The Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency  (DVSA) is advising that the Driver CPC part 3 test is being split into twp separate parts.

Learner drivers will take a single Driver CPC part 3 test (driving ability) test if they have an appointment booked up to and including 28 November 2021 (unless they’ve already passed the off-road exercises test with their training school.

Drivers will take two separate tests – Driver CPC part 3a (off-road exercises) and part 3b (on-road driving) if they have an appointment from 29 November 2021

Prices

Driver CPC part 3a test: off-road exercises – up to £40 for tests taken with an approved training organisation (this does not include the cost of any training or vehicle hire), or £40 for tests taken with DVSA

Driver CPC part 3b test: on-road driving – £115 for tests taken on weekdays, or £141 for tests at the weekend or on a bank holiday.

The DVSA says As a government agency, it has to recover the costs of the services its provides through the fees it charges.

The current test fee does not cover all of its costs. So the DVSA is keeping the part 3b test fee the same as the current part 3 test fee. This will help cover the extra costs of approving and auditing trainers who provide part 3a tests.

Because people taking the part 3b test will have already passed the part 3a test, they will be in a better position to pass first time and avoid the potential cost of a retake.

Also, people who now take a test towing a trailer with a large vehicle no longer need to have passed a test in a rigid vehicle first. This saves them £115 by not having to take 2 tests.

Driver & Vehicle Standards AgencyDVSA

About the Author: John Loughran