The DVSA has published a new set of driving test waiting time statistics which it says will provide a more accurate picture of how long learners are actually waiting to take their practical driving test.
The new monthly data introduces a median waiting time measure, which calculates the actual time between booking and taking a test based on all completed tests during the reporting period. The move follows recommendations from the National Audit Office, which previously questioned whether the existing waiting time measure reflected the real experience of learners.
The first publication, covering May 2026, shows a national median waiting time of 9.7 weeks, compared with the existing availability measure of 21.8 weeks.
DVSA says this demonstrates that many learners are securing tests considerably sooner than the headline figure suggests, often through cancellations and earlier appointments becoming available. At Darlington, for example, the existing measure stood at 13 weeks while the median wait was 6.7 weeks. Similar differences were reported at centres including St Helens, Wakefield and Bradford Thornbury.
However, the new data also shows that lengthy waits remain a significant problem in some areas. Banbury recorded the highest median waiting time in England at 24.3 weeks, while centres including Pinner, Birmingham Kingstanding and Sidcup all reported median waits of more than 22 weeks.
Responding to the announcement, Olivia Baldock-Ward, Head of Training and Advisory Services at the DIA, said: “Overall, the outlook is generally positive, but it has some important caveats. It is good because DVSA is finally giving instructors, learners and the wider industry a clearer picture of what is actually happening.
“For ADIs, this is useful because it gives them better evidence when advising pupils. Rather than relying only on the headline waiting time, instructors can look at their local test centre and explain the likely difference between appointment availability and actual learner experience.
“However, it is not all positive. The data may also make the situation appear better than it feels for many learners. A median wait of 9.7 weeks means half of learners waited longer than that, and in some areas waits are still extremely high.
“There is also a risk that DVSA uses the median figure to soften the perception of the backlog, even though learners who cannot check regularly, cannot travel, or need a specific instructor or vehicle may still struggle badly.”
Alongside the median figures, DVSA is now publishing data on examiner overtime, appointment availability within the 24-week booking window, appointments already booked, and the percentage of tests still available to book. The figures will be updated monthly and published at national, regional and individual test centre level.
Read the full blog on DVSA Despatch
