Driving Test Wait in Great Britain Unlikely to Shorten Before 2027

Published: 17 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Plans to reduce driving test waits to seven weeks in Great Britain are now unlikely before November 2027, according to a recent audit report. The National Audit Office (NAO) revealed that despite nineteen recruitment campaigns since 2021, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has hired a net total of only eighty-three additional examiners. Currently, learners face an average wait of twenty-two weeks for a practical test across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The DVSA estimates approximately 680,000 people who passed their driving theory tests have yet to secure practical test appointments. Around seventy percent of driving test centres have fully booked schedules stretching across the maximum twenty-four weeks, highlighting the severe strain on the system. The government recently announced measures to ban third-party bookings and bots, aiming to combat a growing market where test slots are resold at up to eight times the standard £62 fee.
The NAO report criticised the DVSA for failing to meet the target of a seven-week waiting period by the end of 2025. The agency initially introduced a plan last year to reduce waits, but it now predicts success will only arrive in late 2027. The backlog stems from the pandemic, during which around 1.1 million tests were delayed, compounded by increased theory test takers and automated bots reserving slots. The NAO also highlighted that DVSA struggled to understand and respond to rising demand effectively.

Staff retention has been another major challenge, with many examiners quitting due to concerns over safety and low pay. As a result, the intended target of 400 new examiners has fallen far short, achieving only eighty-three. Financial sustainability has also been flagged, as DVSA currently incurs a loss of £24 per test, leading to an annual deficit of £44 million, since test fees have remained unchanged since 2009.

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, emphasised the systemic issues, stating, “The current system for providing driving tests in England, Scotland, and Wales is not functioning satisfactorily. Long waits and exploitation by resellers are harming learners. Immediate, decisive action is required to restore an effective driving test service.”

In response, the Department for Transport (DfT) pledged to expand test availability and announced that military driving examiners would assist with testing. A DfT spokesperson said, “We inherited a frustrating system with learners left in limbo and rogue operators exploiting the situation. We are taking action, deploying military examiners, limiting test swaps, and ensuring learners directly book their tests.”

The DVSA has already delivered an additional 74,847 tests between June and November 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. The DfT anticipates that new measures in spring 2026, combined with these efforts, will provide thousands of extra test slots, gradually reducing the backlog. Nonetheless, experts caution that achieving the seven-week target will remain a multi-year challenge due to staffing constraints, increasing demand, and financial pressures.

Industry insiders argue that systemic reform is needed beyond temporary measures. The report suggests revising examiner pay, modernising scheduling systems, and reviewing fees to ensure long-term sustainability. While immediate relief efforts may ease wait times marginally, meaningful improvements will likely require both strategic investments and stricter regulation of the reselling market.

Learner drivers have expressed frustration, noting the emotional and financial stress caused by the prolonged wait. Many report needing multiple attempts to secure a practical test slot, with some resorting to resellers at inflated costs. The government’s intention to curb bot bookings and third-party interference is widely welcomed but will require robust monitoring to be effective.

Public advocacy groups have called for transparency in reporting wait times and examiner availability. They argue that clearer communication will help learners plan more effectively and prevent exploitation by rogue operators. The NAO’s report reinforces the urgency of the situation, presenting a comprehensive overview of the underlying structural weaknesses that have persisted for years.
Efforts to integrate military examiners into civilian test schedules represent a temporary but necessary step. Analysts note that while this will add capacity, long-term solutions must address pay, working conditions, and recruitment pipelines to prevent repeated backlogs in the future. The DVSA faces the dual challenge of restoring public confidence while ensuring the system remains financially viable.

In conclusion, learners in Great Britain should expect extended waits for driving tests, with the seven-week target unlikely before November 2027. Comprehensive reform, increased staffing, fee adjustments, and strict regulation of resellers are essential to resolve these entrenched delays. The next few years will be critical for the DVSA and the DfT to demonstrate progress and restore faith in the nation’s driving test system.