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2 entries in the unverified list:

• 0191 2018194: DSA booking service for theory and practical tests
• 0191 2014028: To book practical driving tests

Quote:

To be precise, the code is 0191 with a 7-digit local number.

Maybe the answer is to use the Freedom of Information Act.

It wouldn't be worth paying the fee (I've heard it might be around £20) just for one number.

But you could ask a question like: "Please supply a list of all 0870 numbers used by government departments and their geographical equivalents."

If you could get an answer to that it would be worth the fee.

Thanks. Some useful information there. In particular, the revised government guidelines on use of 0870 numbers. The following quote from the Central Office of Information looks useful:

"0870/0871 numbers are not recommended, particularly when targeting individuals as by dint of falling national call rates, these have become expensive to the caller relative to a geographic call, which can act as a barrier to communicating information that the citizen should have access to as a right. If 0870/0871 is being used then other alternatives – i.e. a standard geographical number (either in parallel with, or as an alternative to the 0870/0871 number), the web or postal mechanisms should be considered and made available. 0870/0871 might be appropriate in a business environment, but even here its use should be treated with caution."

So I called the Driving Standards Agency customer services and asked for the geographical number. The person I spoke to wouldn't give the number so I pointed out that government guidelines say that it should be made available. He responded that the DSA is not a government department and does not have to follow these guidelines.

The DSA stationery is marked in big letters "Department for Transport" and in small letters underneath "An executive agency of the Department of Transport". So maybe they're right that they don't have to follow government guidelines. I've phoned the Department for Transport to see if they agree. I'll keep you posted on the response.

The Driving Standards Agency's chief executive sent me a reply explaining their policy.

I had pointed out the government's revised guidelines, which discourage the use of 0870 numbers.

His reply said: "We know about the Central Office of Information’s re-issued section of Better practice guidance for government contact centres, part of which explains the benefits of using non-geographic numbers.  The guidance also explains, however, that if a non-geographic number is used, then other contact methods should also be available.  We believe that allowing customers to contact us by facsimile, email or post does exactly that. "

So it seems that the answer is that if you want to rebook a driving test but don't want to use the 0870 number, the quickest recommended option is to use email.

After reading the comments here. I tried using 0191 201 4028 for booking tests. I have had no problem using this number and I have given it to my pupils to use as well who have not reported any problems. The bonus is that you avoid the irritating and expensive options at the beginning (money making exercise me thinks???). Thank you so much, this site has saved me a lot of money each month (and poked one in the eye of several corporate monsters!!!)