Learner drivers mysery as over half UK test centres have six-month test delay

A new study has found that many Brits are waiting more than six months to take their driving test. According to new figures from the DVSA, 183 test centres in the UK had a waiting list of more than six months during February 2025 - 57% of all driving test locations in the country.

Speaking to the motoring publication Autocar, Lorna Lee, spokesperson for AA Driving School, noted that the delay caused by the Covid lockdowns has continued to grow. She explained: "During all those lockdowns, driving tests are one of the things that were stop-start because of various restrictions at different points. It’s understandable how [the driving test backlog] built up because you ended up with people who had been hoping to take their tests and then they couldn’t, or they couldn’t have lessons. There was pent-up demand as we all came out of lockdown and things got back to normal, but that pent-up demand has never been satisfied."

According to the DVSA's latest report, the average waiting time for a driving test in the UK in February 2025 was 20 weeks - more than double the amount that learners faced before the pandemic.

Whilst waiting times saw some improvements during 2022 and 2023, figures have increased once again in recent years as the backlog of learners looking to get their driving licence increases.

In the 12 months leading to February 2025, the number of test centres with a waiting list of more than six months doubled, with many learners looking to get their licence sooner forced to travel to more rural areas of the country.

To help tackle the backlog, the DVSA has recently introduced a number of new measures, including a 10-day notice period for cancellations, employing a further 450 examiners, and a review surrounding the rules for booking tests. Announcing the changes, Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, highlighted that the measures will help to prepare learners who may need a driving licence for work.

He added: "Driving is more than just a means of transport; it is a lifeline for many, opening doors to jobs, opportunities and ultimately contributing to the growth of our economy. The measures announced today are another vital step in tackling the driving test backlog and ensuring that more learners who are ready to take their test can do so without unnecessary delays.

"These new measures will ensure that driving test appointments are used efficiently, encouraging learners to make adjustments to their schedules sooner, should they not be fully prepared."