Driving lessons and tests postponed during January 2021 national lockdown

On the 4th January 2021, the Prime Minister announced that England would be put into a national lockdown from midnight on the 5th January 2021.

The new lockdown, which is very similar to the one in March, comes with a 'stay at home' order and means all non-essential businesses, shops and restaurants must close. The lockdown also means driving lessons and tests will be postponed, this applies to Scotland and Wales who are also now in a national lockdown.

For many areas across the UK who were in tier 4 such as Milton Keynes, Bedford and Luton, driving lessons and tests had already been postponed prior to the national lockdown.

What are the January 2021 lockdown rules?

The new lockdown rules which came into place at midnight on the 5th January 2020 are similar to the rules imposed during the first lockdown in March 2020. The national lockdown comes with a 'stay at home' order, and people will only be allowed to leave their house for essential reasons such as:

• Work or volunteer where it's impossible to do so from home, e.g. construction and key workers.
• Exercise outdoors alone, with members of your household or with one other person from outside your household.
• To shop for essential items such as medicine and food.
• Attend medical appointments, seek medical care or flee from the threat of violence
• Help a vulnerable person or provide care for someone, for example taking food or essential supplies to someone self-isolating.

When will driving lessons and tests resume?

No exact date has been given yet as to when the national lockdown will end, however, Boris Johnson did say the Government will review the restrictions after the February half-term, which is around the middle of February. Therefore, it is safe to say that driving lessons and tests will be postponed until at least the middle of February.

What happens if I already have a lesson or test booked?

If you have a driving lesson booked with DRIVE 321, a member of our bookings team will be in contact over the next couple of days to talk through your options.

If you have a driving theory or practical test booked in the upcoming weeks, the DVSA will contact you and advise you on what you need to do.

Will there be driving lessons for key workers and key worker tests?

During the first national lockdown in March 2020, driving lessons for key workers and tests were allowed to continue, which proved a very helpful service for many working on the coronavirus pandemic frontline. There is currently no news on whether key workers will be eligible for driving lessons and tests during this lockdown, but we're hoping for an update from the DVSA soon regarding this, once we have an update we will update here.