driving Instructors Association said its driving instructors are here to help although they are not able to make or to manage bookings either.
A social media post said: "Northwich and District Driving Instructors Association members are here to help.
"We can assist with a swap partner among our other pupils or through our network of driving instructors."
A swap with a partner is only possible on a like-for-like basis, for example a weekday for a weekday or a weekend for a weekend, and only on an official phone line.
It is one of a number of big changes to be brought in by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and the Department for Transport in the first few months of this year.
As of March 2026, learners are only allowed two modifications to a driving test booking down from six modifications.
As of June 2026, learners are only allowed to move a driving test booking to the three nearest driving test centres.
At Northwich Driving Test Centre, for example, these are the driving test centres in Crewe, Warrington, and Widnes.
Beverley Warmington, of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, and Simon Lightwood, of the Department for Transport, said the result would be that learners were 'back in control'.
For information on making and managing a booking for a driving test go to www.gov.uk/book-driving-test/.
For information on the Northwich and District Driving Instructors Association go to www.naddia.co.uk.
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