Driving Test Booking Changes by the DVSA
Update on Driving Test Waiting Times – 12 November
Today, the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, gave an update to the Transport Select Committee about what’s being done to reduce driving test waiting times.
Over the next few months, the DVSA will be introducing several changes to help tackle delays:
- Updating the booking system so that only learner car drivers can book and manage their own tests.
- Limiting test changes — learners will only be able to move or swap their test up to twice, and only within a limited area once a test has been booked.
- Working with Ministry of Defence (MOD) examiners for up to 12 months to help increase testing capacity.
These updates only apply to practical car tests — the way vocational tests are booked and managed won’t be changing.
Working with the Ministry of Defence
We’re teaming up with the MOD so that 36 Defence Driving Examiners (DDEs) can help carry out driving tests. Each DDE will test for one day a week over the next year.
Most will focus on car tests, but they’ll also be able to help with vocational tests if needed. They’ll be based at the driving test centres with the highest local demand, either close to their MOD base or their home.
Before starting, all DDEs will complete up to 10 days of training to get familiar with non-military testing and the routes at their assigned centres.
Looking Ahead to 2026
During the committee session, the Secretary of State confirmed that current DVSA modelling shows it won’t be possible to reach the goal of a 7-week waiting time by summer 2026.
However, reducing waiting times remains our top priority, and the DVSA will continue doing everything possible to bring them down.