Driving lessons and tests can officially restart again in England next month

Learner drivers will be allowed to restart their lessons from July 4th in England as part of the new lockdown easing. 

Proposals are being set out to help driving instructors return to a life ‘as close to normal as possible’ according to Commons Leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg. 

It has now been confirmed that instructors will be able to restart their lessons from July 4th. 

Many people including those who have reached the age ready to take their driving test – a pretty big and exciting life moment – have had to wait due to the coronavirus lockdown causing driving lessons and tests to stop.  

Conservative MP Greg Smith asked the Government to ensure guidance is given to allow driving instructors to get back to work.

Rees-Mogg responded: “The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVLA) chief executive (Gareth Llewellyn) will be writing to all approved driving instructors on June 25 setting out plans to restart driver testing and to help them to return to life that is as close to normal as possible, as quickly and as fairly as possible, in a way that avoids a second peak of infections.

“From July 4, I am happy to say that people will be able to take driving lessons on a motorcycle or in a car, lorry or bus and there will be a phased approach to resuming practical testing so learners have the opportunity to practise before taking a test.”

These rules are currently only for England with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland yet to set their own rules regarding driving lessons and tests. 

Managing director of AA Driving School, Sarah Rees, said the decision was a ‘welcome relief for the thousands of people in England’, and the start of the end of ‘an incredibly challenging time’ for instructors, many of whom are self-employed. 

She said: “This will open the door for workers who need a safer way to commute and for the many who are forced to find new employment after lockdown.

“For driving instructors in England, it means the end is in sight to what has been an incredibly challenging time with high levels of uncertainty around their ability to earn a living.

“But driving instructors in other parts of the UK, who still do not have a date for when they can re-start their livelihood, are being left in limbo and we hope the devolved governments in the rest of the UK will soon follow suit.”

There are currently 10,000 people on The AA Driving School waiting list with a ‘huge demand for lessons’ this summer. 

Until now driving lessons have been suspended since March. There have been some exclusions, including some key workers being offered both lessons and the opportunity to apply for an emergency test with the DVSA.