Transport Secretary announces plan to deliver thousands more driving tests per month

In an attempt to stop bots from buying up driving tests and reduce waiting times, the Transport Secretary has instructed the DVSA to increase its efforts to deal with the issues.

Heidi Alexander, who became Transport Secretary in November 2024, has made the following announcements:

• Those in other DVSA roles who are qualified examiners will be asked to return
• The DVSA plans to double the number of permanent examiner trainers, which in turn will increase the number of examiners able to conduct driving tests
• The consultation into potential abuse into the test booking system and how to prevent this will be accelerated
• A reintroduction of overtime incentives for everyone delivering driving tests

The government has said they aim for these measures to reduce driving test wait times to 7 weeks by Summer 2026.

"We inherited an enormous backlog of learners ready to ditch their L-Plates but being forced to endure record waiting time for their tests", Alexander said. "We simply cannot deliver on our Plan for Change if thousands remain held back, with their aspirations on pause."

"I am instructing DVSA to take further action immediately to reduce waiting times which will see thousands of additional tests made available every month. We’re acting fast to get Britain’s drivers moving."

How will the government deliver?

The DVSA’s Additional Testing Award scheme will reopen for up to 18 months, allowing more examiners to deliver additional tests.

The scheme encourages and incentivises driving test examiners to conduct extra tests beyond their usual workload, helping to decrease waiting times.

An accelerated consultation will also launch in May, with the aim of improving the booking system and blocking bots from accessing tests. The DVSA is already working with IT specialists to enhance their resilience against resellers.

The new measures are part of the government's new 'Plan for Change'. This plan is a mission to improve the opportunities and start in life every child receives, regardless of their background.

Part of the government's Plan for Change is to help build skills and growth opportunity for every young person, giving them more power to take advantage of career or learning opportunities.

DVSA Driver Services director, Pauline Reeves, said: "Since December 2024, we’ve made significant progress on implementing our plan to reduce waiting times. But we know that many learner drivers are not seeing the immediate effects of the measures."

"The further action which the Secretary of State has announced today will help us to accelerate those measures, including expanding training capacity for newly recruited driving examiners so more of them can start carrying out driving tests sooner."