Driving test backlogs: Minister and DVSA chief questioned by Transport Committee
MPs will question DVSA Chief Executive Loveday Ryder and Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood on cutting waiting times for driving tests and clamping down on re-sale touts.
Meeting details
The DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) continues to battle through a backlog of driving tests that peaked at 500,000 due to the pandemic and a period of industrial action.
Driving test wait times have increased through 2024. The AA reported that in February the average wait time was 14.8 weeks. By September it had increased to 19 weeks, according to the Department for Transport. The AA’s figures also showed that 51% of test centres had seen average waiting times increase this year with only 20% making an improvement.
Among the Agency’s other responsibilities are carrying out theory tests for drivers of private and commercial vehicles, approving driving instructors and MOT testers, and carrying out MOT checks of lorries and buses.
The cross-party Committee will quiz Ryder and Greenwood on ways to solve the ongoing problems that are causing delays and exacerbating the tests backlog, such as the persistent problem of touts using bots to buy up test slots and re-sell them at a profit.
Before them, MPs will also question representatives of the AA, Driving Instructors Association and Public and Commercial Services (PCS) trade union, on issues such as the retention and recruitment of driving test examiners.
There may also be questions around the possible knock-on effects of these delays, such as more tests resulting in failure and an increased demand for driving lessons while people wait for their tests.