Waiting times for practical driving tests have fallen below 20 weeks for the first time since November 2024, according to official figures. In September, learner drivers faced an average wait of 19.7 weeks, or approximately five months, for a practical test.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has been working to reduce waiting times and address a backlog that began during the Covid pandemic in 2020. The agency had initially aimed to cut the average waiting time to seven weeks by the end of last year.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander later moved this target to summer 2026, but subsequently stated it would not be achievable, with waits not expected to reach seven weeks until next autumn. The DVSA reported that examiner numbers are at their highest level since November 2017.
Changes were made to the test booking system earlier this year to prevent third-party providers from reselling tests. Now, only the learner driver can book their driving test. However, a driving instructor noted that in many areas, the wait for a driving test is 21 weeks.