Committees

Driving tests availability

Non-inquiry session

Average waiting times from practical driving tests has increased from the pre-pandemic average of 6 weeks to 17 weeks in September 2024. In this evidence session the Committee will seek to understand the causes of the long wait times, the impacts that this is having on future drivers, potential solutions, and the effectiveness of steps taken by the DVSA to date.

The Committee will discuss:

• The impact of the difficulty in accessing practical driving tests

• How the scarcity of HGV driving tests has affected industry

• What possible solutions there are there for reducing waiting times and preventing slots being blocked out by automated bookings

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was 11:59pm on 11 December 2024.

Correspondence

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Correspondence from the Minister for Roads, Department for Transport relating to the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency, dated 6 May 2026
Work Driving tests availability (Non-inquiry session)
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HC 218
Correspondence
Letter to the Minister for Roads, Department for Transport relating to latest update on driving tests availability, dated 30 March 2026
Work Driving tests availability (Non-inquiry session)
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HC 437
Correspondence
Letter from the Minister for Roads, Department for Transport relating to an update on DVSA efforts to reduce waiting times, dated 12 March 2026
Work Driving tests availability (Non-inquiry session)
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HC 437
Correspondence

Oral evidence transcripts

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4 December 2024
Work Driving tests availability (Non-inquiry session)
Witnesses DVSA, Department for Transport, and Emma Ward CBE
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Oral Evidence
4 December 2024
Work Driving tests availability (Non-inquiry session)
Witnesses Carly Brookfield (Chief Executive at Driving Instructors Association), Lyndsey Marchant-Davies (DfT Group Secretary at PCS), Camilla Benitz (Managing Director of Driving School at The AA), and Sally Gilson (Policy Lead for Skills and Drivers at Road Haulage Association)
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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Anonymised (DTA0012)
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Anonymised (DTA0013)
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Miss Julia Zouch (Approved Driving Instructor at Self employed) (DTA0014)
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Other publications

No other publications published.

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