Prospective drivers across the United Kingdom are being forced to embark on marathon journeys and endure waits of nearly half a year just to secure a practical driving test. A severe backlog, rooted in pandemic disruptions and exacerbated by slot resellers, has created a national crisis for learners.
The Scale of the Driving Test Crisis
Official figures reveal the stark reality facing new drivers. The average waiting time for a test has ballooned to 22 weeks, with a staggering over 638,000 people currently on the forward booking list. According to a report from the National Audit Office, this immense queue is not forecast to clear until November 2027.
The primary causes are twofold. The Covid-19 lockdowns brought testing to a standstill for extended periods, creating an initial wave of postponements. This problem was then compounded by third-party bots and resellers who snap up test slots to sell them on at a premium, making it even harder for genuine learners to book.
Desperate Measures: 10-Hour Journeys for a Test Slot
Faced with such extreme delays, many learner drivers are taking matters into their own hands with drastic and costly measures. Stories are emerging of individuals travelling hundreds of miles across the country, with journeys lasting up to ten hours, to find an available test slot at a less busy centre.
Test centres in remote locations like Fort William in Scotland and Carmarthen in Wales have become unlikely destinations for desperate learners from major cities, highlighting the geographical imbalance in test availability.
The DVSA's Response and Long-Term Solutions
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced a series of new rules and measures for 2025 designed to tackle the backlog. Key changes to the booking system include:
- Restricting test bookings to learners only, blocking third-party bots.
- Limiting how often a booking can be edited to prevent reseller activity.
- Deploying additional examiners, including military personnel, to increase testing capacity.
While these steps are welcomed as providing some short-term relief, industry experts and motoring organisations stress that a permanent solution requires sustained action. They emphasise that increased recruitment and better retention of driving examiners are critical to building a resilient system that can meet future demand and prevent another crisis.
The situation remains challenging for hundreds of thousands of people whose employment, education, and independence hinge on passing their test. The coming months will test whether the DVSA's interventions can significantly reduce the daunting waiting times.
