Driving tests cancelled for Queen’s funeral bank holiday - here’s how long you’ll have to wait to rebook Bristol

With driving tests in Bristol and across the UK cancelled for the Queen Elizabeth II funeral: watch Her Majesty’s full state funeral at Westminster Abbey at home - live stream">Queen’s funeral, learner drivers are being updated on what comes next.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) announced it was suspending all but its ‘essential services’ next Monday in recognition of the Queen’s state funeral and bank holiday.

It means that all practical and theory tests booked for that date will be cancelled, with learner drivers given new dates from the DVSA or required to rebook their tests.

Driving tests are just one of the services that will grind to a halt next Monday - with schools, shops and attractions also expected to close.

Here’s everything you need to know if you or someone you know has a driving test scheduled for September 19.

My driving test is booked for September 19 - will I have to rebook it?

The DVSA said it would contact all learner drivers affected by the decision regarding rebooking their practical test.

Anyone with a practical test appointment for September 19 will have their test automatically rebooked for the first available date after that.

Learners who have a theory test booked will have to rebook their own test.

The DVSA said it would be contacting those with a theory test scheduled for September 19 to let them know they are affected and how to choose a new date for their theory test.

Those training to be driving instructors are affected too, with all ADI part 2, 3 tests and standards checks suspended on September 19.

Are driving lessons cancelled for the Queen’s funeral?

Driving lessons are permitted to go ahead on September 19, despite the Queen’s funeral taking place.

However, the decision on whether to cancel has been left up to individual instructors and driving schools - so contact yours if you are unsure.

Driving test waiting times in Bristol

According to the Driving Test Cancellations 4 All website, there are currently no new practical test dates available to book at any of Bristol’s three Driving Test Centres which are Jubilee House, Avonmouth and Kingswood.

Learner drivers who have their tests cancelled are no doubt going to feel frustrated after facing two years of disruption to testing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Driving tests were stopped entirely for several months in 2020, leading to a massive backlog in bookings which the DVSA has since struggled to address.

The DVSA said that most learners face an average wait of around 14 weeks to sit their practical tests, which it aims to reduce to nine weeks by the end of 2022.