Summary
There is a backlog of driving tests in the UK, causing long wait times for learner drivers. The National Audit Office says this backlog will last until November 2027, with some learners paying high fees to third parties to secure test slots. Efforts are being made to reduce wait times and hire more examiners, but challenges remain.
Key Facts
- Learner drivers in the UK face an average wait of 22 to 24 weeks for driving tests.
- The backlog stems from 1.1 million tests canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- About 360,000 of these tests have not yet been booked.
- Test centres are affected by limited examiners due to poor pay and safety concerns.
- Some learners pay up to £500 to third parties for test slots, much higher than the official fee of £62.
- Forty percent of learners need a license for their jobs, intensifying the impact of delays.
- The government plans to hire more examiners to cut wait times to seven weeks by the end of 2025.
- The current shortage leaves just 220 qualified examiners across 240 test centres.
