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Official data reveals that waiting periods for driving tests have fallen below 20 weeks for the first time since November 2024. In September, learners faced an average wait of 19.7 weeks—roughly five months—before taking the practical driving test. This reduction comes after significant efforts by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to address the backlog caused by interruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic that began in 2020.
Despite these efforts, some driving instructors remain critical of the pace of improvement. One instructor told the BBC, “I don’t think this is anything to boast about.” The DVSA originally aimed to bring waiting times down to seven weeks by the end of last year. That target was postponed by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to summer 2026 but was later pushed forward again, with the expectation now set for waiting times to reach seven weeks only by next autumn. In September alone, the DVSA administered 191,682 practical driving tests, with more than half of the candidates passing.
A persistent issue has been the limited availability of tests restricting some learners’ independence, education, and employment opportunities. Earlier this year, some learner drivers resorted to paying inflated fees to third-party resellers who exploited the booking system using automated bots to monopolize test slots. In response, the DVSA implemented changes to ensure that only the learner driver themselves can book test appointments, effectively curbing the abuse of the booking system.
Driving instructor Sophie Stuchfield from Watford noted that although the re-selling of driving tests has been greatly reduced—a “massive positive”—the agency has failed to recruit enough examiners to meet demand. She described the modest decline in waiting times as insufficient and mentioned that in certain areas, waits still stand at around 21 weeks. Stuchfield recounted learners waking early to try and secure test slots, only to find them gone by the time they finish their booking. The lengthy waiting period also causes pressure, as many learners schedule tests months in advance, often before starting lessons. On the government side, roads minister Justin Madders acknowledged the inherited backlog but emphasized that “real progress is being made.” A DVSA spokesperson echoed this sentiment, noting that examiner numbers are at their highest since November 2017 and reaffirming the agency’s commitment to further reducing waiting times until all learners can secure test appointments when needed
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