Driving Test Waits Fall to Two-Year Low - But Still Average 20 Weeks
BBC News reports that waiting times for driving tests have dipped below 20 weeks for the first time since November 2024, according to official figures. Specifically, the average wait in September was 19.7 weeks, or approximately five months.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has been working to reduce waiting times and clear a backlog that originated during the Covid pandemic in 2020. However, a driving instructor questioned the DVSA's progress, stating, "I don't think this is anything to boast about."
Initial DVSA targets aimed to slash the average waiting time to seven weeks by the end of last year, but Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander later pushed the deadline to summer 2026.
In September, the DVSA conducted 191,682 practical driving tests, with over half of those candidates passing. Learner drivers have shared with the BBC how limited access to driving tests has affected their freedom, education, and job prospects.
Early this year, the DVSA implemented changes to the test booking system to prevent third-party resellers from exploiting the system. Now, only the learner driver can book their test. However, instructors like Sophie Stuchfield note a persistent shortage of examiners, leading to lengthy wait times, even after the re-selling of tests has been curbed.
Justin Madders, the minister for roads, acknowledged the government's challenge, stating, "While driving test waiting times are still not where we want them to be, these figures show real progress is being made." A DVSA spokesperson emphasized their commitment to reducing waiting times and increasing examiner numbers.