With three quarters of driving test centres now hitting the maximum average waiting time of 24 weeks for a test, something needed to happen.

Step forward the government that unveiled a series of measures this week that it says will massively reduce the delays to booking a practical driving test.

Tackling the crisis

The government aims to remove the backlog by next summer by providing a minimum of 10,000 extra tests every month. This means the current six-month minimum wait in some areas will be reduced to an average time of seven weeks by the middle of 2026.

“We inherited an enormous backlog of learners ready to ditch their L-Plates but being forced to endure record waiting time for their tests,” said Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.

“I am instructing DVSA [Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency] to take further action immediately to reduce waiting times which will see thousands of additional tests made available every month. We’re acting fast to get Britain’s drivers moving.”

“The waiting times that people are experiencing are totally unacceptable.”

• Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary, to a Commons transport select committee

Next steps

To hit the ambitious goal, several measures were announced including:

  1. Doubling the number of permanent trainers to get more new driving examiners qualified who can then help alleviate the waiting time issue.
  2. Moving people within the DVSA who are qualified to examine back to the frontline to increase the number of examiners available for tests.
  3. Reintroducing overtime for those involved with delivering driving tests so more people are working on the issue round the clock.
  4. Blocking bots (automated software) that hoover up new driving test slots on the DVSA website as soon as they become available – as they can move so quickly, learners don’t stand a chance beating them to a booking. The bot-sourced slots are then sold on at higher price by third parties to learners desperate to take their test.

“We’re all shocked about the booking system, and bots and third parties … but frankly that’s a function of the shortage of supply, and isn’t in itself going to solve the problem.”

• Ruth Cadbury, transport select committee chair, to Transport Secretary

Official response

In response to the government announcement, the DVSA stated: “Since December 2024, we’ve made significant progress on implementing our plan to reduce waiting times. But we know that many learner drivers are not seeing the immediate effects of the measures.

“The further action which the Secretary of State has announced today will help us to accelerate those measures, including expanding training capacity for newly recruited driving examiners so more of them can start carrying out driving tests sooner.”

The problem

According to BBC Verify, data from a Freedom of Information request made to the DVSA reveals that as of 24 March 2025:

  • Across Great Britain, the average waiting time stood at 22 weeks; that’s up from 18 weeks in July 2024.
  • Greater London’s test centres were badly affected with 28 out 30 centres reaching the maximum waiting time of 24 weeks.
  • Only one in ten centres had an average waiting time less than 10 weeks with the best located in Wales – Bala (one week wait) and Bangor (three weeks).

“Learner drivers have been dealing with frustratingly long waiting times to book a driving test since the easing of pandemic related restrictions several years ago.”

• Emma Bush, managing director, AA Driving School

Get ahead

As we’ve covered before, the DVSA has attempted to resolve the issue, carrying out a record number of tests last year – 1.92 million. However, the sheer scale of the problem is still leading to extensive waiting lists.

We recommend you follow the advice of the DVSA’s ‘Ready to Pass?’ Campaign. This says you should only book your driving test when your instructor believes that you’re ready to actually take it.

In the meantime, time will tell if the government – and the DVSA – will succeed in hitting their ambitious targets.

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