New figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) show that in some regions learners face an average wait of more than 19 weeks for a test while in others the wait is less than six weeks. They also show that dozens of individual test centres are reporting waits of up to 24 weeks due to massive demand.
How long is the waiting list for driving test UK?
Current driving test waiting times as of November 2022.
Waiting times at most test centres are still around 6 months but cancellations do come up so it might be possible to get a test for around 4 months time. Most test dates we are now finding are for around 4 to 6 months.
Is there still a backlog for driving tests?
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “While it’s good to see the number of practical car driving tests now back to pre-pandemic levels, we still have a backlog of learners who are no doubt eager to pass their tests and get on the road unsupervised for the very first time.
Why driving test dates are not available?
Spoiler: there is a backlog of around 800,000 – 1 million driving tests. The average waiting time for instructors is generally between 3-6 months.
Is the driving test backlog getting better?
The driving test backlog has increased by 34,263 at the end of May 2022 compared to a year earlier, data provided by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency following a freedom of information request shows.
How can I get my driving test quicker?
You can book a driving test using the DVSA fast track phone service if you’re an approved driving instructor (ADI) like us in London.
How long is the DVLA backlog?
The DVLA hopes to be back to ‘normal’ processing times for medical driving licences by September 2022. If that happens, that means 90% of cases will be processed within 90 days.
Why are there no driving tests in the UK?
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which administers driving tests, says the backlog is due to a seven month break in testing during the height of the Covid lockdowns. The DVSA conducts around 2 million tests each year and said “demand is very high now”, a spokesperson told HuffPost UK.
What is the best time to book driving test?
5pm – 6pm appears to be the most successful slot
Early birds are out of luck though, with 6am-7am (38%) recorded as the second-lowest pass percentage, only losing out to tests taken after 7pm (30%).
What’s the most times someone has failed their driving test?
A South Korean woman this week signed up to take her driving test once again – after failing to earn a license the first 771 times. The woman, identified only as Cha, first took the written portion of the exam in April 2005, said Choi Young-cheol of the Driver’s License Agency in the southwestern city of Jeonju.
How often do DVLA release driving test dates?
The DVSA says new driving test slots are released on a Monday – for the following 24-week period. Availability varies between test centres so it advises candidates to keep looking regularly for a suitable date and time. Widening to other test centres can improve your chance of getting an earlier test date.
Can you refuse a driving test examiner?
Can You Refuse a Driving Test Examiner? Generally no. If you were to attend a driving test booking and refuse to take the test with the allocated examiner you would lose your test fee and not be able to sit the test, you cannot request a different examiner.
Are there any driving tests available UK?
The national standard for driving cars tells you everything you must be able to do to pass the test. Only take your test when you can do everything without instruction. There’s no minimum number of lessons you must have done before you book and take your test.
Why are there so few driving tests?
A driving test backlog has built up due to Covid lockdowns, leading to the AA warning that young people leaving school and university may not be able to pick up jobs as a result. Learning to drive was no longer a ‘rite of passage’ for young people, the organisation warned.
Why driving tests are backlogged?
“When lockdown started, driving tests were paused and there were periods when you couldn’t take driving lessons so that’s led to a backlog,” says Lorna Lee, from The AA Driving School.
How many times can you fail your driving test UK?
How many times can you fail your test in the UK? There is no limit to how many times you can sit the test, so don’t worry if you fail. The record for the highest number of fails is 42 for the practical and a whopping 158 times for a failed driving theory test!
Can you fail your driving test for going too fast?
The short answer to this question is yes, you can fail your driving test for speeding if you go over the speed limit of the road you are driving on.
Is it better to do driving test in rush hour?
Late afternoon or evening driving tests
As with the early morning tests, these times may be subject to rush hour and depending on your opinion, are best avoided.
Will driving tests get harder?
Conclusion. While theory tests are certainly getting harder, practical tests may be getting easier when we consider the significant increase in first time passes and first time passes with zero faults.
Why is the DVLA taking so long?
The processing times are taking months longer than expected for many – a delay that the DVLA has attributed to a strike that took place in August 2021. For some, the stalling process has left them out of work, or immobilised in rural areas for months on end.
Why is the DVLA so slow?
The DVLA said: “There are significant delays in processing paper applications and contacting us due to ongoing industrial action and social-distancing requirements. Paper applications are taking, on average, up to six weeks to process, but there may be longer delays for more complex transactions.”