Driving examiner strikes: Full list of Merseyside test centres affected this December

Those scheduled to take driving tests in December and January are facing potential cancellations, as driving examiners are going on strike.

Between Monday December 19 and Saturday December 24, driving examiners who are members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will take part in strike action in the North West.

Other areas will be affected at different times throughout December and January.

The DVSA has already struggled to clear a backlog of driving tests after lockdown suspended all operations in March 2020, with many learners waiting months for a test. The company has since created over 400,000 additional test appointments to help ease the congestion, however, the current wait time is between 10-23 weeks across Merseyside.

The strike action may affect:

• Car driving tests
• Motorcycle tests
• Lorry, bus, coach and minibus driving tests
• Tractor or specialist vehicle driving tests
• Approved driving instructor (ADI) part 2 (driving ability) or part 3 (instructional ability) tests
• ADI standards checks
• Moped and motorcycle compulsory basic training (CBT) checks

Theory tests are not affected.

Merseyside test centres affected

• Upton
• Speke
• Wallasey
• Widnes
• Southport
• St Helens
• Norris Green

What to do if you have a test booked

According to DVSA, not all examiners are PCS union members, and even if they are, they might choose not to go on strike. You must give at least three clear working days’ notice to change your test date, or you’ll have to pay again.

DVSA advise that you should go to your driving test appointment as planned if it’s on the date of strike action, unless contacted and told not to go. DVSA will automatically rebook your driving test for you if it cannot go ahead because of the strike action.