Learner drivers in the UK face an average 20-week wait to book practical driving tests, according to data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The figure for August is only a marginal improvement from 20.2 weeks in July, with the average wait time between booking and sitting a test remaining unchanged at 11.1 weeks.

The DVSA initially aimed to reduce the average waiting time to seven weeks by the end of last year, but Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander pushed the target back to summer 2026. She later admitted even that timeline would not be achievable. The agency has implemented several changes to its booking system, including allowing only the learner driver to book tests, limiting test swaps, and restricting bookings to three local test centres.

Lucy Rend, a 19-year-old learner driver in southeast London, has been waiting two-and-a-half years to take her test. She described the process as extremely stressful, with some learners waiting in line for over 21,000 slots. "I feel lots of pressure to pass because if I don't pass I will have to go through all that again," she said. Many of her friends have given up on booking tests, with some abandoning their driving lessons altogether.

DVSA chief executive Beverley Warmington stated that the agency is committed to ensuring every learner can get a fair test slot when needed, but acknowledged there is more to do. The agency reported that over 2.13 million practical tests were conducted in the 12 months to August 2026, the highest rolling 12-month figure on record. However, driving instructors like Adem Veli, who has been teaching for 16 years, argue that the long wait times are affecting learners' confidence. "Can you imagine if you did fail your driving test, you're test standard and ready to go but have to wait another six months to get back in?" he said.

Veli noted that while some changes, such as limiting test swaps, have been positive, the DVSA has not fully addressed the issue of third-party booking scams. "I get messages weekly, they're trying to sell them to me," he said.

The situation highlights ongoing challenges in the UK's driving test system, with learners and instructors alike expressing frustration over delays and the impact on confidence. While the DVSA claims its plan is working, the data suggests that significant improvements are still needed to meet the needs of all learner drivers.