UK to Offer 10,000 Extra Driving Tests Monthly to Cut Backlog by 2026
In a major push to ease the severe delays plaguing learner drivers, the UK government has pledged to provide an additional 10,000 driving tests per month starting this year. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the move during a session with Parliament’s transport committee, stating the goal is to clear the current backlog by summer 2026.
Current waiting times for practical driving tests across many areas of England stretch beyond six months—a situation Alexander labelled “totally unacceptable.” Data from the AA confirms that some regions face a minimum six-month delay in booking a test.
The new initiative is aimed at slashing the average waiting time down to seven weeks. While this target was originally set for the end of 2025, it’s now expected to be reached by mid-2026—an eight-month delay from the original goal.
To meet this ambitious target, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will double its training capacity to allow more examiners to be recruited. The government is also calling on qualified DVSA staff who are not currently examining to temporarily return to the testing frontlines. Additionally, overtime pay incentives will be reinstated for all examiners delivering practical tests.
In 2024, a record 1.95 million driving tests were booked, further straining the system. The government now plans to consult on improving the booking process and cracking down on booking bots that snatch up test slots only to resell them at inflated prices.
Test-booking bots—automated programs that can reserve appointments faster than a human—have led to test slots being resold for over £200 in some cases. Alexander called the practice exploitative and confirmed upcoming reforms to address the issue.
Emma Bush, Managing Director of AA Driving School, welcomed the government’s detailed response. “Many young people need a licence to work or access education. Creating extra tests will help them move forward,” she said.
With tens of thousands of learner drivers stuck in limbo, the added testing capacity is expected to ease frustrations and restore efficiency to the system.
