Learner drivers still forced to wait months to book tests – BBC News
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Learner drivers still forced to wait months to book tests
Image source: Getty Images
By Katy Austin, Transport correspondent
Emer Moreau, Business reporter
and Simon Browning, Business reporter
Published 9 September 2026, 09:50 BST
Updated 18 minutes ago
Learner drivers have to wait an average 20 weeks, or around five months, before booking a practical test, according to new figures, despite attempts to reduce delays.
The data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for August is only a marginal improvement from 20.2 weeks in July. The average wait time between booking and sitting a test remains 11.1 weeks.
The DVSA initially had a target of reducing the average waiting time to seven weeks by the end of last year. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander pushed the target back to summer 2026, but subsequently admitted even that would not be possible.
The DVSA made several changes to its practical driving test booking system earlier this year. Only the learner driver themself is now able to book their driving test, blocking an instructor or third parties from booking using the learner’s details. There is also a geographical restriction which means a learner can only book a test at their three local test centres, rather than one at the other side of the country if they found a test available. The number of times a would-be driver can swap a test date has also been restricted.
"I feel a lot of pressure to pass", says Lucy Rend, 19, from south east London, who has been learning to drive for two-and-a-half years. She has a driving test on Thursday and feels under pressure to pass because getting a slot has been so difficult.
It meant getting up at 5.45am everyday to get on the DVSA for 6am. "Then I’d be 21,000 in the queue," she said. "It was very hard but randomly one popped up."
Rend: "I feel lots of pressure to pass because if I don’t pass I will have to go through all that again and try find another test, so would rather pass this one and then it is done."
Her friends are also struggling to book a test and "most of them have given up and not going to bother anymore".
"There’s more to do and we’re not going to stop until every learner can get a fair test slot when they need one," said DVSA chief executive Beverley Warmington. "Today’s figures show our plan is working."
Carly Brookfield, the chief executive of the Driving Instructors Association, said the higher number of available tests was "progress that should be recognised" but, for learners and instructors "the pressure is still very real".
"The ultimate measure of recovery has to be a testing service that learners and the professional training community can access when they need it," she said.
Adem Veli, who has been an instructor for 16 years and runs his driving school Passman in Sidcup, said: "Before Covid we had the luxury we could pick the test date and work towards that date." But he said learners having to wait so long can have a huge impact on their confidence. "It’s about a six month wait. Can you imagine if you did fail your driving test, you’re test standard and ready to go [but] have to wait another six months?"
