• April 30, 2025

Six months wait to get an appointment for a driving test in UK

Six months wait to get an appointment for a driving test in UK

LONDON April 30: Learner drivers in the UK are encountering severe delays, with many waiting up to six months to secure a practical driving test appointment. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) website struggles to meet demand, leaving applicants in lengthy virtual queues reminiscent of high-demand event ticket sales.

BBC Verify found this week that the average waiting time across the 319 driving test centres in Great Britain was 22 weeks, with three-quarters of centres hitting the maximum average wait time of 24 weeks.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has pledged to reduce the average waiting time to no more than seven weeks by summer 2026, a deadline the government had previously set for the end of 2025.

She said the current situation was “totally unacceptable” and that ministers would aim to clear the backlog with measures such as doubling examiner training capacity and reintroducing overtime pay incentives.

The average wait across the UK’s 319 test centers stands at 22 weeks, with 75% of centers hitting the maximum 24-week delay. Desperate candidates are turning to paid apps that alert them to last-minute cancellations, while others travel hours to less congested test locations. Driving instructors report that securing a slot has become more challenging than passing the test itself, with some learners booking tests prematurely due to fears of expiring theory certificates or job requirements.