Driving test delays set to continue
Thu, 06 Jul 2023
Waiting times for driving tests have increased at almost half of all driving test centres in the UK so far this year.
In the worse cases, learners are having to wait more than five months while 80% of all driving test centres have waiting times above the pre-pandemic average of six weeks. That's according to DVSA data accessed by the AA Driving School.
Meanwhile, the national backlog of learners waiting to take their driving tests has remained consistently above 500,000 since July 2021.
A survey conducted by the DVSA among approved driving instructors found that 89.6% of pupils cited long waiting times as the primary reason for taking an extended break from their driving lessons.
Regional differences have also come to light, with some driving test centres consistently experiencing waiting times exceeding five months between January and April 2023.
Notable centres include Aylesbury, Cheltenham, Luton, Northampton, Oxford, Peterborough plus several centres in London.
Conversely, several Scottish centres, including East Kilbride, all three test centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh (Currie) and Paisley, reported no change in the 24-week waiting times during the same period. The Newport test centre in Wales also maintained its 24-week waiting time.
The report also highlighted he issue of reselling driving test slots. Numerous websites claim to provide faster access to test slots, but at a premium price. Some websites offer subscription-based packages starting at £18 per month, promising to notify learners when a slot becomes available.
Reports have surfaced of social media adverts selling test slots for a staggering £250, compared to the official government booking fee of £62.
The Government is aware that bots are being utilised to block book test slots from the DVSA website, preventing learners from booking them legitimately.
Transport Minister Richard Holden MP acknowledged this issue in April 2023, assuring the House of Commons that the DVSA would take steps to prevent cancellation services from accessing the booking system. However, it continues to be a problem.
"It’s simply unacceptable that two fifths of driving test centres have increased waiting times since the start of the year," says Camilla Benitz, managing director of AA Driving School.
"We need to see a concerted effort to tackle the issue otherwise the backlog will remain. This means the DVSA making more tests available, recruiting examiners to increase their numbers and improving their pupil booking website. Only then will we start to see an improvement in the backlog," she adds.
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