Anthony Johnson, the owner of driveJohnson’s, recently reached out to the instructor team asking for feedback on the new driving test changes.
We had approximately 15 instructors respond who have recently witnessed the new driving test format by sitting in the back of their pupil’s test.
We have compiled a report of their experience below.
- Test Centres Heavily Using Sat Nav
- Examiner Variability and Common Issues
- Individual Test Centre Trends
- Pros and Cons
- Individual Instructor Feedback
- Overall Conclusion
1. General Overview
Feedback from instructors across the UK shows that the new DVSA test format, featuring increased sat-nav use, fewer stops, and a more streamlined structure, is being implemented inconsistently across test centres.
Many centres are close to the intended satnav-based model, while others still rely heavily on road signs. Generally, instructors agree that these changes simplify the test and reduce examiner workload, but remain concerned about how clear the road signs are, route suitability, and examiner consistency.
2. Key Themes Across Test Centres
A. Increasing Shift Toward Satnav-Led Tests
Most centres now conduct tests with 70–100% of the route guided by satnav, with only the final minutes directed verbally.
Instructor perceptions:
- Satnav reduces cognitive overload by reducing the need to switch between guidance sources.
- Many believe satnav is safer, especially for candidates unfamiliar with an area or struggling with accents/dialects.
- It appears to make examiners more relaxed and conversational, helping pupils feel calmer.
- Some tests still unexpectedly default to road sign following, causing confusion.
Test centres heavily using satnav:
- Tilbury
- Crewe
- Isleworth
- Northampton (one of two tests)
- Portsmouth
- Bletchley
- Southend (majority of test)
- Leeds
B. Mixed Use of Road Signs – Some Centres Still Lagging
In some places, tests still rely mostly or partly on road signs, which is not what instructors expected from the new satnav-focused test.
Concerns raised:
- Road markings are often worn out or difficult to see (in Wolverhampton especially).
- Local roads sometimes lack adequate signage (in Orkney and Southend).
- Candidates unfamiliar with the area are disadvantaged.
- Some instructors think this adds safety risks that could be avoided.
Notable examples include:
- Wolverhampton (Featherstone and Spring Road)
- Warwick
- Orkney
C. Stops and Manoeuvres: Mostly Reduced to Three
Most instructors who responded said that driving tests now usually include:
- One angled start
- One designated stop (hill start where possible)
- One normal stop
Emergency stops appear rare unless specifically required.
Instructors say that having fewer stops does not really make the test shorter, but it does fit with the new, simpler format.
D. Test Route Changes: Gradual and Inconsistent
Feedback shows that test centres are at different stages of rolling out the changes:
Already strongly aligned:
- Tilbury
- Portsmouth
- Isleworth
- Parts of Northampton
Minimal changes seen:
- Gillingham
- Warwick
- Some Wolverhampton routes
Planned changes:
- Southend expects new routes to be phased in over the next 6 months.
- Dudley has long been trialling rural routes.
- Orkney anticipates more focus on signage training.
E. Examiner Variability: A Consistent Concern
Several instructors noted significant differences in:
- Leniency
- Communication style
- Tolerance levels
- Helpfulness with unclear signs or local routing quirks
Former examiner Taz pointed out that examiners’ judgments can vary a lot, which affects test results.
F. Safety Concerns Raised
Common issues:
- Poor or invisible road markings (noted in Wolverhampton and Southend).
- Glare from the low winter sun making signs unreadable.
- Following signs reducing progress and increasing stress.
- Rural and high-speed routes becoming unsafe due to congestion or limited options.
Some instructors firmly believe that using satnav makes driving safer for everyone.
3. Individual Test Centre Trends
Here is a brief summary of each centre:
Tilbury
99% of the test uses satnav, the process runs smoothly, there are fewer stops, and the instructor sees this as an improvement.
Isleworth
The whole test is guided by satnav, with only three stops to pull in.
Portsmouth
The test is fully independent and uses satnav throughout, with very little rural driving on the route observed.
Bletchley
The route has not changed, but now 70 to 80 percent of it uses satnav.
Northampton
There was a mix: one test used satnav for part of the route, and one used it for the whole route. Most failures were due to pupil mistakes, not the test format.
Gillingham
No major changes have been made yet, and the traditional route is still in use.
Southend
Most tests use satnav, but the changes do not fully meet expectations. There are concerns about future routes that may include faster roads.
Wolverhampton (Featherstone & Spring Road)
Both tests relied on following road signs. Instructors were worried about poor road markings and that pupils might be at a disadvantage.
Warwick
The test format has not changed. There was a short independent driving section, and the examiner was not open to questions.
Orkney
There was one test using road signs and one using satnav. Local challenges with signage come from the simple road layout.
LS15 / Colton
All tests have used satnav since May. Examiners often have to step in because the satnav can be inaccurate, especially at motorway exits, multi-lane roundabouts, or when it gives unclear instructions like “turn left”.
The routes mostly include dual carriageways, country roads, high-speed roundabouts, and slip roads. Instructors now have to drive longer distances, use more fuel, and find it harder to stop safely because of long stretches of fast roads. Pupils are adjusting well, but instructors are dealing with more work and higher costs.
4. Instructor Sentiment (Overall)
Positive themes
- Using satnav makes the test simpler and less stressful.
- Examiners appear more relaxed and friendly.
- The independent driving part feels clearer and more up-to-date.
Negative themes
- Differences between test centres are causing confusion.
- There are safety concerns about unclear signs and high-speed routes.
- How examiners interpret and mark tests still varies a lot.
- Some worry that not using satnav in certain tests puts candidates who do not know the area at a disadvantage.
Individual Instructor Feedback
Dave, Bletchley Test Centre
Dave observed a driving test conducted mostly using a satnav, from the start of the test until about half a mile before returning to the test centre. Despite this, the examiner still gave traditional verbal instructions at complex points such as double roundabouts. The candidate was asked to pull over three times to complete the required manoeuvres: an angled start, a hill start, and a normal stop.
Overall, the instructor felt the satnav-led structure improved the experience. The examiner had more time to converse with the student, which helped the learner feel more relaxed. The instructor also noted that the examiner appeared more personable and less robotic due to the reduced need for constant verbal directions.
Dan, Bury St Edmunds Test Centre
Dan observed two recent driving tests, each conducted by different examiners, and noted a very similar testing style. Both tests began with a period of independent driving from the Bury St Edmunds test centre, where candidates were instructed to follow road signs to destinations such as Thetford, Newmarket, or Ipswich. During this phase, each examiner changed the destination at least once.
After around 20 minutes, both examiners switched the candidate to following the satnav’s directions. Dan noticed that the satnav appeared to be pre-loaded with the same route used for the earlier sign-following exercise and was initially muted, though neither candidate seemed aware of this.
Once the independent driving segment was complete, the remainder of the test was examiner-directed. Route-wise, both tests included two junctions on the A14 (more than usual) and spent more time driving outside of town. Each test lasted slightly longer than normal, at around 50 minutes.
In terms of outcomes, one candidate passed with 10 driving faults, while the other failed with 7 faults due to a serious error caused by mounting the kerb during a parallel park.
Steve, Bletchley Test Centre
Although the overall route matched one commonly used previously, a major difference was that around 70–80% of the test was conducted using a satnav rather than following road signs, which had traditionally been part of this route. Only the final 5–10 minutes involved direct verbal directions back to the test centre.
The test was conducted by Robert, an examiner originally from Scotland and currently working at the Bletchley test centre. The instructor was unsure whether this satnav-heavy approach was part of the new DVSA changes or simply Robert’s personal testing style, as he is relatively new to the area and may have adapted the route accordingly.
Ross McLennan, Gillingham Test Centre
The instructor sat in on a driving test on December 2nd and observed that the route used was one that had been in place for several years. Overall, the test appeared largely unchanged despite the recent DVSA updates.
The only notable difference was the number and type of stops. The candidate completed three in total: a hill start, a designated stop, and one additional stop in a safe and legal position. No emergency stop was included. The instructor suggested that while changes may be introduced gradually, for now, the testing approach at the Gillingham centre remains mostly the same.
Dorrid, Isleworth Test Centre
Dorrid said that on Monday, his student took a driving test at the Isleworth test centre, where the new DVSA changes were fully applied. The candidate was told to follow the satnav for the entire duration of the test. They were asked to pull over only three times during the route, with no additional manoeuvres or variations mentioned.
Overall, this test appeared to reflect a straightforward implementation of the updated GPS-led testing format.
Glen, Northampton Test Centre
Glen observed two tests in Northampton this week and reported minimal changes overall, aside from one test being fully satnav-led.
Test 1 (Monday 11:58): The pupil followed a usual route via Kingsthorpe to Church/Chapel Brampton. It began with the satnav, then switched to standard verbal directions. A small detour occurred at the end, likely because the candidate had already failed and was running behind time. They received two serious faults, for not stopping at a stop line and drifting lanes, and four minors.
Test 2 (Tuesday 8:00): Glen sat in on this test. The route was a typical Sixfields/town circuit and was entirely satnav-based, except when the examiner muted it to divert into a car park. The pupil missed one turn, gaining an awareness/planning fault, completed three stops, and had no emergency stop. They failed the test for leaving the indicator on during a pull-away, which caused other vehicles to react.
Glen noted that the changes so far don’t appear to significantly affect routes and mentioned talk of possibly reintroducing some longer, previously unused routes.
David, Wolverhampton Test Centres
David reports that Dudley has been trialling rural routes for some time, and one of his pupils recently passed a test using verbal directions only, with no satnav.
Test on Monday 1 December (Featherstone, Wolverhampton): This test also used road sign following (to Stafford) with no satnav. The pupil, a doctor recently relocated from London, received a serious fault for road markings/signs after entering a roundabout in a left arrow lane and going straight ahead. David believes she would have passed if a satnav had been used, arguing she was disadvantaged by unfamiliar road layouts and unclear markings. He raised safety concerns: road markings in the area are worn, hard to see in the winter sun, and looking for signs/markings can distract drivers. He feels removing satnavs increases risk rather than improving testing.
Test on Wednesday 3 December (Spring Road, Wolverhampton): This candidate, also recently from London and pregnant, asked about unclear road markings before the test; David himself couldn’t see them clearly. Again, the route used road signs only. She eventually passed, but the debrief noted she came close to failing due to lack of progress, something David attributes to the extra attention required when following signs. He believes that satnav guidance would have been safer and allowed better progress.
Overall concerns: David strongly disagrees with removing satnav from some driving tests, arguing that:
- Many markings/signs are unclear or poorly maintained.
- Following signs can reduce safety and progress, especially for candidates unfamiliar with the area.
- Satnav use reflects real-world driving and supports safer decision-making.
He concludes that satnavs are “safer for all road users,” while the current approach feels like a “lottery” for pupils depending on conditions and route clarity.
Győző, Portsmouth Test Centre
Győző sat in on a test during the summer trial phase at Portsmouth, conducted under the new rules. The entire test was independent driving using the satnav from start to finish. The examiner only gave assistance when guiding the pupil out of and back into the test centre car park, when asking them to pull over, and when setting up the manoeuvre.
The route itself was straightforward, with the examiner offering only small clarifications when the pupil was unsure of a direction. There was little rural driving on this particular route, though Győző believes other routes may include more rural sections.
Simon, Warwick Test Centre
Simon sat in on a test last Tuesday and found the format unchanged from the previous version. The independent driving section, following road signs, was actually shorter than usual.
The examiner on this test was not very conversational, so Simon couldn’t ask whether the new format is being introduced gradually. His pupil had been prepared for the new rules but was too focused on the drive to notice any difference. The pupil passed with 3 faults.
Simon plans to ask one of the more approachable examiners about the rollout when he gets the chance.
Taz, Tilbury Test Centre
Taz sat in on a test at Tilbury on Monday and confirmed that it closely followed the new test guidance. The candidate completed an angled start, one designated stop (no hill available on that route), and one normal stop.
Around 99% of the test was conducted using the satnav, ending only about 300 yards before returning to the test centre. Taz feels this approach works better because it avoids switching between satnav guidance and examiner directions, which can confuse pupils.
He noted that reducing the number of normal stops does not save much time, and the overall drive remains largely the same as before. Drawing on his 12 years’ experience as a former examiner, Taz added that test outcomes can still depend heavily on individual examiner tolerance and judgement.
Debbie, Southend Test Centre
Debbie reported that the test she observed did not fully match the expectations set by the new DVSA changes. The drive was mainly satnav-led, with the examiner giving verbal directions only for the final five minutes.
The route involved numerous left and right turns, one roundabout, some one-way streets, and speeds mostly between 20 and 30 mph. The learner had only one brief opportunity to reach 40 mph. They were pulled over twice for normal moving-off checks and completed one standard manoeuvre.
Debbie has heard that Southend plans to introduce new routes over the next six months. She notes that only two current routes incorporate rural driving and is concerned that future “faster roads” may be problematic, as the limited rural options and main higher-speed roads near the test centre are often heavily congested.
Israar Leeds LS15 / Colton
When the Leeds test centre moved to LS15 in May 2025, routes became more demanding, with country roads, dual carriageways, and complex light-controlled roundabouts. Israar had already been preparing pupils for this style of driving, as Colton’s routes closely matched the new test format.
Since May, all tests he’s seen have been fully satnav, and pupils confirmed the same. Examiners often step in to correct confusing satnav instructions, especially near motorway exits, on complex roundabouts, and when satnav mislabels slip roads or turns.
Israar now trains pupils mainly on:
- Faster roads and dual carriageways
- Country roads
- High-speed roundabouts
- Satnav use for most lessons
- Speed management and forward planning
Pupils generally like the new format and adapt quickly.
Instructor challenges: routes are longer, fuel use is higher, and some stretches have nowhere safe to pull over, making it harder to address mistakes immediately. He now uses a TomTom to replicate test conditions and may raise lesson prices to cover extra mileage.
Overall, he feels the changes create safer, more capable drivers, though they demand more from instructors.
Crewe Test Centre
Paul reported that the entire test route was conducted using the satnav, with no verbal directions given at any stage. The route included around half a mile of national speed limit single carriageway and approximately two miles of national speed limit dual carriageway, both of which were already part of existing test routes.
The candidate completed a parallel park and was asked to stop on the left three times. Overall, Paul felt the test was not significantly different from the previous format, aside from relying fully on the satnav instead of the examiner’s instructions.
5. Overall Conclusion
The new DVSA test changes are being put in place across the country, but not everywhere at the same pace.
Tests are moving toward using satnav for most of the route, with fewer stops and a simpler structure, but many centres still rely a lot on road signs.
Most instructors support using satnav more, saying it makes things clearer, safer, and less stressful. However, they are still very concerned about:
- Inconsistent rollout
- Poor road signage and markings
- Route suitability
- Examiner variability
Most agree that the changes could make the test better, but there is an urgent need for more consistency, updated routes, and clearer signs.
