The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced significant revisions for 2025 in an effort to cut down on lengthy wait times for driving tests including the hiring of 450 new driving examiners.
In order to address lengthy wait times and crack down on “unscrupulous” third-party websites that book out tests and resell them to students for a substantial profit, the government agency has unveiled a seven-point plan.
According to data released earlier this year by the Department for Transport (DfT), 1.9 million tests were administered in the 12 months preceding the end of March, setting a new record.
In an effort to deter last-minute cancellations, the DVSA has implemented new procedures, such as hiring and training 450 driving examiners and increasing the window for modifying or cancelling a test without incurring financial loss from three to 10 working days.
In an effort to free up more slots, modifications will also be made to the system that driving instructors use to schedule exams. Additionally, a request for evidence will be made to investigate ways to stop third parties from stealing places from candidates.
There will be a consultation on proposals to lengthen the waiting period between tests for individuals who commit multiple serious or dangerous errors, physically or verbally assault an examiner, or fail to show up for their test without warning.
Additionally, the current regulations allowing tests to be scheduled up to 24 weeks in advance will be examined to see if students could sign up further in advance.
The current waiting times are nearly 21 weeks in England, more than 15 weeks in Scotland and 13 weeks in Wales. London has it the worst, with the average waiting time 23 weeks.
Why is the waiting list so long?
There are multiple reasons why the backlog has increased.
The pandemic played a huge role and DVSA has struggled to clear the long waiting list for tests. This, combined with industrial strikes from November 2022 to June 2023, contributed to thousands of cancelled tests.
There are also not enough test centres and examiners to keep up with growing population. The DVSA is struggling to recruit more examiners.
The rate of failing driving tests has increased over the past couple of years. The pass rate decreased from 49.8 per cent in 2020 to 48.2 per cent in 2024.
This can be because some learners take their test early despite not being ready and some learners travel to test centres with shorter waiting times, not knowing the area too well.
When is the best time to take your driving test?
The majority of driving instructors advise taking a driving test between 9am and 11am because traffic is usually lighter during this time, avoiding both the morning rush hour and the pre-lunch traffic increase.
This allows for a more relaxed test environment, but the most crucial thing is to pick a time when you feel most prepared and confident, making sure you are rested and attentive.
