Is it just the midlands or is anyone else struggling to get test dates.
Im based just outside of Wolverhampton and have spoken to vosa this morning, fethetstone, Kidderminster, Shrewsbury, Derby, Notts & Wrexham all have nothing available til 28th July at the earliest. (But they are closing 2-3 days a week)
Even the local ATFs are struggling with dates.
Its a [zb] joke
Yeah, I’ve heard that. You need to book them 3-6 months in advance. 
We book them 12 months in advance, you can get them but only with a day or two’s notice for a cancellation.
I,ve just booked for the end of July and was told to “pick any date you want, we hardly have anything booked in yet”
I must use an unpopular test centre
chaversdad:
I,ve just booked for the end of July and was told to “pick any date you want, we hardly have anything booked in yet”I must use an unpopular test centre
Darlington ?
Wanted newbury but booked into August, got June (Gist ATF in Thatcham).
This seems a bit of a joke every VOSA newsletter thing grandly announces the opening of a new ATF and test dates are ridiculous.
They definitely need to organise some centralised online test booking for tests at all VOSA stations and ATFs so you can see what’s available everywhere. There really ought to be an undertaking to provide a test at anywhere within a set radius of your operating centre within a sensible time frame.
Are the problems of getting test dates only in some areas of the country? round these parts (derbyshire) there is no shortage of ATF’S if you can’t get in at a vosa main station, i myself prefer the atf’s every time even though it costs a bit more due to other benefits they offer
davhems:
chaversdad:
I,ve just booked for the end of July and was told to “pick any date you want, we hardly have anything booked in yet”I must use an unpopular test centre
Darlington ?
Les Woolston Middlesbrough
I tried booking a test in either Avonmouth or Calne in July or August and couldn’t get an appointment. Had to go to an ATF in the end and pay a £44 lane fee on top of the test but at least I’ve got a date now & while I’ve always tried to stick with VOSa test stations, I’ll do the same next year now I know the score.
This racked me off a bit because last time I rang I was told it was too early then told no appointments. Either they’re holding back test station appointments to force operators to use ATFs or workshops are being allowed to block book & get away with doing so too far ahead.
BB
Basilbrush:
I tried booking a test in either Avonmouth or Calne in July or August and couldn’t get an appointment. Had to go to an ATF in the end and pay a £44 lane fee on top of the test but at least I’ve got a date now & while I’ve always tried to stick with VOSa test stations, I’ll do the same next year now I know the score.
This racked me off a bit because last time I rang I was told it was too early then told no appointments. Either they’re holding back test station appointments to force operators to use ATFs or workshops are being allowed to block book & get away with doing so too far ahead.BB
Taunton and Gloucester have gone. I don’t think Calne will last much longer as it’s an old building probably Avonmouth will be the only one left, but for how long?? There’s loads of ATFs around the problem is getting an appointment and also my gripe is how well organised they are at booking varies wildly from ATF to ATF. As I said above it urgently needs a centralised online booking system they all have to use.
There has been a fairly obvious agenda to push operators to ATFs for quite a while.
chaversdad:
davhems:
chaversdad:
I,ve just booked for the end of July and was told to “pick any date you want, we hardly have anything booked in yet”I must use an unpopular test centre
Darlington ?
Les Woolston Middlesbrough
I always used to use Woolys and found that not only can you get tests at quite short notice but the testers are also quite forgiving. I took my motor to the VOSA spot at Cayton to get a prohibition removed just before I packed in and he told me off for having my sat nav in the swept area of the wipers. He was quite shocked when I said it had passed the last two annual tests with it there… both were done at Woolys…
Paul
Own Account Driver:
This seems a bit of a joke every VOSA newsletter thing grandly announces the opening of a new ATF and test dates are ridiculous.They definitely need to organise some centralised online test booking for tests at all VOSA stations and ATFs so you can see what’s available everywhere. There really ought to be an undertaking to provide a test at anywhere within a set radius of your operating centre within a sensible time frame.
I think it would cause more problems if there was a central booking centre, in my opinion you will get more sense out of speaking to someone in your local area and at a facility who probably know you, I needed a test at the beginning of the month and rang a local private centre and got one the next day albeit costing a bit more.
bazstan009:
Wanted newbury but booked into August, got June (Gist ATF in Thatcham).
Did mine today at the above ATF, very impressed with thier attitude and helpfullness, oh yea the pass added to the feel good factor.
this smart arse government lost millions with this back door privatisation,it should have put all h.g.v. testing stations out to tender.now we finish up with redundant buildings and vehicle inspectors,very clever aint it. 
I imagine this is more to do with the ATF than the old VOSA sites, they are advertising around my local area for inspectors + testers.
Who has gone for it, be civil and be a servant…
shirtbox2003:
this smart arse government lost millions with this back door privatisation,it should have put all h.g.v. testing stations out to tender.now we finish up with redundant buildings and vehicle inspectors,very clever aint it.
I would think manufacturers of test lane kit have been having a boom though. Wasn’t aware any testers had been made redundant but would think quite a few of the office staff went. Mind you always seemed a big ask just getting them off their backsides to come to the counter window.
Whats the money like as a tester Wheel nut?