Learner drivers face rising frustration as the sensible driving take a look at backlog hits an unprecedented 603,352, in line with newly analysed DVSA information.
Figures from the PA information company present practically 100,000 extra exams are booked in comparison with the identical time final 12 months, up from 521,190 in April 2024. But, regardless of rising demand, fewer exams are being carried out. Between January and April 2025, 610,000 exams had been accomplished – a 15% lower from the 718,000 exams in the identical interval final 12 months.
This decline follows a short lived enhance in examiner numbers between October 2023 and March 2024, when DVSA reassigned workers to frontline testing roles. Nonetheless, these sources have since been returned to their unique duties.
On a constructive observe, cross charges are bettering, suggesting extra candidates are ready till they’re actually test-ready.
DVSA attributes the persistent backlog to each “elevated demand and a change in prospects’ reserving behaviour.”
Authorities Response
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged the “huge backlog” inherited by the brand new Labour authorities. She confirmed motion is being taken to make at the least 10,000 further exams accessible every month, aiming to cut back common ready instances to seven weeks by summer season 2026.
With present waits averaging 20 weeks, in line with AA Driving College information, pressing reforms are deliberate. A session on driving take a look at reserving system adjustments will likely be launched shortly, designed to fight bots mass-booking slots for resale at inflated costs. The session interval will likely be shortened to eight weeks to expedite change.
Extra measures embody:
- Additional time incentives for examiners to conduct extra exams.
- Re-deployment of certified DVSA workers again to testing roles.
- Doubling the variety of everlasting trainers for brand spanking new examiners.
Business Perspective
Final month, Carly Brookfield, CEO of the Driving Instructors Affiliation (DIA) and present chair of the Nationwide Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP), led one other assembly with DVSA’s senior administration group, following an official letter despatched on to the company’s Chief Government. That letter, shared with ministers and the Transport Choose Committee, didn’t maintain again. It criticised the dearth of progress, the silence from DVSA, and the rising strain on trainers and pupils alike.
“We’ve gone from Groundhog Day to disaster mode,” mentioned Carly Brookfield in a latest video put up. “And the seven-point plan simply isn’t delivering the impression it must. It’s time for DVSA to behave.”
Emma Bush, managing director of AA Driving College, mentioned: “Learner drivers have waited lengthy sufficient for an enchancment to the prolonged ready instances to safe a sensible take a look at slot, it shouldn’t be this tough to ebook your driving take a look at.”
A Division for Transport spokesperson added: “The present backlog going through learner drivers is totally unacceptable, however we’re taking decisive motion to deal with the scenario inherited from the earlier authorities.”
Initially sourced from The Unbiased
