A new ban has come into force, preventing driving instructors from booking tests for their pupils, as average waiting times for a practical examination now exceed 22 weeks.

From Tuesday, only learners themselves can book and manage their driving tests, a power previously held by instructors.

This aims to curb the illicit practice of individuals using automated programmes – known as 'bots' – to secure available slots rapidly and resell them at inflated prices. A BBC investigation in December exposed touts offering instructors up to £250 a month for booking website login details.

While a standard test costs £62, a National Audit Office (NAO) report, also published in December, found learners were paying up to £500 to book a black market slot.…