Driving test waits fall to two-year low - but still average 20 weeks
Learner drivers in September had to wait an average of 19.7 weeks, or around five months, for a practical test.
Key points
- Average wait for a practical driving test in September was 19.7 weeks, a two-year low.
- The DVSA conducted 191,682 practical tests in September, with over half passing.
- The DVSA's original target of a seven-week wait by end of last year was pushed back to summer 2026, then to next autumn.
Learner drivers in September still faced an average wait of 19.7 weeks, or about five months, for a practical driving test, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The figure represents a two-year low, but falls short of the DVSA's original goal of a seven-week average by the end of last year.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander later pushed that target to summer 2026, then admitted even that would not be met, with waits not expected to reach seven weeks until next autumn.
What officials said
Justin Madders, the minister for roads, said the government "inherited record waiting times and a significant backlog". He added that while waiting times are still not where they want them to be, the figures show real progress.
A DVSA spokesperson said the agency is "committed to reducing waiting times" and that examiner numbers are at their highest level since November 2017. The spokesperson added that more work remains and they will not stop until every learner can get a test slot when needed.
Whilst the re-selling of tests does seem to have stopped, which is a massive positive, they've still failed to recruit enough examiners to cope with demand.
— Sophie Stuchfield, driving instructor in Watford
Instructor and learner concerns
Sophie Stuchfield, a driving instructor in Watford, told the BBC that while the reselling of tests appears to have stopped, the DVSA has still failed to recruit enough examiners to cope with demand. She said the slight fall in waiting times "is anything to boast about" and noted waits of 21 weeks in many areas.
Stuchfield described learners waking at 5.45am on Mondays only to find tests already taken, and said some who haven't started lessons book tests five months ahead, adding pressure on learners and instructors. Learner drivers have repeatedly told the BBC that lack of test access has limited their freedom, education and job prospects.
