The United Kingdom’s driving test waiting times continue to improve, though significant challenges remain for the millions of learners still caught in the system. Recent government announcements reveal a multi-pronged approach to ease the persistent backlog, which has blighted the lives of nearly 650,000 aspiring drivers waiting for their practical tests.
Understanding the Scale of the Crisis
The situation facing British learner drivers is truly unprecedented. As of September 2025, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) reported that 668,128 people had practical driving tests booked. This represents a 15 percent increase compared to the 579,138 tests booked a year earlier. Meanwhile, the average waiting time sits at approximately 21.8 weeks – that is five months of delay for something that should typically take just a few weeks.
The backlog represents a perfect storm of circumstances. When the coronavirus pandemic struck in 2020, driving tests were suspended entirely for several months. Since then, demand has surged beyond anything the system anticipated. Thousands of learners postponed lessons during lockdown and now seek to catch up. Simultaneously, many approved driving instructors left the profession during the crisis and have not returned. These compounding factors have created what Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described as “an enormous backlog.”
Record Numbers of Tests Being Conducted
Despite the gloomy statistics, the government’s intervention appears to be bearing fruit. The DVSA conducted 168,644 practical driving tests in September 2025, representing a 14 percent increase compared to 148,144 tests conducted in the same month the previous year. October figures show further progress, with 182,000 tests completed – a 9 percent rise from October 2024’s total of 168,000.
These numbers demonstrate that capacity is genuinely expanding. The DVSA completed 1.96 million driving tests across the entire year, with an additional 42,000 tests delivered between June and September 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Yet demand continues to outpace supply, meaning the backlog grows even as the system works harder.
Military Driving Examiners Join the Fight
In a striking development announced on November 12, 2025, the government confirmed that 36 military driving examiners from the Ministry of Defence would be deployed to support the DVSA. These highly trained defence personnel typically test service drivers but will now offer their expertise one day per week for the next 12 months.
The military contribution represents just one element of a broader strategy. The military examiners are expected to deliver up to 6,500 additional tests annually. Whilst this might seem substantial, it underscores just how vast the challenge remains. Some test centres operate with such pressure that the military’s contribution, though valuable, merely scratches the surface.
Minister for the Future of Roads Simon Lightwood praised the deployment, stating that the government is “incentivising examiners, nearly doubling the number of trainers, and unlocking more tests.” The DVSA has recruited 316 new examiners and nearly doubled the number of trainer positions available to qualify new examiners more rapidly.
Fundamental Changes to the Driving Test Itself
Beyond simply adding capacity, the DVSA has reformed what learners actually face during their tests. Starting November 24, 2025, significant changes take effect following a five-month trial at 20 test centres across Britain.
The number of compulsory normal stops decreases from four to three. This seemingly modest change actually creates greater flexibility for examiners when planning test routes. The reason? Previously, examiners needed to find safe, lower-speed roads where emergency stops could be performed. This requirement limited the distance covered during tests and reduced exposure to different road conditions. By requiring only three normal stops rather than four, examiners gain valuable time to use higher-speed and rural roads.
Emergency stops themselves become far less frequent. Rather than occurring in one in three tests, they now happen in just one in seven tests. This represents a dramatic shift in testing priorities. The change acknowledges that modern vehicles equipped with sophisticated braking systems and anti-lock braking systems make the emergency stop skill less critical than in previous decades. However, the change primarily aims to redirect focus towards more realistic and dangerous road conditions.
Examiners now have the authority to extend the independent driving section of tests. This portion currently lasts 20 minutes but can now extend to the full test duration if conditions permit. Independent driving allows learners to navigate using satellite navigation systems or traffic signs – replicating what real-world drivers actually do constantly.
Why Focus on Rural and High-Speed Roads?
The DVSA’s rationale behind these changes stems from stark safety statistics. Data from the House of Commons Library shows that nearly half (48 percent) of crashes involving drivers aged 17-24 that resulted in fatalities or serious injuries between 2019 and 2023 occurred on rural roads. This compared to 42 percent for other age groups.
Young drivers face disproportionate risks on high-speed roads they rarely encounter during existing tests. By shifting testing focus toward these challenging environments, the DVSA aims to build confidence, competence, and better risk-management skills before learners venture onto roads independently. The change represents a fundamental philosophical shift – from testing basic vehicle control to assessing real-world driving in genuinely dangerous conditions.
Tackling the Bot Problem and Unfair Test Distribution
The government has also introduced tough new measures to prevent technological exploitation of the booking system. Unscrupulous resellers have been using automated systems to bulk-book test slots, then selling them on the black market at inflated prices. Some learners report paying £137 for a rapidly available slot compared to the official DVSA fee of £62 – more than double the standard price.
From November 12, 2025, only learner drivers themselves can book practical tests. Instructors can no longer book on behalf of their pupils. Additionally, learners now face new restrictions on rearranging their tests. They can make up to two changes to their test booking, including moves, swaps, and location changes. After using these changes, the test must be cancelled and rebooked from scratch.
Learners are also restricted to a limited number of test centres located close to their original booking location. This prevents the long-distance test hopping that some learners were attempting to find earlier availability elsewhere.
These measures aim to create fairness and ensure genuine availability. The government hopes that reducing wasted slots and curtailing speculative bookings will free up more realistic opportunities for learners who are genuinely ready to sit their tests.
The Cancelled Cancellation Notice Rule
The government also implemented an extended notice period for cancellations starting April 8, 2025. Learners must now provide 10 full working days’ notice to change or cancel their test without losing the fee. Previously, just three working days’ notice was required.
This change directly addresses the problem of wasted test slots. Many learners were cancelling at the last moment after booking tests months in advance, either because they were not ready or circumstances changed. This released test slots too close to the test date for other learners to arrange transport and make necessary preparations. The extended notice period encourages earlier cancellations, freeing up more usable test appointments for genuinely prepared candidates.
Government Targets and Realistic Timelines
The government initially set an ambitious target to reduce average driving test waiting times to seven weeks by the end of 2025. When Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander appeared before the Commons Transport Select Committee in April 2025, she pushed this deadline to summer 2026. In November 2025, she made an even more candid admission.
“I need to be honest with all committee members that I can’t sit here today and tell you I’m going to meet the summer 2026 deadline either,” Alexander said. “Demand is still very high and the approaches that the DVSA have taken so far have not been up to meeting this level of demand.”
This honest assessment reflects reality. When supply and demand are fundamentally misaligned, bureaucratic measures alone cannot solve the problem overnight. Reducing 21.8-week waits to seven weeks represents a two-thirds reduction in waiting time. Achieving this requires not merely incremental improvements but wholesale system transformation.
The Instructor Shortage Complicates Everything
Underneath the test backlog lurks a deeper problem: Britain faces a worsening shortage of approved driving instructors. The number of instructors on the road is predicted to fall to just over 38,000 by 2025, a 10 percent decline over the past decade.
The instructor pipeline struggles because trainee instructors themselves face delays in securing their own test dates. New ADIs must pass their examiner tests within a two-year window or lose their qualification. With examiners working overtime just to handle learner driver tests, instructor training has suffered.
Simultaneously, demand for lessons has exploded. Around 800,000 people will turn 17 by 2025, driving ongoing demand for driving lessons. Some regions now see instructors charge £35 to £45 per hour – up significantly from pre-pandemic rates. The shortage gives instructors considerable pricing power. Approximately 40 percent of instructors now report earning over £1,000 per week, reflecting both high demand and limited availability.
The Financial Burden on Learners
The extended waiting times impose real financial costs on learner drivers. An average driving test costs £62, but learners waiting 21 weeks must fund additional lessons to maintain their skills. Each lesson typically costs £31 to £40, and many learners estimate needing an extra eight lessons they wouldn’t otherwise require. This costs learners an average of £249 extra, though some pay significantly more.
Worst-case scenarios prove particularly damaging. Learners waiting months while uncertain of their readiness often book tests early in the cycle, only to cancel and rebook when genuinely prepared. The cumulative costs of lessons, multiple test fees, insurance payments, and expired theory tests become substantial for young people often managing this process whilst juggling work or studies.
Recent Updates and the Path Forward
Amanda Lane, DVSA head of driver testing and driver training policy, emphasised that “to keep all road users safe, it’s crucial that the practical driving test assesses learners on the skills required to drive in the real world.” This statement encapsulates the DVSA’s philosophical approach to reform.
Road Safety Minister Simon Lightwood reinforced this position, saying that by “focusing more tests on higher speed roads” the changes tackle one of the biggest risks for young motorists and will reduce collisions and save lives.
The DVSA faces additional scrutiny following the announcement that Chief Executive Loveday Ryder is leaving her role. Transport Secretary Alexander told the Commons that she would be looking to Ryder’s successor to “really get a grip on the issue of driving test wait times” and that it will be a top priority for the organisation.
What Learners Should Do Now
For learners currently navigating this challenging system, several practical steps merit consideration. Firstly, book through official DVSA channels only. Do not engage with third-party resellers or unofficial operators charging inflated fees – these represent either scams or services that may leave learners vulnerable to cancellations.
Secondly, give yourself flexibility. The current environment makes precise timing extremely difficult. Book your test when genuinely ready rather than speculatively months in advance. The new rules penalise early cancellations, making speculative bookings counterproductive.
Thirdly, maintain lesson momentum. With weeks of waiting time likely, continuing regular lessons keeps skills sharp and prevents the performance decline that comes from gaps in practice. This upfront cost proves cheaper than retaking tests.
Finally, manage expectations around test centre location. Rather than hoping for cancellations at distant test centres, accept testing closer to home. This improves the likelihood of finding available slots.
The Bigger Picture
Britain’s driving test backlog emerged from multiple converging crises: a global pandemic, instructor shortages, rising demand, and chronic underfunding of the DVSA relative to the growth in test-takers. Single measures rarely solve such systemic problems instantly.
The military examiner initiative, test format reforms, booking rule changes, and new cancellation policies all move in positive directions. Progress is happening. Yet Transport Secretary Alexander’s honest assessment – that government might not meet summer 2026 targets – acknowledges that these measures, whilst valuable, face headwinds.
Real resolution likely requires sustained investment in examiner recruitment, instructor training pipelines that match demand, and systemic reforms that have eluded previous governments. The changes announced recently represent meaningful steps forward, but learners should approach timelines cautiously.
FAQs: Your Questions About UK Driving Test Backlog Answered
What is the current average waiting time for a UK driving test?
As of September 2025, the average waiting time across the UK is approximately 21.8 weeks. This means learners typically wait five months or more from booking until sitting their practical test. Waiting times vary significantly by region, with major cities experiencing longer delays than rural areas. However, recent government initiatives suggest this figure may gradually improve during 2026.
Why are there so many driving tests waiting to be taken?
The backlog stems from several converging factors. The Covid-19 pandemic suspended driving tests for months in 2020, creating an initial crisis. Since resuming, demand has far exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Simultaneously, approved driving instructors retired or left the profession during lockdown and have not been replaced quickly enough. Additionally, many learners now book tests much further in advance than historically, increasing the number of active bookings at any given time.
How will the military examiners help reduce waiting times?
Thirty-six military driving examiners from the Ministry of Defence’s School of Transport will test drivers one day per week for 12 months. These trained defence personnel typically only examine military personnel but are being deployed to high-demand DVSA test centres nationally. The government expects them to deliver up to 6,500 additional tests annually, representing a meaningful but incremental improvement to capacity.
What are the new driving test changes happening from November 24, 2025?
The DVSA is reducing compulsory normal stops from four to three, making emergency stops occur in one in seven tests instead of one in three. Examiners can now extend independent driving portions beyond the standard 20 minutes to the full test duration. These changes allow greater focus on higher-speed and rural roads where young drivers face disproportionate accident risks.
Can driving instructors still book tests on behalf of their pupils?
No. From November 12, 2025, only learner drivers themselves can book practical driving tests. Instructors can no longer make bookings on behalf of their students. This change aims to prevent automated systems and resellers from bulk-booking slots and reselling them at inflated prices. Learners are now restricted to two test rearrangements before the test must be cancelled and rebooked entirely.
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