Learner drivers in the UK typically wait almost five months for a driving test. That’s according to data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
Analysis by Nationwide Vehicle Contracts revealed that the average waiting time for a test is 19.92 weeks, with a pass rate of 33.9 percent.
An investigation by the Observer newspaper discovered brokers are taking advantage of this situation by using software bots to reserve driving test slots as soon as they become available. These are then sold for a huge mark-up – with learners paying up to £400 to jump the queue.
In recent years, the problem has been exacerbated by the Covid pandemic, along with strikes by driving instructors. The government recently announced a plan to schedule thousands more tests and reduce the waiting time to seven weeks. However, this target isn’t likely to be achieved before summer 2026.
Check driving test availability
Motoring Research certainly doesn’t advise paying a third party for a driving test slot. It may require patience and perseverance, but the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has an online service that allows learner drivers to check for available tests almost in real-time.
The DVSA’s online tool is updated every 30 minutes and is available from 6am to 11.40pm every day. Click this link to get started.
The tool lists every test location in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland), along with the current availability. You can book a test up to 24 weeks in the future and the standard fee is £62.
Book a driving test online
One of four descriptions will be displayed alongside each driving test centre location:
- Appointments available – tests are available within the next six weeks.
- Limited availability – between 90 and 95 percent of all appointments in the next six weeks are booked.
- Very limited availability – more than 95 percent of all appointments in the next six weeks are booked.
- No availability – there are no appointments within the next six weeks.
The service shows availability for car tests, as well as tests for a lorry, bus and coach licence, plus Motorcycle Module 1 and 2.
Officials advise learner drivers to use the service while they wait to book a test. However, the website does state: ‘when you reach the front of the queue, there is no guarantee that appointments will still be available. It’s possible that available appointments might have been booked.’
The DVSA also suggests learner drivers don’t use brokers or third-party websites that ‘charge for something that people can do for free themselves via our online booking service. There is not a “waiting list” or “cancellation list” for driving tests. You can only book the appointments that you can see online.’
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The DVSA site that supposedly show the next available dates is a joke.
You first need to pick a date, then the test center, and then it only shows if that date is available. It doesn’t show when is the next available date.
Why can’t you just pick the center and then it shows the next available date?
It’s almost like they WANT it to be terrible. I would not be surprised if someone is making money out of this.
I agree, I looked for next years June and nothing is available!!!