London, UK – The UK government has announced plans to recruit 450 driving examiners in an effort to reduce the record-high waiting times for driving tests, which have left some learners waiting over six months to take their test.
The measures, set out by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), aim to address widespread frustration among learner drivers, driving instructors, and consumer advocates who have labelled the current system a “nightmare.”
The shortage of test slots has been exacerbated by a surge in demand, with 1.9 million tests conducted in the year ending March 2023. Learner drivers across England and Wales have reported waiting times of up to 24 weeks, forcing some to travel hundreds of miles to secure a test appointment.
Driving instructor Diana Mulrain, who has been teaching for over 40 years, described the current system as an “absolute nightmare”, adding:
“Students are incentivised to take the test even if they’re not ready, just to avoid waiting months for another opportunity.”
To tackle the backlog, the government plans to implement the following measures:
- Recruiting and training 450 additional examiners across Great Britain.
- Extending the cancellation window from 3 to 10 working days, discouraging last-minute cancellations.
- Introducing restrictions to prevent brokers from booking test slots for profit.
From 6 January 2025, new terms and conditions will also prohibit instructors or businesses from booking tests for learners they are not actively teaching.
Durham University student Kitty Bell shared her frustration after discovering the earliest test slot available was in May 2025:
“That’s five months to wait – it’s insane!”
Kitty’s experience reflects the challenges faced by many learners who struggle to balance test availability with readiness, often panicking under pressure to secure a slot.
While the measures are designed to create a fairer system, some driving instructors remain doubtful about their effectiveness.
Instructor Helen Ansell, who works in Cornwall, suggested requiring a training log to ensure learners have completed sufficient practice hours before booking a test:
“Once they’ve done a certain number of hours with an instructor, say 20 hours, that’s when they can book a test.”
Others argue that increasing examiner numbers without addressing third-party brokers will only exacerbate the issue.
Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, acknowledged the scale of the backlog but expressed optimism about the reforms:
“No one should have to wait six months when they’re ready to pass, travel to the other side of the country to take a driving test, or be ripped off by unscrupulous websites.”
The government has set a target of reducing waiting times to seven weeks by December 2025, a move that could significantly ease pressure on the system and restore public confidence.
The DVSA is encouraging feedback from learners and instructors as it rolls out these changes. While the recruitment of additional examiners and the introduction of stricter booking rules are steps in the right direction, their success will depend on addressing the root causes of the crisis.
With wait times labelled “insane” and learners forced into difficult choices, the road to reform will require more than just new hires – it will demand a comprehensive overhaul of how driving tests are managed across the UK.
