WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2026|No. 14416
UK Transportation

UK Learner Drivers Face Extended Wait Times for Practical Tests

Learner drivers in the UK are experiencing average wait times of 20 weeks for practical tests, a slight improvement from previous months but still significantly longer than targets.

A learner driver waits with their instructor outside a driving test center.
A learner driver waits with their instructor outside a driving test center.
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Learner drivers have to wait an average 20 weeks before booking a practical test, according to new figures, despite attempts to reduce delays.

The data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for August is only a marginal improvement from an 20.2 weeks in July.

The average wait time between booking and sitting a test is unchanged at 11.1 weeks.

The DVSA initially had a target of reducing the average waiting time to seven weeks by the end of last year. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander pushed the target back to summer 2026, but admitted even that would not be possible.

How driving test booking is changing for learner drivers

Driving test wait time target will not be met until autumn next year

UK driving licence

PAN's pipeline reviewed approximately 1 open sources for this article. No human editor reviewed this article before publication.

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