Learner drivers face rising frustration as the sensible driving check backlog hits an unprecedented 603,352, in accordance with newly analysed DVSA knowledge.
Figures from the PA information company present almost 100,000 extra exams are booked in comparison with the identical time final yr, 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 have been accomplished – a 15% lower from the 718,000 exams in the identical interval final yr.
This decline follows a short lived enhance in examiner numbers between October 2023 and March 2024, when DVSA reassigned employees to frontline testing roles. Nonetheless, these sources have since been returned to their authentic duties.
On a optimistic notice, move 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 clients’ reserving behaviour.”
Authorities Response
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged the “monumental backlog” inherited by the brand new Labour authorities. She confirmed motion is being taken to make a minimum of 10,000 further exams accessible every month, aiming to cut back common ready occasions to seven weeks by summer season 2026.
With present waits averaging 20 weeks, in accordance with AA Driving College knowledge, pressing reforms are deliberate. A session on driving check reserving system modifications can be launched shortly, designed to fight bots mass-booking slots for resale at inflated costs. The session interval can be shortened to eight weeks to expedite change.
Further measures embrace:
- Extra time incentives for examiners to conduct extra exams.
- Re-deployment of certified DVSA employees again to testing roles.
- Doubling the variety of everlasting trainers for brand spanking new examiners.
Trade 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 Govt. That letter, shared with ministers and the Transport Choose Committee, didn’t maintain again. It criticised the shortage of progress, the silence from DVSA, and the rising stress on trainers and pupils alike.
“We’ve gone from Groundhog Day to disaster mode,” mentioned Carly Brookfield in a current video publish. “And the seven-point plan simply isn’t delivering the influence 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 occasions to safe a sensible check slot, it shouldn’t be this tough to e book your driving check.”
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 state of affairs inherited from the earlier authorities.”
Initially sourced from The Impartial
