Are driving test wait times falling after DVSA changes come into effect?
The final changes came into effect yesterday - June 9. Booking a driving test even vaguely in the not-too-distant future feels like a half-remembered dream, with learners battling six-month long waits for a slot. Since the pandemic, the waiting list has ballooned, forcing millions to use driving test booking apps or linger on the DVSA website for hours. In short, it's a nightmare. However, the Labour Party government has stepped in to try and tackle the spiralling issue.
What changes have been made to driving test booking?
New regulations have been brought in that require learners to book their tests directly. This means that third-party companies can no longer book their tests for them. Driving instructors and third-party cancellation apps are no longer allowed to book or manage tests on your behalf. You are only allowed to make up to two changes to your booked appointment. If you need to make more changes, you must cancel the test and book a new one. To stop learners from 'hopping' between test centres, you can only move your test to your original test centre or one of the three nearest alternative test centres, GOV.UK states. If the DVSA changes your test, that does not count as a change.
Are wait times falling due to the changes?
The DVSA expects the changes to help over time, but waiting times are still being driven by high demand and a shortage of examiners. Simon Lightwood, Minister for Roads and Buses, said: 'This government inherited record waiting times and a huge backlog of learners waiting for tests, with the system seeing too many people paying over the odds to third-party touts. But we’re taking action and seeing results, delivering almost 2 million tests over the past year, more than 158,000 extra tests since June 2025, and military driving examiners now on the ground helping boost capacity across the country. These new rules put learners back in control by stopping others from snapping up tests and reselling them for profit, helping make the system fairer and ensuring tests go to the people who genuinely need them.'
Beverley Warmington, DVSA Chief Executive, said: 'Our priority is to stop learners being exploited by third parties, put them in control of their driving test and make the process fairer by clamping down on businesses that resell tests at inflated prices. These new measures help bring a halt to a system where the use of bots and third parties increases the amount some learners pay for a test and blocks test availability for many others. These measures will help free up appointments for genuine learners who are ready to take their test. We’re determined to reduce waiting times further, building on the more than 158,000 additional tests delivered between June 2025 and March 2026 - supported by driving examiner numbers at their highest level since 2018 and the recent deployment of military driving examiners who are already carrying out tests.'
How long are wait times currently?
In England, the wait time for a driving test is 22.7 weeks, according to BBC figures provided by the DVSA for April 2026. Across the UK, 1,998,608 driving tests were booked in 2025, but 64,500 were unattended by learners. This means that 3.2% of slots went to waste, according to DVSA figures.
How much does it cost to book a driving test?
For a complete beginner, the cost of booking a test is just one small price in a much larger financial sink. The official DVSA fees are: theory test: £23; practical driving test (weekday): £62; practical driving test (evenings, weekends, or bank holidays): £75. According to My Driving Instructor, for a complete beginner, the typical total cost is around £1,700–£2,000. However, this is if you pass first time, meaning the cost can quickly spiral for those that need to rebook, and likely will need additional lessons.
