Driving Test Backlog to Persist Until Late 2025, Transport Secretary Confirms to MPs
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) faces continued challenges in addressing the substantial backlog in driving tests, with average waiting times extending to almost 22 weeks last month. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander informed a committee of MPs on Wednesday that efforts to reduce this to a seven-week target would not be realised until autumn next year, a revision from an earlier summer 2026 estimate.
Alexander acknowledged the widespread frustration among learner drivers, many of whom have resorted to purchasing test slots from resellers at inflated prices. An investigation in December uncovered instances of driving instructors being offered kickbacks of up to £250 monthly to provide login details to touts, facilitating this illicit trade.
Measures Against Reselling and Speculative Booking
In response to these issues, several changes have been implemented to the test booking system. Since May 12, only pupils are permitted to book their own driving tests. Furthermore, new rules introduced on June 9 restrict test slot transfers to only the three test centres geographically closest to the original booking. This measure aims to curb the practice of learners booking the earliest available slot, regardless of location, then attempting to swap it to a more convenient centre.
Alexander stated that while it is premature to draw definitive conclusions, initial data indicates a 70% reduction in test swaps since the latest changes, suggesting a decline in speculative bookings. However, she maintained that demand remains exceptionally high, necessitating further work.
Recruitment and retention of driving examiners continue to be a concern, though Alexander noted a net increase of 147 examiners in the 12 months leading to May. The Transport Secretary also indicated that routinely published statistics on waiting times would be enhanced to include breakdowns by individual test centre, addressing past critiques regarding their utility.
