DVSA confirm new changes for driving test waiting times - 'The public deserve to know'

The DVSA has confirmed that it will begin publishing extra driving test waiting time data in a bid to improve transparency for learner motorists around the country.

Drivers up and down the nation have been dealing with long delays to take their practical test as thousands of motorists attempt to get their licence.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced that it will be publishing extra driving test data regarding average waiting times.

This will be broken down by all test centres in Great Britain, with the DVSA vowing to publish and update the data every month.

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New data will also include measures of waiting time and test availability, as well as monthly test volumes and pass rates.

It shows that drivers had an average waiting time of more than a year for Carlisle, the Isle of Mull and Crieff in 2023 and 2021.

However, waiting times have fallen considerably in recent years as the DVSA takes steps to reduce delays and get more drivers behind the wheel.

The new data shows that drivers have an average waiting time of just 0.6 weeks in Enfield, Uxbridge and Carlisle LGV (Cars) for their tests earlier this year.

According to the data, Birmingham (Cocks Moors) had the shortest average waiting times in May 2026, with a median length of 2.9 weeks.

This was followed by Enfield Bancroft Way (three weeks), Guildford (three weeks), Slough (three weeks), Erith (3.1 weeks), Belvedere (3.2 weeks) and Leicester Cannock Street (3.4 weeks).

Beverley Warmington, DVSA CEO, said: "The public deserve to know how the car driving test service is really performing.

"That's why, from Thursday 18 June, we'll be publishing additional data to more accurately show the actual experience of learner drivers, following up on a recommendation from the National Audit Office investigation into driving test waiting times.

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"This commitment builds on the action we are taking on driving tests, which are having an impact."

Ms Warmington noted that the DVSA had conducted almost 250,000 extra car driving tests since June 2025.

She also emphasised that the changes made by the DVSA to the booking system will make it against the law for third parties to book tests for someone else.

The DVSA's CEO said it was taking direct action against "those who sought to hoover up tests to resell at inflated prices".

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