Driving Test Wait Times Reach Two-Year Low in the UK

Waiting times for practical driving tests in the UK have fallen to their lowest point in two years, with learner drivers now waiting an average of 19.7 weeks. This marks a significant decrease from previous months, bringing the average wait to under five months for the first time since November 2024.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has been working to reduce these waiting times, which surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the recent improvement, the current average wait is still considerably longer than the DVSA's initial target of seven weeks, a goal that was expected to be met by the end of last year.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander had previously pushed back the target to summer 2026, but later acknowledged that even this timeline might be unachievable, with waits not anticipated to fall to seven weeks until the autumn of next year.

In September, the DVSA conducted 191,682 practical driving tests, with over half of candidates passing. Learner drivers have frequently cited the difficulty in accessing tests as a major impediment to their independence, educational pursuits, and career prospects.

Earlier in the year, the DVSA implemented changes to its booking system to combat the issue of third-party providers using automated programs, or bots, to book tests and resell them at inflated prices. The current system now restricts test bookings to the learner driver only.

Driving instructors, however, express skepticism about the extent of the improvement. Sophie Stuchfield, a driving instructor from Watford, noted that while the reselling of tests appears to have ceased, a critical shortage of examiners persists. She observed that in many areas, the actual wait time can still be around 21 weeks. "On many occasions, my drivers wake up at 5.45am on a Monday, only to not end up with a test as when they click on something, by the time they put their details in, they are told the test has already been taken," Stuchfield told the BBC.

She also highlighted the pressure created by learner drivers booking tests months in advance, even before beginning their lessons, due to the lengthy waiting periods.

Justin Madders, the minister for roads, acknowledged the government inherited "record waiting times and a significant backlog." He stated that while test waiting times are not yet at the desired level, the recent figures indicate "real progress is being made."

A DVSA spokesperson affirmed the agency's commitment to reducing waiting times, noting that examiner numbers are at their highest level since November 2017. The spokesperson concluded, "But we know there's more to do and we won't stop until every learner can get a test slot when they need one, wherever they're learning to drive."