Learner drivers still forced to wait months to book tests
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency had been given a target to reduce average wait times to seven weeks.
Learner drivers have to wait an average 20 weeks, or around five months, 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 20.2 weeks in July.
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 subsequently admitted even that would not be possible.
The DVSA said on Wednesday that more than 2.13 million practical driving tests took place in the 12 months to August 2026 – the highest rolling 12-month figure on record.