Labour under fire over 'slow and limited progress' of DVSA in cutting driving test delays

Hemma Visavadia
Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:48:11 +0000

Labour has been criticised over the slow progress in cutting long waiting times for practical driving tests, which has caused serious delays for thousands of drivers.

In a strongly worded letter to Roads Minister Simon Lightwood, Transport Committee chair Ruth Cadbury said the situation showed only "slow and limited progress" in tackling the backlog affecting learner drivers across the UK.

While she acknowledged that the DVSA "remains fully committed to reducing waiting times for car practical driving tests", she said that commitment had not yet been reflected in meaningful results on the ground.

The latest figures showed that at the start of the year, the average waiting time had fallen slightly to 21.2 weeks in January.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

However, Ms Cadbury described this as only a "modest improvement" compared with the sustained high levels seen throughout 2025.

Across that year, learners faced consistently long delays, with average waiting times fluctuating between 20.8 and 22.5 weeks each month.

Between April and December 2025, the situation barely changed, with figures repeatedly stuck between 22.3 and 22.5 weeks.

The data, drawn from parliamentary responses and official sources cited in Ms Cadbury's letter, suggests that the system has remained under heavy pressure despite ongoing efforts to clear the backlog.

Further criticism followed a National Audit Office report published in December 2025, which revealed that the DVSA had delayed its target for reducing waiting times to seven weeks.

That goal, originally expected to be met by December 2025, has now been pushed back to November 2027 under a revised plan.

The NAO also found that in September 2025, seven out of 10 permanent test centres were operating at the maximum 24-week booking limit, meaning many learners were unable to secure earlier test dates even when demand shifted.

In her letter, Ms Cadbury asked the minister to confirm whether the DVSA was still on track to meet the revised 2027 target and pressed for clarity on what steps are being taken to speed up improvements.

She also questioned how the Department for Transport and DVSA are responding to NAO recommendations to improve recruitment and retention of driving examiners, which the watchdog said is key to increasing test capacity.

Between February 2021 and September 2025, the DVSA added just 83 full-time equivalent examiners, according to the NAO.

Over the same period, examiner attrition reached 14 per cent, around double the civil service average, raising further concerns about workforce stability.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Labour could lock drivers out of cars under new drink-drive proposals as repeat offenders prompt action

Drivers caught out by private parking rules as operators issued 48,000 tickets daily

Wiltshire: Driver with 150 unpaid parking fines hit with £3,000 bill as car seized in major crackdown

Ms Cadbury also highlighted concerns raised by industry groups and unions.

The National Association's Strategic Partnership, which represents driving instructors, has criticised a planned rule change that would prevent instructors from booking tests on behalf of learners.

The policy, announced in November 2025, is due to take effect this spring.

Meanwhile, the PCS union has raised concerns about new compulsory weekend working contracts for examiners, warning they could damage morale and retention within the DVSA workforce.

The Committee chair has asked the minister to respond to both issues and set out the Government's position on how to improve the situation.

She also called for more detailed reporting in future updates, including clearer historical comparisons of waiting times and recruitment progress, ideally presented in tables or graphs to show trends over time.

Ms Cadbury further requested that staffing data reflect net changes in examiner numbers, rather than simple recruitment totals, and asked for updates on the use of Ministry of Defence examiners helping to carry out driving tests across the country.

Finally, she pressed for information on Government action to tackle automated bots and systems that are being used to hoard driving test booking slots.

The intervention adds to mounting political pressure on Labour over driving test delays, with learners continuing to face waits of several months and no immediate sign of a rapid return to pre-backlog levels.