UK Driving Test Backlog Leaves Learners Waiting Months for a Slot

Written by Mahliqa Ali, MA Global Media and Digital Communications.

The UK’s driving test backlog has reached a crisis point, with three-quarters of test centres now hitting the 24-week maximum average waiting time to book a practical test, according to data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Latest figures show the national average waiting time is 22 weeks, leaving learner drivers facing months of uncertainty before they can attempt their practical tests.

The roots of the backlog largely trace back to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the National Audit Office, around 1.1 million driving tests were not carried out during the 2020/2021 financial year due to lockdowns and restrictions. Even after test centres reopened, social distancing rules reduced operations, with extra time needed between appointments to clean vehicles and manage waiting room capacity.

DVSA recruitment challenges have further compounded the issue. Hiring new driving examiners is a slow and complex process, requiring months of intensive training to ensure national testing standards are maintained. This means the DVSA cannot rapidly scale up capacity, even as demand surges.

“Scarcity pushes learners to unofficial channels, while bots and brokers contribute to that shortage by hoarding and reselling test slots."

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced a package of measures in April 2025 aimed at cutting wait times, including the delivery of 10,000 extra tests per month and a crackdown on automated test-buying bots. Plans also include doubling the number of permanent trainers to accelerate examiner training, redeploying qualified DVSA staff to frontline testing, and reintroducing overtime incentives for those delivering tests.

As official routes become increasingly competitive, many learners are turning to alternative methods to secure earlier tests. Learners can book a test anywhere in the UK at any time through the GOV.UK site, then use cancellation apps to swap for an earlier local slot.

More controversially, some learners are resorting to brokers who use automated software to block-book test slots and resell them at inflated prices. New tests are released every Monday at 6 A.M., but bots often snap these up. While a standard weekday practical test costs £62, rising to £75 for evenings, weekends, or bank holidays, evidence shows brokers are selling appointments for over £200. The DVSA does not endorse third-party apps or services and advises learners to use only the official GOV.UK system, but many have been forced to turn to unofficial channels as they feel it is the only realistic option to secure a test.

Krishi, a second-year International Relations and History student, discussed paying £350 for an earlier test through a broker after securing a March slot despite being ready in early February. 'My instructor said I was ready for the test, so the options were either to pay for an earlier date, continue paying for lessons I didn’t need, or lose my progress,' she explains.

The backlog is particularly acute in London, where average waiting times across the capital’s test centres now stand at around 23 weeks, making it the worst-affected region in the UK. A vicious cycle is created where scarcity pushes learners to unofficial channels, while bots and brokers contribute to that shortage by hoarding and reselling test slots. Without effective reform, the backlog risks becoming a long-term barrier for learners who depend on timely testing for work, education, and independence.