Average waits for practical driving tests in September fell below 20 weeks for the first time since November 2024, but learners still faced a delay of nearly five months.
01Summary
- 01Learner drivers in September waited an average of 19.7 weeks, or around five months, for a practical test.
- 02The DVSA carried out 191,682 practical driving tests in September, with more than half of those passing.
- 03The agency had aimed to cut the average wait to seven weeks by the end of last year, but that target has now been pushed back to next autumn.
- 04Only learner drivers can now book their own tests after changes were made earlier this year to stop reselling and bot booking.
- 05Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the government inherited record waiting times and a significant backlog.
02Why it matters
Long waits can delay people learning to drive, which affects access to work, education and wider mobility. The fall in waiting times shows progress, but the backlog remains large and still affects many learners.
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