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Learner drivers face 20-week delays to book practical driving tests

Learner drivers in the UK continue to face substantial backlogs, BBC News reports.

Updated Sep 9, 2026 · 10:47 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Learner drivers face an average wait of 20 weeks before booking a practical test, according to August DVSA figures.[BBC News]
  • The wait from booking to taking the test remained flat at 11.1 weeks despite record testing volumes of over 2.13 million tests in 12 months.[BBC News]
  • The DVSA missed its revised target to cut booking delays to seven weeks, even after introducing strict new booking rules.[BBC News]

Key facts

  • August DVSA data indicates learner drivers must wait an average of 20 weeks before booking a practical driving test.[BBC News]
  • The time between securing a booking and sitting the practical test remained unchanged at 11.1 weeks.[BBC News]
  • A previous target to reduce average waiting times to seven weeks by summer 2026 was missed after being delayed from late last year.[BBC News]
  • The DVSA rolled out booking reforms restricting reservations exclusively to learners and capping choices to three local centres.[BBC News]
  • A record 2.13 million practical tests were conducted in the 12-month period leading up to August 2026.[BBC News]

What remains uncertain

  • It remains uncertain when or if the DVSA will achieve its target of reducing practical driving test wait times to seven weeks.[BBC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.