DVSA News & Analysis
3 articles
Market Mood
Driving Test Wait Time Nearly 22 Weeks as Target Delayed to 2026
The average waiting time to book a driving test was nearly 22 weeks as of last month, far exceeding the government target of seven weeks by the end of 2025. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged that the deadline has now been pushed back to summer 2026. In efforts to address the backlog, new rules limiting changes to bookings have led to a 70% decrease in speculative swaps. Additionally, there has been a net increase of 147 driving examiners over the past year, but demand remains high, prolonging wait times for learners.
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Driving Test No-Show Rates Reach 64,500 in the UK
In the UK, 64,500 practical driving tests went unattended last year, representing 3.2% of all booked tests, which totaled 1,998,608. The average wait time for a practical driving test across Britain exceeds five months, with specific wait times of 22.7 weeks in England, 22.9 weeks in Scotland, and 17.3 weeks in Wales. New regulations will limit test rescheduling to the three nearest centers aiming to mitigate no-shows and reduce wait times. The previous year's no-show figure increased from 52,000, highlighting a persistent issue in the driving test booking system.
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Driving Test Booking Changes From May 12, Key Updates for Learners
Starting May 12, learner drivers will only be able to book, change, or swap their own driving tests, eliminating the previous system where instructors could book on their behalf. These changes aim to reduce waiting lists, which have reached up to six months, and prevent the resale of test slots at inflated prices. The standard fee for a driving test is £62 on weekdays and £75 on evenings, weekends, and bank holidays. Additionally, from March 31, learners can only make two changes to their booking, down from the previous limit of six.
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