Driving test candidate 'confused' by photo refusal

A learner driver has described feeling "confused" at being turned away on the day of his test, because the examiner said his face did not match the photo on his provisional licence.

Yin Cheong William Shen, who was born in Hong Kong, waited eight months for a driving test near his home in Basingstoke, Hampshire, before being prevented from taking it.

His instructor Stephen Lambert said the examiner's decision in November was an "insult".

However, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has upheld the decision and refused to give a refund.

Shen said the examiner's refusal left him perplexed.

"He asked me to hand him my ID, and he suddenly, his face looked so shocked," the learner driver said.

"He said: 'Your face does not match my ID.'... After that he decided that my test has been terminated and walked away.

"I feel confused. I've been using my ID with no issues before in the past, especially for my theory test.

"It's the same photo as my passport, which caused no issues when I travelled this year."

His driving instructor said the issue had never happened to him before.

"Not this, ever, in 28 years. I felt shocked and surprised," said Lambert.

"I looked at the licence again, held it up against William's face.

"I said to the examiner: 'No, these are his eyes, his ears, his mouth. It looks like him to me.'

"It's not a case of he's passed or failed his test - he's judged on his appearance in the photo. And it's an insult."

The DVSA said it had investigated the incident and would not offer a refund or a free retest.

In a letter to William, it wrote: "The law requires that a test candidate must produce suitable identification to the examiner at the start of the test.

"The examiner must refuse the test if they are not completely satisfied with the identification provided."

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