Plans to reduce the waiting time for driving tests in Great Britain to seven weeks will not be realized until November 2027, according to a recent audit report from the National Audit Office (NAO). The current average wait for a practical driving test stands at 22 weeks, with only a net increase of 83 driving test examiners hired since 2021 despite 19 recruitment campaigns.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) reported that approximately 680,000 individuals who have passed their theory tests are still unable to book practical tests. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that about 70% of driving test centres have all available slots booked for the maximum 24 weeks in advance.
In response to this backlog, the government announced plans to prohibit bots and third parties from booking tests. This measure aims to curb the exploitation of learners, as some test slots are being resold by touts at inflated prices—up to eight times the standard fee of £62, as highlighted by the NAO.
Challenges in Reducing Wait Times
The NAO discovered that while the DVSA had previously aimed to cut the wait time to seven weeks by the end of 2025, it now anticipates a delay of two additional years. The agency faced significant challenges in addressing not only the backlog of approximately 1.1 million tests accumulated during the pandemic but also the growing number of candidates taking theory tests and the activity of bots booking slots.
The report also pointed out that many examiners have left their positions due to safety concerns and low pay. Originally, the DVSA aimed to add 400 net examiners, but the actual number hired remains at just 83. Additionally, the DVSA is currently losing £24 on every driving test conducted, resulting in an annual deficit of £44 million, as the test fee has not changed since 2009.
Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, stated, “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 DVSA and the Department for Transport take decisive action to restore a fit-for-purpose driving test service.”
Government Initiatives to Address the Backlog
In light of the findings, the Department for Transport (DfT) has committed to making more tests available and has even enlisted military driving examiners to assist with testing. A DfT spokesperson commented, “We inherited a frustrating system with learner drivers left in limbo waiting for tests, a system ripe for rogue individuals to exploit. That’s why we’re taking decisive action to address the backlog and seeing improvement.”
The DfT has implemented several measures, including limiting test moves and swaps and allowing only learner drivers to book tests starting in spring 2026. Between June and November of this year, the DVSA conducted 74,847 additional tests compared to the previous year, and officials believe these new measures will yield thousands more tests over the next year.
The situation remains a pressing concern for both the government and aspiring drivers, as the lengthy waiting times continue to impact learner drivers across Great Britain.
