Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

UK New Legislation

Published April 27th, 2026

Detected March 24th, 2026

Summary

The UK Secretary of State has amended the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999. These amendments require that applications for practical car driving tests must be made by the applicant in person, rather than by another individual on their behalf. The regulations come into force on April 27, 2026.

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What changed

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 amend the existing Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999. Specifically, Regulation 31 is modified to stipulate that applications for practical driving tests for Category B vehicles must be submitted directly by the applicant. This change prohibits other individuals from making these applications on behalf of the applicant.

This amendment is effective from April 27, 2026. While the regulations are binding, the UK Department for Transport anticipates no significant impact on the private, voluntary, or public sectors. Compliance officers should ensure that internal processes and communications reflect this new requirement for direct applicant submission of driving test applications.

What to do next

Ensure that applications for practical car driving tests are submitted directly by the applicant.
Update internal guidance and communications regarding driving test application procedures.

Source document (simplified)

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 326

ROAD TRAFFIC

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Made

17th March 2026

Laid before Parliament

23rd March 2026

Coming into force

27th April 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 89(3)(a) and (5)(a) and 105(1) and (3)(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988(1).

The Secretary of State has consulted with representative organisations in accordance with section 195(2) of that Act.

Citation, commencement and extent

—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 27th April 2026.

(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

Amendment of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999

—(1) Regulation 31 (applications for manoeuvres tests, large vehicle off road manoeuvres tests, practical tests and unitary tests: applicants in person) of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999(2) is amended as follows.

(2) After paragraph (1) insert—

“ (1ZA) An application under paragraph (1)(a) for a practical test prescribed in respect of motor vehicles in category B (3) may not be made by any other person on behalf of the applicant in person. ”.

(3) In paragraph (2), after “fee”, insert “and, in the case of an application for a practical test prescribed in respect of motor vehicles in category B, provided the application is made by the applicant in person”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

Simon Lightwood

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

17th March 2026

Department for Transport

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2864). The effect of the amendment is to require that applications under regulation 31(1)(a) (applications for manoeuvres tests, large vehicle off road manoeuvres tests, practical tests, and unitary tests:applicants in person) for an appointment to take the practical element of a car driving test are made by the person intending to take the test.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. Instead, a de minimus assessment has been prepared and has been published, with an Explanatory Memorandum, alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.

(1) 1988 c. 52. Section 89(3)(a) was amended by paragraph 63 of Schedule 4 to the Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40) and section 36(2)(a) of the Road Safety Act 2006 (c. 49).

(2) S.I. 1999/2864; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2009/788, 2014/480, 2021/1154.

(3) The table in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to S.I. 1999/2864 identifies the classes of vehicle included in “Category B”.