**Record backlog of learner drivers as test waiting list surpasses 600,000**
The UK is currently witnessing an unprecedented backlog of learner drivers awaiting practical driving tests, with the number of people in the queue climbing to over 600,000, according to new figures analysed by the RAC. This represents the highest number of test candidates ever recorded and is raising serious concerns amongst aspiring drivers and driving instructors across Britain.
At the end of April 2025, statistics from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) highlighted that 603,352 individuals had booked a future test – a dramatic jump of 16% from the same point last year, when 521,190 people were in the queue. This surge in demand has come despite a drop in the number of practical tests being completed. Between January and April 2025, approximately 610,000 driving tests were conducted, marking a notable decrease from the 718,000 achieved in the first four months of 2024.
The lengthening waiting times have sparked widespread frustration, with many learners facing the unwelcome reality of having to delay crucial plans related to work, education, or personal independence. Industry experts say some learners now face waits of up to six months or more, a situation exacerbated by the pandemic’s legacy and ongoing examiner shortages.
In response to the growing crisis, UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has instructed the DVSA to step up efforts in improving access to driving tests. Announcing a series of new government measures, Ms Alexander emphasised the need to reduce waiting times as a priority within the government’s broader “Plan for Change.”
One of the immediate measures to be implemented is encouraging DVSA employees qualified to carry out driving tests – but currently working in other roles – to temporarily return to test administration duties. This approach aims to boost examiner numbers and expand test capacity in the short term, thereby offering thousands of additional test appointments each month.
To address longer-term issues, the government also plans to double the number of permanent trainers. This initiative is designed to accelerate the training of new examiners, a move that officials hope will help address the chronic staff shortages contributing to the backlog.
Ms Alexander stated, “We inherited an enormous backlog of learners ready to ditch their L-plates but being forced to endure record waiting times for their tests. We simply cannot deliver on our Plan for Change if thousands remain held back, with their aspirations on pause.” She added that swift action is being taken to resolve these delays and “get Britain’s drivers moving.”
A closer look at figures across Wales reveals disparities in waiting times at test centres. Data obtained by the AA Driving School through a freedom of information request found that, as of early February, five Welsh test centres were experiencing the maximum recorded wait of 24 weeks. These centres are located in Llanishen (Cardiff), Newport, Rhyl, Bangor, and Newtown.
Elsewhere in Wales, the situation differs significantly. For example, Pembroke Dock currently has the shortest waiting period – just four weeks – with Pwllheli not far behind at five weeks. The average waiting time to secure a test appointment nationally has risen from 14.8 weeks in February 2024 to 20 weeks by February 2025.
Driving instructors and learner drivers alike continue to express concerns that prolonged delays could undermine both road safety and employment opportunities, particularly for young people and those based in rural areas reliant on transport independence. The government’s interventions are being closely monitored to see whether they can successfully alleviate the backlog and return the driving test system to a more manageable state.
As pressure mounts for further reforms within the driver testing process, the situation highlights wider challenges within the UK’s transport sector, including the recruitment and retention of skilled examiners and the ability to adapt to fluctuating demand in a post-pandemic landscape. For now, learners are left enduring longer waits, with hope that governmental action will soon restore some normality to the process.