It’s a shame to end 2025 on a low note but a new report from the National Audit Office (NAO) reveals that the wait for your driving test is set to continue. You may recall that the government recently said it would miss its target of cutting average waiting times down to seven weeks by summer 2026.

However, new information reveals the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is now not expecting to achieve its target until November 2027.

Big problems

The far-reaching NAO report examines why this has happened, listing the main issues as:

  • The backlog created by the COVID pandemic
  • Third parties using automated bots to scoop up driving test slots
  • Not enough examiners being recruited – despite 19 recruitment campaigns
  • Existing examiners are leaving the sector because of ‘uncompetitive pay and safety worries’.
  • Overall, while a goal of recruiting 400 more examiners was set by the DVSA, there are now only 83 more examiners compared to 2021.
  • To compound issues, the DVSA is actually losing £24 per test – that adds up to a £44 million deficit over a year – as the cost of the driving test hasn’t increased since 2009.

“The current system for providing driving tests in England, Scotland and Wales is not working satisfactorily, with long waiting times and exploitation of learner drivers by resellers of test slots. Our report recommends that the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency and the Department for Transport take decisive action to restore a fit for purpose driving test service.”

• Gareth Davies, Head of the NAO

Long wait

These issues leave learners having to put u with an average waiting time of 22 weeks (as of September 2025). That’s compared to just over five weeks in early 2020. Also, 70% of DVSA test centres have reached the maximum waiting time of 24 weeks.

All this has had a significant impact on learner drivers and their lives. For instance, 30% say they need to be able to drive for work. This might explain why just under a third of learners are turning to third party websites to secure a driving test slot, sometimes paying up to £500 for the privilege (instead of the £62 charged by the DVSA).

Taking action

It should be pointed out that the DVSA has recently announced a series of changes to address many of the issues from spring 2026. These include:

  • Only learners will be able to book their driving test, instead of driving instructors. This will help cull the number of automated bots buying up slots.
  • Limits are also being put in place to reduce the number of times a learner can swap or move their booked test as well as the number of times the location of a test can be changed.
  • Military examiners are being brought in to increase the number of examiners available to carry out tests.
  • To help reduce the number of examiners leaving their jobs, a £5,000 retention payment is being introduced from next year.

All change

Finally, a new chief executive has taken over the running of the DVSA – Beverley Warmington replaces Loveday Ryder who recently stepped down from the role.

Minister for Roads and Buses, Simon Lightwood, said that, “Beverley Warmington brings a wealth of operational leadership experience … I have every confidence she will grip the driving test backlog and robustly oversee the reforms needed to ensure learners can get on the road when they are truly ready and safe to do so.”

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