Committee publication · Correspondence · 18 March 2026 · HC 437
Letter from the Minister for Roads, Department for Transport relating to an update on DVSA efforts to reduce waiting times, dated 12 March 2026
From: Transport Committee
Inquiry: Driving tests availability
Summary
Minister for Roads Simon Lightwood updates the Transport Committee on DVSA's progress reducing car practical driving test waiting times. National average waiting time stood at 21.2 weeks in January 2026. DVSA has increased driving examiners by 130 FTE since April 2025 and conducted 123,320 additional tests via a new allowance scheme. From spring 2026, new booking restrictions will limit test changes to two total, restrict location changes, prevent instructor bookings, and introduce identity authentication.
Key findings
- National average car practical driving test waiting time was 21.2 weeks in January 2026
- DVSA increased full-time equivalent driving examiners from 1,413 to 1,546 (130 FTE increase) between April 2025 and January 2026
- Additional test allowance scheme introduced June 2025 generated 123,320 extra tests by 31 January 2026 versus previous year
- Ministry of Defence driving examiners conducted 774 car practical tests as of 16 February 2026, targeting 6,500 total contribution
- New booking rules from 31 March 2026 will limit learner drivers to two test changes total and restrict location changes to nearby test centres; instructors will no longer be able to book tests on behalf of learners
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Simon Lightwood MP, Ruth Cadbury MP, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Ministry of Defence, Department for Transport, National Audit Office
Notable line
“Taken together, these changes will disrupt the test reselling market, make the driving test booking system fairer, and give learner drivers the confidence to book and manage their own tests.”
Key Quotes
“The national average waiting time for a car practical driving test in January 2026 was 21.2 weeks.”
“DVSA has seen an increase of 123,320 tests when compared to the same period in the previous year.”
“These changes are designed to disrupt the market for reselling tests multiple times that exploit learner drivers.”
“DVSA intends to introduce identification authentication so only learner drivers can book and manage their own tests.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗