Learner drivers in Great Britain face average waits of 22 weeks for a practical driving test, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO). The government's promise to reduce waiting times to seven weeks by the end of 2025 is now not expected to be achieved until November 2027.
The NAO found that despite 19 recruitment campaigns since 2021, only 83 net additional driving examiners have been hired, far short of the 400 target. Many examiners are quitting due to safety concerns and low pay. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) estimates around 680,000 people have passed their theory test but not yet booked a practical test.
About 70% of test centres have every slot fully booked for the maximum 24 weeks ahead. The NAO noted that the DVSA was slow to react to factors such as increased demand and bots booking slots. Touts resell test slots at up to eight times the £62 fee.
The government announced plans in November to ban bots and third parties from booking tests, and will deploy military driving examiners from spring 2026. It also plans to limit test moves and swaps. The DVSA has carried out 74,847 extra tests between June and November 2025 compared to 2024.
The Department for Transport said it is taking decisive action to address the backlog, but the NAO head Gareth Davies stated the current system is not working satisfactorily. The DVSA is also losing £24 per test, a deficit of £44m over the year, as the fee has not changed since 2009.
