Learner drivers in the UK are experiencing an average wait of 20 weeks before they can book a practical driving test, according to data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for August 2026. This figure shows only a slight improvement from 20.2 weeks in July. The average wait time between booking and taking the test remains at 11.1 weeks.
The DVSA had initially aimed to reduce the average waiting time to seven weeks by the end of 2025, but Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander later extended this target to summer 2026, admitting that even this timeline may not be achievable.
Changes made to the practical driving test booking system earlier this year include allowing only the learner driver to book their test, preventing instructors or third parties from using the learner's details. Additionally, learners are now restricted to booking tests at their three nearest test centres rather than having the option to choose from locations across the country. The number of times a learner can reschedule a test date has also been limited.
Lucy Rend, a 19-year-old learner driver from southeast London, has been learning to drive for two-and-a-half years and has a test scheduled for Thursday. She expressed feeling pressured to pass, noting the difficulty in securing a test slot. "I had to get up at 5:45 am every day to try and book a test at 6 am. Then I'd be 21,000 in the queue. It was very hard but randomly one popped up," she said.
Rend added that many of her friends have given up trying to book a test due to the long wait times. The DVSA reported that over 2.13 million practical driving tests were conducted in the 12 months leading up to August 2026, marking the highest figure recorded in a rolling 12-month period.
DVSA Chief Executive Beverley Warmington stated, "There's more to do and we're not going to stop until every learner can get a fair test slot when they need one, but today's figures show our plan is working."
Driving instructors have also expressed frustration over the long wait times. Adem Veli, a driving instructor with 16 years of experience, noted that the delays can significantly impact learners' confidence. He stated, "It's about a six-month wait. Can you imagine if you did fail your driving test, you're test standard and ready to go [but] have to wait another six months to get back in?"
The DVSA's figures indicate that the pass rate for driving tests remains over 50%. Veli mentioned that while some of the DVSA's changes, such as limiting test date swaps, are positive, there are still issues with individuals attempting to sell test slots, which he advises students to avoid due to the prevalence of scams.