DVSA plans to tackle the driving test backlog
The 7 point plan to salvation
The COVID driving test backlog
Anyone who's learning to drive is probably aware of the enormous backlog created by COVID for lessons and driving tests. The previous government didn't give two hoots and the situation only became worse. In recent times it seems as though someone, somewhere was vaguely interested and late last year the DVSA announced it was going to address the issue.
They informed us that they had a 7 point plan which was going to start in early 2025 and this blog is going to lay out their plans on how to deal with the 6 month, impossible to book a driving test issue, for you.
Fixing things to get Britain moving
Back in December 2024, the DVSA sent all driving instructors a lengthy message, saying how we were the "unsung heroes of road safety" and they had a plan on how to help us veterans out.
"In recent years, your job has been made harder and more stressful by the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. Things you rely on, like being able to book driving tests for your pupils when they are ready, have not been working.
That’s why when I started this job in July, I made it a priority for us to reduce driving test waiting times. Getting a driving licence is a passport to employment and opportunities for so many young people. It’s a vital part of our plan to increase living standards across every part of the country.
Today (Wednesday 18 December), the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has set out a plan to do just that."
Lillian Greenwood MP, minister for the future of the roads went on to tell us about her 7 step plan in March 2025.
1. Recruit and train 450 driving examiners
We have been working towards the target of recruiting and training 450 examiners since July 2024. So far, we have run two successful recruitment campaigns. From these campaigns we have:
- 116 examiners now delivering practical driving tests
- 63 examiners in training
- 46 people booked to start their examiner training course
- 171 undergoing pre-employment checks
We are aiming to launch a new recruitment campaign in March 2025. (This email was sent on March 5th)
2. Review and improve the rules for booking driving tests
We told you in early February that we had just short of 27,000 responses to our call for evidence on booking and managing a car driving test. This level of response gives us a really strong evidence base to work from for the consultation, which we hope to launch in spring 2025.
As part of our future planning for booking and managing driving tests, we are continuing to work towards appointing a supplier for our new driver services platform. This will replace the current system.
The project is currently going through the required government approvals. We will update you when there are further developments.
3. Introduce tougher terms and conditions for the online business service
DVSA introduced updated terms and conditions for businesses booking driving tests on 6 January 2025.
The new terms and conditions make it clear that driving instructors and businesses must not book driving tests on behalf of learner drivers they are not teaching.
We asked all users of the online booking system to accept the new terms and conditions and we continue to monitor closely for evidence of non-compliance, which will lead to suspension of business booking accounts.
4. Consult on new proposals to increase the amount of time people have to wait to book another test in certain situations
We are currently working on the proposals to increase the amount of time people have to wait to book another test if they either:
- make multiple serious or dangerous faults during their driving test
- physically or verbally assault their driving examiner
- fail to attend their driving test without telling DVSA - and consider charging them a penalty
We will keep you updated as this work progresses so you can give your views.
5. Increase the amount of notice you need to give to change or cancel a car driving test without losing the fee
We want to increase the amount of notice people need to give to change or cancel their car driving test, without losing their fee, to 10 clear working days. We are working with the Department to finalise parliamentary time to allow this change. We hope to be able to give you more detail on the timing for this shortly.
6. Explore changing the current 24-week limit on how far ahead car driving tests can be booked
We have already started to explore the implications of extending the window for booking driving tests. This work will help us better understand how many people want to take a driving test at each test centre.
7. Ready to Pass? campaign
We are working to expand the campaign in a number of key areas, including:
- increasing awareness for learners taking their first attempt at both the theory test and practical driving test. We will also focus on engaging learners earlier in their journey, promoting evidence-based behaviours that help to increase pass rates
- raising awareness of the campaign amongst approved driving instructors (ADI). We will put particular emphasis on new instructors, as our research shows they are less likely to be aware of the campaign. We will develop tools to help them to have more effective coaching conversations with pupils about skill development and test readiness
- developing additional resources to help candidates manage test-day nerves and anxiety
What's happened so far
So, in theory, these ideas seem good. I'm not entirely sure why it's taken so long, but at least something is happening.
In Bristol have seen instructors being recruited and trained, but it's still impossible to book a test. Nationwide 154 driving examiners have been recruited, trained and in posts carrying out tests. There are 380 test centres in the UK.
There's been no change on how long it takes to rebook a test, which means students who booked miles in advance, couldn't get a instructor and then finally manage to get one with two weeks before their test refusing to cancel to just "give it ago and see what happens". Which makes a mockery of their Ready To Pass? campaign and shows how in effective it is. Why can't this be implemented immediately?
There has been progress on the late cancellation times. A period now of ten days is needed rather than 3. Remember, these are clear working days. So it's more like two weeks needed to cancel now last second without losing your test fee.
Apparently tougher terms and conditions introduced for the service driving instructors use to book and manage car driving tests for their pupils – since this change DVSA has closed 90 business accounts, issued 25 warnings and made 4 suspensions. However, I'm regularly contacted by rouge traders and black market test slot sellers that are still somehow able to book up lots of slots and sell them on for huge profits. It's currently £100 to get a test off of these guys.
What's next?
On the 23rd of April all driving instructors received further updates on the plan. More actions are going to come into force.
The further action announced today (April 23rd) will see:
- A fast-tracked launch for our planned consultation on putting a stop to the exploitation of learner drivers – in May 2025.
- Incentivised additional testing offers for driving examiners – potentially creating thousands of extra tests per month.
- Doubling our permanent training capacity for new driving examiners – meaning more can start carrying out driving tests sooner.
- A call for volunteers from those currently in other roles (but qualified to examine) to carry out practical driving tests.
It'll be interesting to see what happens in the coming months, but currently it's still impossible to even book a test in Bristol, which makes driving instructors jobs incredibly tough and upsets a lot of learner drivers.
