If you're learning to drive, you’re not imagining it – booking a driving test right now is a nightmare.
New data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) shows that over 600,000 people are currently waiting for a practical driving test. As of the end of April, 603,352 tests had been booked – a huge jump from 521,190 at the same time in 2022. The average waiting time? 20 weeks, according to the AA.
What’s even more frustrating is that despite the rise in demand, the DVSA is actually doing fewer tests. Between January and April this year, they carried out 610,000 tests, which is 15% less than the same period in 2024.
The DVSA has partly blamed the issue on people booking tests before they’re ready, which they say is clogging up the system. Interestingly, the pass rate has gone up – from 48.3% to 50.2% – which could suggest learners are getting better prepared. But still, the backlog keeps growing.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander was recently questioned by MPs about why the DVSA still hasn’t solved the problem. She said the government is now stepping in, promising to add 10,000 extra tests every month and crack down on bots that bulk-book appointments to resell them – a major issue for anyone trying to book online.
So far, though, the action on bots is just talk. The government says a consultation is coming, but nothing concrete has happened yet.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The current backlog facing learner drivers is completely unacceptable, but we are taking decisive action to address the situation inherited from the previous government.”
They continued, “Thanks to the intervention of the Secretary of State, an additional 10,000 driving tests will be made available monthly. This will ensure ready learners can book their tests more quickly, helping to unlock opportunity and supporting economic growth.”
Let’s hope they deliver – because right now, the wait is painfully long.
