The driving test backlog has been one of the most persistent frustrations in the industry for years — and in 2026, it remains far from resolved. As an ADI, your pupils will look to you for guidance on what to expect and how to plan. Here’s what the current data actually shows.
What Are the Current Waiting Times?
According to data reported to the Transport Select Committee, the national average waiting time for a car practical driving test in January 2026 was 21.2 weeks — that’s over five months. The DVSA’s stated target was to bring that average down to around seven weeks by summer 2026, but revised projections suggest that target will not be met, with the backlog now expected to persist well into 2027.
Waiting times vary significantly by location. As a general guide in 2026:
- Urban test centres (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow) — typically 15 to 22+ weeks
- Suburban and smaller centres — often 10 to 15 weeks
- Rural test centres — sometimes as low as 6 to 10 weeks, though this fluctuates
Why Is the Backlog Still So Long?
The backlog has several overlapping causes. High demand coming out of the COVID-19 period — when tests were suspended for extended periods — created a significant queue that the system has struggled to clear. On top of this, automated booking bots and third-party resellers were hoarding test slots and reselling them at inflated prices (sometimes £100–£150 on top of the standard £62 test fee), creating artificial scarcity and constant churn in the system.
The DVSA has been working to increase examiner capacity. As of February 2026, there were 1,553 full-time equivalent examiners in post — an increase of 108 compared with the same point in 2025. The agency delivered over 124,000 more tests in the 2025/26 financial year than the year before. Progress is being made, but the scale of demand means meaningful improvement is gradual.
How Do the New 2026 Booking Rules Affect Waiting Times?
The booking rule changes introduced throughout spring 2026 are specifically designed to reduce the churn that has made the backlog worse. By limiting learners to two changes per booking (since 31 March 2026), restricting who can book (learners only, from 12 May 2026), and limiting where tests can be moved (to the three nearest centres, from 9 June 2026), the DVSA aims to reduce the amount of slot shuffling that clogs the system.
In theory, these changes should gradually free up more genuine slots. In practice, the improvement will take time to filter through.
How to Advise Your Pupils
Given the current waits, here’s what instructors should be telling their pupils:
- Book early, but only when you’re approaching test standard. With only two permitted changes per booking, pupils shouldn’t book a speculative slot months out if they’re not close to ready — one illness or life event could use up a change unnecessarily.
- Choose the test centre carefully from the start. From 9 June 2026, tests can only be moved to the three nearest centres. Booking at the right centre first time matters more than it used to.
- Factor in waiting times when planning the learning journey. If a pupil will be test-ready in eight weeks but faces a 20-week wait, they either need to book well in advance while continuing to practise, or accept a longer overall timeline.
- Keep their test reference number safe. From 12 May 2026, only the learner can manage their own booking — they’ll need their reference number to do this.
What About Cancellations?
Cancellations do still appear in the DVSA booking system and can offer earlier slots. Pupils can check directly via the GOV.UK booking service. Third-party cancellation alert services also exist, though the new booking rules (particularly the learner-only booking requirement from 12 May 2026) may affect how some of these operate. Advise pupils to use only the official GOV.UK booking service to make or change bookings.
Managing a full diary while navigating test delays is much easier when new enquiries are coming in consistently. If your online visibility isn’t generating the volume of leads you need, see how we help driving instructors attract more pupils online.