DVSA Driving Test Waiting Times to Exceed Target Until Autumn 2025, Minister Confirms
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will not reduce the average driving test waiting time to its target of seven weeks until autumn next year, the Transport Secretary has confirmed. This revised timeline pushes the target back from the summer 2026 estimate provided last November.
Currently, DVSA figures show the average wait to book a test stood at nearly 22 weeks last month. This compares starkly with the pre-pandemic average of approximately five weeks.
Booking System Reforms Implemented
In response to persistent delays and issues with test slots being resold at inflated prices, several changes to the booking system have been introduced. These measures, announced last November by Heidi Alexander, include limiting test slot bookings solely to learners themselves. Additionally, new rules introduced since March restrict changes to booked slots to a maximum of two, and as of 9 June, test relocations are limited to the three closest test centres to the original booking.
The Transport Secretary informed a Committee of MPs on Wednesday that while demand remains exceptionally high, there is early evidence of reduced speculative booking. She noted a 70% decrease in test swaps since the latest changes were implemented.
Addressing MP concerns, Alexander acknowledged public frustration and the substantial work still required. She reported a net increase of 147 driving examiners in the 12 months to May, and announced plans to publish more detailed average wait time statistics broken down by individual test centres.
