Learner Drivers Waiting an Average 20-Week Interval to Book Driving Tests. Driving test waiting times in Britain have hit record highs, with learners waiting an average 20 weeks before they can book a practical driving test. This is a shocking increase from 14 weeks a year ago, new statistics issued by AA Driving School indicate.
The surge in demand continues to overwhelm the system despite the fact that the government had attempted to clear the backlog caused by the pandemic and vacancies.
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What You Need to Know
- Average wait time for UK driving tests increased to 20 weeks in February 2024.
- DfT to appoint 450 extra examiners and extend notice periods for change of tests.
- Only 14 centers now have less than 7 weeks’ wait time target.
- Young people’s possession of a driving license is falling in the face of rising waiting times.
- The DVSA continues to urge learners to book only when they are ready.
Government Responds with New Measures to Clear Backlog
To address the rising waiting times, the Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a recruitment and training campaign for 450 new driving examiners. In addition, from 8 April, the notice period required to rebook a test appointment will be extended from three to ten working days—a move aimed at reducing last-minute cancellations and improving scheduling efficiency.
The DVSA has pledged to cut waiting times to seven weeks or fewer by the end of 2024. However, by February, only 14 UK test centers had achieved that target.
Number of Test Centres with Extreme Delays Nearly Doubles
Data reveals that the number of driving test centres with waiting times of 24 weeks or more nearly doubled over the past year—from 94 centres in 2023 to 183 in 2024.
| Year | Centres with 24+ Week Wait Times |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 94 |
| 2024 | 183 |
Driving License Delays Impacting Young People’s Mobility
Emma Bush, AA Driving School Managing Director, was pleased with the initiative by the DVSA but stressed the need for reductions in delays:
Efforts to achieve this aim must be effective and contribute to this significant reduction. Tackling driving test waiting times is crucial in order to address the lack of driving licenses, not an ongoing hurdle for young individuals in trying to access education and employment.
Recent DfT data show a decrease in the proportion of 17 to 20-year-olds in England holding a full driving license from 35% in 2019 to just 29% in 2023, reflecting the knock-on effect in real life owing to longer waiting times.
DVSA Urges Learners to Book Reasonably Nearby
A DVSA spokesperson admitted that test waits remain high due to “an uplift in demand and low customer confidence in test availability.”
“We continue to target rolling out our seven-point strategy to reduce waiting times and incentivize learner drivers to book their driving test only when their instructor feels they are ready.”
