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  2. Motoring
  3. Learners and new drivers
  4. Practical test

Book your practical driving test online

The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) release Category B (private car) driving test appointments five months ahead. Appointments are released on the first working day of each month. You can book driving tests on Saturdays and at certain centres on Sundays.

Booking online

Depending on demand, it may take a while before you can book and take a driving test. If at first slots are not available at your preferred test centre, you can consider booking a test at another centre. Keep checking the booking system as the DVA release more slots as more resources become available and some customers cancel or change their appointments.

You must bring a face covering to your driving test and wear it for the full test. If you arrive without a face covering, the test will not take place. Make sure that you read: Driving test public health information for candidates 

When booking a driving test online you’ll need:

  • driver licence number and date of birth
  • a debit or credit card
  • a valid email address (check your spam/ junk folders for emails)
Book your practical driving test

Evening and weekend appointments are charged at a premium rate.

  • Driving test fees

Logging in

You only need to log into the service if you’re a large vehicle or large driving school operator that has signed an agreement with the DVA.

Special needs

The DVA offers facilities for candidates with special needs or physical disabilities.

If you are deaf, have severe hearing problems, are restricted in your movements, or have any disability that may affect your driving, call the number at the link below to book a suitable appointment.

  • Driver & Vehicle Agency - practical driving test booking

When you book your test, let the operator know that you're calling about a ‘Driving test for a candidate with a disability’, and tell them if you:

  • are deaf or have severe hearing difficulties
  • are in any way restricted in your movements
  • have any physical disability

No matter how serious your disability might be, you will still take the same driving test as every other test candidate. However, more time may be allowed for the test. This is to allow the examiner to talk to you about your disability and any adaptations fitted to your vehicle.

Book by phone

You can book a practical driving test for a private car or motorcycle by phone. Lines are open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday. Calls are charged at local rate.

You don't need an application form but it is advisable to have your provisional driving licence, your theory test certificate and credit or debit card details handy when making the call.

  • Driver & Vehicle Agency - practical driving test booking

Northern Ireland residency

If you want to take a theory or practical driving test in NI, you must be normally resident in NI. If you have a GB provisional licence and want to take a motorcycle, car, bus or lorry theory test in NI, before booking your test you'll need to fill in a residency declaration form and send it to DVA with proof you're resident in NI.

  • Residency Declaration Form

You can find out how any personal information you send to the Department for Infrastructure (Driver and Vehicle Agency) when using this service will be handled by viewing their privacy notice.

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Practical test

  • Book your practical driving test online
  • Book, view, change, cancel your practical driving test
  • Cancel your practical driving test appointment online
  • Change your practical driving test appointment online
  • Driving and vehicle test centres
  • Driving test fees
  • Driving test public health information for candidates
  • Driving test public health information for driving instructors
  • Independent driving
  • Minimum requirements for test vehicles
  • Practical test for cars
  • Practical test for motorcycles
  • Practical tests for tractors and other specialist vehicles
  • Reporting for your practical test
  • View your practical driving test appointment online

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Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

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Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

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Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

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For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

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  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

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