Overview

• The Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency reports a record 631,472 practical tests booked by the end of May, up from 527,368 a year earlier.
• Learners face waits of up to nine months for test slots, prompting premature bookings driven by high demand and limited availability.
• Labour MP Alex Mayer’s proposal to raise fees but refund first-attempt passes has moved to parliamentary debate as MPs look for solutions to clear the queue.
• Commons Transport Committee chair Ruth Cadbury has praised the fee-refund scheme as innovative and urged Transport Minister Mike Kane to back the plan.
• The DVSA has added 10,000 extra monthly slots, introduced examiner incentives and launched a bot-blocking consultation but warns waits will persist into 2026.