Refund rules
Cancelling your driving test: refunds and deadlines
A car driving test costs £62 to £75, and whether you see that money again comes down to one deadline. Here are the rules as the DVSA applies them, checked against GOV.UK.
Facts checked against GOV.UK and DVSA sources on 8 September 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.
The deadline that decides your refund
Cancel a car test with 10 full working days’ notice and your fee comes back automatically. For motorcycle, lorry and bus tests the deadline is 3 full working days. Monday to Saturday count as working days; Sundays and public holidays do not. The day you cancel does not count either, so leave margin.
Miss the deadline and the fee is normally gone. The DVSA does not charge a cancellation admin fee on top; you simply lose what you paid.
Short notice exceptions
Cancel inside the deadline and you can still ask for a refund in four situations:
- an illness or injury that stops you taking the test
- a bereavement
- an exam at your school or college at the same time
- your driving licence was stolen
You apply by emailing customerservices@dvsa.gov.uk with the subject line “Unavoidable short notice cancellation” and evidence, such as a medical note or exam timetable. The DVSA confirms by email once the fee is refunded.
How to cancel
- Open the cancel your driving test service on GOV.UK.
- Sign in with your driving licence number and test booking reference.
- Confirm. The refund goes back to the card used to book, and the DVSA tells you by email when it has been paid.
Think twice before cancelling to rebook later. With average waits above 20 weeks, a cancelled slot puts you at the back of a long queue. Moving your test is free and keeps your place; see how to change your driving test date. Your cancelled slot, meanwhile, becomes someone else’s lucky find within minutes.
Common questions
Do I get a refund if I cancel my driving test?
Yes, if you give enough notice: 10 full working days for a car test, 3 full working days for other test types. Cancel later than that and you only get a refund in limited cases such as illness, bereavement, a school exam clash, or a stolen licence, with evidence.
How do I cancel my driving test?
Use the cancel your driving test service on GOV.UK. You sign in with your driving licence number and test reference, confirm the cancellation, and the DVSA emails you confirmation. Refunds go back to the card that paid.
What counts as a working day for driving test cancellations?
Monday to Saturday. Sundays and public holidays do not count, and neither does the day you cancel. A full working day means the whole day.
Should I cancel my test or change it instead?
If there is any chance you will still want a test, change it rather than cancel: changing is free, keeps your fee attached to a booking, and keeps you in the queue. Cancel only if you are giving up the booking entirely.