Waits hit new highs 90 years on from first UK driving tests

Average waits spinning out of control as test backlogs mount

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Ninety years after the first compulsory driving tests were introduced in Britain, new figures show learners are now facing record-breaking delays in getting behind the wheel for their test.

According to data obtained by the AA Driving School, the average waiting time for a practical driving test has hit 21.3 weeks, with nearly eight in ten test centres across the UK reporting the maximum wait of 24 weeks as of April 2025.

The backlog has grown sharply in recent months, with the number of centres facing the longest wait times rising from 183 in February to 253 by April—a jump of 38%. By contrast, only 20 centres currently meet the DVSA’s target of a seven-week waiting time, up slightly from 14 earlier this year.