Learner drivers are still waiting 20 weeks just to book a test

The latest driving test figures bring mixed news

The situation remains far from the Government’s original target, as it was previously promised that the average wait would be brought down to just seven weeks by the end of last year.

That deadline was then pushed back to summer 2026 by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.  However, Alexander later acknowledged that even this revised target would not be achievable.

Despite the headline figure, the latest numbers do show a small improvement. Data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency for August shows that the average wait has fallen from 20.2 weeks in July.

The amount of time between actually booking a test and sitting it, however, has not changed. Learner drivers are still waiting an average of 11.1 weeks between making their booking and taking the practical test.

The number of driving tests has hit a new record

Despite the lengthy queues, the number of practical tests being carried out has reached a record high. 

DVSA figures show that more than 2.13 million practical driving tests were completed in the 12 months to August 2026, making it the highest rolling 12-month total ever recorded.

DVSA chief executive Beverley Warmington said there is still work to be done, but insisted that the latest figures suggest the organisation’s efforts are beginning to have an impact. 

She said the DVSA would continue working towards a system where every learner can get a fair test slot when they need one.

The figures also show that the overall driving test pass rate remains above 50%, meaning more than half of learners taking their practical test are continuing to successfully earn their licence.

What the DVSA has changed about the driving test system

The latest figures come after the DVSA introduced several measures earlier this year, designed to tackle the problems surrounding driving test bookings.

One of the biggest changes means driving instructors and other third parties can no longer book a test on behalf of a learner using their personal details. Instead, the learner must make the booking themselves, making it harder for others to secure appointments on their behalf.

The DVSA has also placed limits on how often a learner can change their test date, while new geographical rules have made it more difficult to search for appointments further afield.

Under the current system, learners are limited to booking tests at their three nearest test centres. 

This means that even if an earlier appointment becomes available at a test centre elsewhere in the country, they cannot simply travel across the UK to take advantage of it.