Learner drivers in Callander are facing an average wait of 27.7 weeks to take their driving test, according to new figures from the RAC based on Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) data. This places Callander second in the UK for the longest waits between booking and taking a test.
Scotland dominates top ten waits
The data, from a June 2026 report, shows that seven of the top ten longest waits are in Scotland. Forfar has the longest wait at close to 30 months, with Callander following.
At the main Stirling test centre, the average wait is 12 and a half weeks, though there is a six-month delay before 10 per cent of weekly tests are available to book.
DVSA targets missed
The report comes as a blow to ministers and DVSA officials, who had aimed to cut the average wait across the UK to seven weeks by the end of 2025. That target was pushed back to summer 2026 and has now been extended into next year.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander warned the DVSA to fix the issues last year, with measures including doubling the number of permanent trainers for new driving examiners and an “accelerated consultation” over ‘bots’ buying up tests.
A DVSA spokesman said it had conducted more than 278,000 tests in the period to June 2026 than over the previous year.
The spokesman added: “DVSA is working hard to improve and maintain its testing capacity across the whole of Great Britain – our latest data shows the median waiting time for Scotland was 15.6 weeks in July 2026.
“To manage capacity in some areas, DVSA uses a book-to-hold system. This allows us to effectively manage demand and deploy resources in the right areas to support local learner drivers.
“Due to the way tests are booked, this can cause median waiting times to fluctuate more than at test centres where driving examiners are permanently based on site.”
