Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 September 2025 · HC 437
Letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport relating to the DVSA and driving tests availability, dated 22 July 2025
From: Transport Committee
Inquiry: Driving tests availability
Summary
Parliamentary Under-Secretary Lilian Greenwood updates the Transport Committee on DVSA's progress reducing driving test waiting times. The average car test wait was 22.3 weeks in June 2025. DVSA has recruited 200 new driving examiners of a 450 target, launched a consultation on booking rule reforms (37,535 responses received), reintroduced an incentive scheme yielding 10,400 additional tests, and is pursuing further measures including trainer recruitment and a learner preparedness campaign.
Key findings
- Average national car driving test waiting time was 22.3 weeks in June 2025, continuing to rise due to sustained high demand.
- DVSA recruited 200 driving examiners since July 2024 toward 450 target; 80 failed or resigned during training; 67 currently in training with 196 further candidates in pipeline.
- Reintroduced Additional Testing Allowance incentive scheme (1 June 2025) produced 28,541 tests by July 2025, an increase of 10,400 tests versus previous overtime scheme.
- Public consultation on booking rule reforms closed 23 July 2025 with 37,535 responses; DVSA will publish summary within 3 months.
- Tougher terms and conditions enforcement resulted in 547 business account closures, 233 suspensions, and 111 warnings against test reselling abuse.
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Lilian Greenwood MP, Ruth Cadbury MP, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Department for Transport (DfT), Secretary of State for Transport, DVLA, National Highways
Notable line
“DVSA has always been clear there are no quick fixes to the current high waiting times.”
Key Quotes
“The average national car waiting time during June 2025 was 22.3 weeks.”
“Since July last year, the agency has recruited and trained 200 DEs who are now in post and delivering driving tests.”
“DVSA has completed 28,541 tests using the ATA scheme, compared to 18,141 tests using the previous overtime scheme in June 2024. An increase of 10,400 tests completed.”
“Driving out abuse of the system will make more tests available for those who need them, when they need them.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗