The UK government has unveiled a series of measures aimed at reducing the long waiting times for driving tests, which currently average over 21 weeks, according to the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). These extended delays, worsened by the pandemic, have led to the rise of a black market where bots bulk-book appointments and resell them at inflated prices.
Heidi Alexander, the new Transport Secretary, told a parliamentary committee that only real learner drivers — not third parties — will now be allowed to book test slots, as part of a crackdown on speculative reselling. Other announced measures include:
6,500 new test appointments to be added in summer 2025.
A £5,000 retention bonus for examiners to help prevent staff shortages.
Military examiners from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will assist civilian services, though there are only 36 of them available for one day a week.
Despite these efforts, the government has admitted it will miss its original goal of reducing the wait time to seven weeks by next summer. No new deadline has been set.
While the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen, they signal a clear political intention to regain control over a system that has been under pressure for years.