Driving test waits fall to two-year low - but still average 20 weeks
Average waiting times for practical driving tests in the UK have fallen below 20 weeks for the first time since 2024. Despite this improvement, instructors argue that the backlog remains significant and that the DVSA has failed to recruit enough examiners to meet demand.
Why it matters
Long wait times for driving tests affect the mobility, education, and employment opportunities of thousands of learner drivers.
Image source, Getty Images Published 15 minutes ago Waiting times for driving tests have dropped below 20 weeks for the first time since November 2024, according to official figures.
But learner drivers in September still had to wait an average of 19.7 weeks, or around five months, for a practical test.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has been trying to cut waiting times and clear a backlog which began during the Covid pandemic in 2020.
Commenting on the agency's progress, one driving instructor told the BBC: "I don't think this is anything to boast about."
The DVSA initially had hoped to reduce the average waiting time to seven weeks by the end of last year.
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