Driving tests can be nerve-wracking at the best of times and the added pressure of snow and ice on the day of your test is the last thing you want. If you’re planning on taking your test in the winter months, you may be worried that your driving test will be cancelled as a result of the snow. This article explains exactly what to do if you’re unsure whether your test will go ahead, what to do if it does get cancelled, and how to prepare if it doesn’t.
In the case of particularly bad weather, you will have to find out if your test is still going ahead. Adverse weather conditions can be dangerous for drivers, so, although unlikely, your driving test may be cancelled if the roads are deemed to be too unsafe. The test centre will be able to tell you whether your test is going ahead and advise you on what to do if it isn’t, so give them a call one or two hours before your test is scheduled. You will want to find out promptly but try to call as close to the time as possible, especially if your test is in the afternoon, as the weather can be unpredictable and any snow or ice may have cleared by the time of your test. Afternoon tests are less likely to be cancelled – as a rule, if driving tests are still going forward in the morning, unless the weather changes drastically, afternoon tests will take place too. Here is a list of all of the UK driving test phone numbers.
If, for whatever reason, you don’t get through to the test centre, you must prepare for the eventuality that you will still be taking your test. Make your way to the centre giving yourself plenty of time to get there. Don’t assume that your test will be cancelled – if you do and it is still going ahead you may end up losing your fee and you will have to pay again for another test.
During the winter months it is better to book your test for the afternoon if you want to avoid it being cancelled, so the snow has time to clear and any ice left over can melt. However, weather conditions can change rapidly so be prepared for your test to be cancelled if the weather is truly adverse! In the unlikely event that your test is cancelled due to snow, don’t panic! The DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) will automatically send you a new test date within three to seven working days. It will be booked for the closest day possible, so you shouldn’t have to wait too long.
What you should know if your driving test isn’t cancelled because of snow
If your driving test isn’t cancelled due to snow, you will have to prepare yourself for the road conditions. You may already be familiar with driving in bad weather if you have been having winter lessons, so hopefully you will have an idea of what to do, but extra preparation may calm your nerves before your test. Make sure to read over our list of tips before taking your driving test, as this will ensure you are fully prepared.
If you do take your test whilst driving in the snow or after a heavy snowstorm, your examiner won’t make any changes. Don’t assume that you won’t have to do some things due to snow or ice. For example, you will still have a one in four chance of being asked to make an emergency stop, so be prepared for all eventualities just as you would if your test was being taken in good weather!
It can be easy to let your nerves get the better of you if the weather is bad, so make sure you prepare yourself mentally too. Try to see your test as an opportunity to practise driving in the snow, and prove to both the examiner and yourself that you can drive in adverse weather conditions too. Here are some ways you can overcome your driving test nerves, including a video by our owner Anthony Johnson on preparing yourself mentally.
Most of all, have faith that your driving examiner has checked your test route and has deemed it safe to go forward with the test. They will want you to pass as much as you do, and will never put you (or themselves!) at risk.
Top driving test tip
I usually encourage all of pupils booking a test from December to Mid February to book an afternoon test. If there is ice on the roads (especially near the test centre), then there is a high chance the early morning test will be cancelled. By the afternoon this would have usually thawed out, increasing the chances of tests going ahead from lunch time onwards.
Paul Reilly – Driving Instructor in Leicester
