Immigration blamed for DVSA driving test backlog amid calls for 'minimum learning periods'

The documents indicate that among the proposed solutions presented to Ms Alexander were "immigration options" and "minimum learning periods" to address the growing delays.

The board also identified rising numbers of 17-year-olds seeking tests as another factor behind the backlog, which has reached unprecedented levels across the country.

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The backlog of scheduled driving tests reached 644,398 by the end of August, representing a nearly threefold increase from the 219,786 recorded in February 2020.

Under current regulations, drivers from nations beyond the European Economic Area - comprising the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - who hold valid licences from their home countries may legally drive in Britain for up to 12 months following their arrival.

After this period expires, those from non-designated nations must secure a British driving licence through the standard testing process to maintain their driving privileges.

This requirement affects hundreds of thousands of new arrivals annually, with Office for National Statistics data showing non-EU net migration reached unprecedented heights of 965,000 in 2022 and 952,000 in 2023.

Although the figure dropped to 544,000 last year, it remains substantially higher than pre-pandemic annual levels, which stayed below 200,000.

Ministers have explored various strategies to reduce the mounting delays to help motorists deal with the backlog.

This includes reforms to prevent automated systems from bulk-purchasing test appointments that are subsequently sold at inflated prices on unauthorised markets.

The DVSA has been directed to provide enhanced overtime compensation to encourage examiners to increase their testing capacity, while the agency has also committed to doubling its cohort of permanent instructors responsible for training new test examiners.

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Steve Gooding, who leads the RAC Foundation, raised concerns about whether the DVSA could have "improved the forecasting of demand for tests" and questioned if current efforts to reduce the backlog are "actually working".

He added: "The only silver lining to the current delays in test bookings is that the extra waiting time might mean frustrated learners get more practice in ahead of the big day, and those from overseas have more time to learn the specific rules of our domestic roads."

Mr Gooding proposed that implementing mandatory minimum learning periods could boost the current 50 per cent pass rate, potentially reducing repeat test attempts that compound waiting lists.

"Going forward, a minimum learning period could potentially mean an improvement in the current pass rate of 50 per cent, leading to an overall reduction in the number of candidates adding to the queues by needing second, third or even more attempted tests before passing," he stated.

A Government spokesperson disputed the characterisation of immigration as a primary cause, describing it as an "incomplete analysis of the many causes of driving test wait times".

They highlighted recent progress, stating: "This Government has seen net migration fall by 300,000 since July last year."

It was acknowledged that "a broken driving test system where many learners found themselves stuck in a frustrating limbo" had been inherited.

Despite this, the spokesperson emphasised that the DVSA completed more than 20,000 additional tests between June and August this year, achieving the highest pass rate since May 2021.