Driving Test Waiting Times in Britain Reach Record 20-Week Average

The DVSA implements new measures, including stricter booking policies and examiner recruitment, to tackle the backlog and achieve a seven-week target by December 2025.

• Driving test waiting times in Britain hit a record average of 20 weeks in February 2025, up from 14 weeks a year earlier.
• The number of test centres with the maximum 24-week wait nearly doubled from 94 to 183 over the past year, highlighting the scale of the backlog.
• The Department for Transport has announced changes to booking policies starting April 8, limiting test changes to 10 working days before the scheduled date.
• The DVSA continues recruiting 450 new examiners as part of a seven-point plan launched in December 2024 to reduce waiting times.
• Delays in obtaining driving licenses are seen as a barrier to young people's access to education and employment, with the proportion of 17- to 20-year-olds holding licenses declining from 35% in 2019 to 29% in 2023.

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