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Driving Tests: Waiting Lists

Asked by Greg SmithConservativeDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 25 February 2026UIN 112875

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has considered the potential merits of extending the current 24-week booking window for practical car driving tests on a temporary basis, including on the level of test availability and backlog management.

Answered by Simon Lightwood

In 2020, the DVSA extended the booking window for customers, allowing them to book a driving test up to 24 weeks in advance from a 18-week booking window. The 24-week booking window is still in place.

As part of DVSA's plan to reduce driving waiting times, a small number of test centres are trialling a booking window beyond 24 weeks. DVSA will use data and analysis from the trial to decide if the booking window should be extended more widely.

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