Drivers across the UK may face a frustrating wait of up to five months to get their driving licence due to ongoing problems at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The driving test backlog has worsened, with current estimates projecting delays continuing until autumn 2027, according to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
Recent DVSA data reveals the average waiting time for a driving test stands at nearly 22 weeks—approximately five months. Acknowledging widespread public frustration, Ms Alexander stated, “I totally understand people’s frustrations.”
Despite these challenges, Ms Alexander emphasized that the government is taking significant steps to tackle the issue. “We have done a lot,” she said, while noting that demand for tests remains very high. During a session at the Transport Select Committee, she explained: “Realistically, this is going to take a long time to sort this problem out, and I think by the autumn of next year we should be back down to the seven-week aspiration that we’ve got.”
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Her goal is to reduce waiting times so that test bookings no longer require months of delay, a situation currently affecting many regions. To help alleviate the backlog, the government is recruiting additional driving examiners and accelerating their training. They are also deploying military examiners and reforming the booking system to prevent misuse.
Ms Alexander highlighted recent improvements, noting a 70% decrease in booking swap volumes and a one-third drop in refund requests since May 12. This suggests a reduction in speculative booking and rebooking practices.
New rules introduced earlier this year restrict test slot changes to a maximum of two per booking and limit booking abilities to pupils only, excluding driving instructors. Starting June 9, test rescheduling is further limited to the three closest test centres to the original booking location.
While the backlog remains a significant challenge, these measures aim to restore efficient access to driving tests and reduce lengthy delays for prospective drivers.