Failure to fix driving test backlog

17 June 2024

Measures to tackle driving test waiting times are failing, says the AA Driving School, as new data shows they are increasing every month.

Freedom of information data from the DVSA, accessed by the AA Driving School, shows the average waiting time for a driving test at the start of February was 14.8 weeks. It has risen incrementally in each interim month since to 17.8 weeks at the start of May – an increase of 20 per cent*.

The data also shows a 33% rise in the number of test centres with average waiting times of more than five months, rising from 94 at the start of February to 125 at the start of May.

“Being able to drive is not a luxury – for many people it is an absolute necessity to get them to work, education and employment."

Overall, at the start of May, the vast majority of test centres (93%) had average waiting times in excess of the pre-pandemic average of six weeks.

Half (51%) of test centres have seen average waiting times increase this year; only a fifth (20%) have seen an improvement.

Reducing the driving test backlog and improving waiting times for learners is a key priority in The AA’s Motoring Manifesto – which outlines vital transport priorities to all political parties ahead of the general election in July.

Camilla Benitz, Managing Director AA Driving School, said: “Enough is enough. The additional test slots the DVSA added to the system between October and March have made no difference to the average waiting time learners up and down the country are facing.

“In fact, learners faced longer average waiting times in May than they did in February.

“More has to be done to address this issue. Being able to drive is not a luxury – for many people it is an absolute necessity to get them to work, education and employment.

“We need to see a renewed commitment from the DVSA to make additional driving test slots available, but also to recruiting and retaining more examiners so additional learner test slots do not come at the expense of other vital DVSA services, such as driving instructor training exams, which we have seen falling availability of recently.”

Regional data:

71 test centres had average waits of 24 weeks (the maximum the system will allow to be recorded) on both February 5th and May 6th:

Test centres which increased their average waiting time between February and May to 24 weeks include: Barnet (London), Basingstoke, Dorchester, Greenham, Hornchurch (London), Inveraray, Ipswich, Kettering, Maidstone, Newport (Isle of Wight), Nottingham (Chilwell), Plymouth and Whitby.

*Freedom of Information Act 2000 request received on 21 May 2024; requested on behalf of AA Driving School. Further regional information available on request. Please note the LGV test centres have been correctly included as they offer car practical tests.