Driving Test Waiting List Surges Amid More DVSA Strikes - News

• Research finds that there are at least 34 practical driving test centres with waiting lists over 23 weeks nationwide, with hundreds more not taking any bookings at all
• Despite an increase in learner drivers passing their theory test for a driving licence, many still have to wait nearly half a year for a practical exam
• Driving expert advises those who feel they're ready to look for different ways to stay engaged and continue development, with further strikes due to cause more delays from 8th February

Thousands of UK learner drivers hoping to pass their practical driving exam could be waiting up to six months until a test becomes available, amid further strike action by the Driving Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) which looks set to impact waiting lists further.

Indeed, recent research revealed that at least two thirds of test centres had a waiting list of nearly half a year or more. In total, 34 out of around 380 practical driving test centres across the UK had waiting lists of at least 23 weeks, while a staggering 200 different test centres were no longer taking bookings at all.

With around 2,000 driving test examiners set to walk out across England, Scotland and Wales between February 8th - 11th, the research comes at a time when the latest government data suggests theory test passes have increased, up to 45% on last year's figures.

This could mean there is an increase in those searching for a practical test at a time when the DVSA are already under pressure to clear its backlog.

Dan Jones, operations manager at TrackDays.co.uk, says: "This research is a startling reminder of the pressures the DVSA is facing, and how despite its promises, it is struggling to improve practical test capacity."

"Undoubtedly, some of this is the continuing knock-on effects that were brought on by the pandemic nearly four years ago, which is part of why there is still a backlog. That said, the incoming strikes will do nothing but compound the issues at a time when theory test pass figures are going in the right direction."

Jones concludes by saying that those who want to continue learning in a new environment, could look at other alternatives: "While repetition of the driving skills required to pass a test will improve a driver's confidence, having to wait so long for an exam to come up can be demotivating."

"It's important learners continue to get behind the wheel, and they could even consider taking up one of the provisional licence driving experiences we have available at venues across the UK to keep them interested and motivated."

Visit our Provisional Licence Driving Experiences page today on the TrackDays website, which has a wide selection of experiences available to book from dates on our Provisional Licence Calendar or through purchase of our open Gift Vouchers.