What we know about driving test changes in 2025
Learner drivers are waiting up to 21 weeks for a test in the UK.
The government has announced a raft of measures, including the recruitment of hundreds of examiners, to bring down driving test waiting times.
Transport minister Lilian Greenwood said: “Passing your driving test is a life-changing opportunity for millions, but sky-high waiting times for tests in recent years have denied that opportunity to too many people. No one should have to wait six months when they’re ready to pass."
Here, Yahoo News UK takes a look at the changes.
Why are waiting lists for driving tests so long?
Waiting times are at 21 weeks in England, 15 weeks in Scotland and 13 weeks in Wales.
In July last year, Loveday Ryder, chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), said this was partly "due to the pent-up demand... caused by the pandemic" lockdowns in which tests were prohibited. Department for Transport figures showed the number of tests taken reached a record level in the 12 months to the end of March this year: at 1.9 million.
Thousands of tests were also cancelled due to strikes by driving examiners last year.
Ryder also pointed to changes in customers’ booking behaviour". She said: "Today, many learners are studying and taking their theory test before they have ever sat behind the wheel of a car.
"Now, due to a lack of confidence in the availability of tests, many learners are booking straight after they have passed their theory test. In some cases, this may mean that they are booking their driving test before they have sat behind the wheel.
"This results in many learners having to change the date of their test on multiple occasions as they are not ready."
In July, the RAC Foundation called for driving test fees to be raised for learners who have made multiple unsuccessful attempts, saying this would encourage them to wait until they are ready to pass.
Government figures show 93,204 driving tests taken in the 12 months to the end of March were at least the candidate’s sixth attempt at passing.
How many new instructors will be recruited?
The DVSA said it will recruit and train 450 driving examiners across Great Britain.
The jobs were advertised between June and October, and the agency said the first cohort will be doing their tests "over the coming months".
What other changes to driving tests are expected in 2025?
Other changes include increasing the period for changing or cancelling a test without losing money from three working days to 10 working days beforehand, in a bid to discourage late cancellations.
There will also be changes to the system used by driving instructors to book tests in an attempt to free up more slots, as well as a call for evidence to examine how to prevent candidates being ripped off by third parties buying up slots.
The current rules around tests being booked up to 24 weeks in advance will also be looked at, to see if learners could sign up further ahead, and there will be a consultation on proposals to increase the waiting time between tests for people who make multiple serious or dangerous faults, physically or verbally assault an examiner or do not turn up to their test without notice.
But Greenwood added in a written statement to parliament: "I have to be clear: there is no quick fix to the current situation. It will take time for us to tackle the root causes of this issue."
