Overview
- Thirty-six Defence Driving Examiners will conduct civilian tests one day a week for 12 months, providing up to 6,500 additional slots at high‑demand centres.
- Only learners will be allowed to book tests under a planned legislative change, with a cap of two booking changes and limits on switching to distant centres to curb bot-driven reselling.
- The average wait stood at 21.8 weeks at the end of June, and DVSA data show 642,000 learners held future bookings by the end of October with about 182,000 tests conducted last month.
- The government says 316 new examiners have been recruited and a £5,000 retention payment will be made next year to help keep experienced staff.
- The MoD will charge the DVSA £100,000 for the examiners’ support, and DVSA chief executive Loveday Ryder is stepping down.