Driving Licences
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2026 to Question 1407 on Driving Licences, whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency met its targets to (a) dispatch 95% of straightforward online driving licence applications within three working days, (b) dispatch 90% of paper applications within ten working days and (c) make a licensing decision on driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated within an average of 50 working days in each month since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Simon Lightwood
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has achieved the targets for processing straightforward online and paper driving licence applications in each month since July 2024.
The target to make a licensing decision in medical applications within an average of 50 working days was introduced in April 2025. Between April 2025 and May 2026, the target was achieved in April, May, June and August 2025.
The DVLA has seen sustained growth in the volume and complexity of medical licence applications which has led to increased waiting times for some customers. To improve its services to customers, the DVLA has introduced a new casework system and launched a new medical services portal, so the majority of customers can now apply online through the DVLA’s driver and vehicles account. This was a significant change in the way the DVLA processes medical applications and required extensive staff training which impacted processing times. However, now these enhancements are in place, they will, alongside the recruitment of extra staff to process applications and answer telephone calls, result in real improvements in services and turnaround times for customers.
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