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Learner drivers throughout the United Kingdom are grappling with prolonged delays in securing practical driving test appointments as the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) struggles to address the mounting backlog.
As of early 2025, the average waiting time for a driving test has escalated to approximately 20 weeks, with certain test centres experiencing delays extending up to 24 weeks. This situation marks a significant increase from previous years and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the DVSA in managing the demand for driving tests.
In response, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said that the UK government is working fast to overcome the enormous backlog it had inherited and will make at least 10,000 extra tests a month available. Its aim is to reduce the average waiting list to seven weeks by the summer of 2026 at the latest.
To combat the wait lists, the DVSA and government are implementing a number of measures, including asking qualified staff to return to the front line while also doubling the number of permanent trainers. The government is also launching a consultation to change the booking system and stop bots from mass-booking new slots and reselling them via the black market. The DVSA has also recently announced it will be clamping down on misuse of the system, having handed out hundreds of warnings, suspensions and account closures since 2023.
Additional changes have been made to those individuals who cancel at short notice, with tougher terms and conditions for instructors who can book tests for pupils.
However, despite the measures implemented, the DVSA acknowledges that reducing the backlog will still take time, and students will need to remain patient for a little longer.
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