How long is the driving test wait near you?

How do waits compare with July 2019?

The Great Britain median rose from 6.6 weeks in July 2019 to 11.1 weeks in July 2026. DVSA recorded 147,795 completed tests with an outcome in July 2019 and 197,295 in July 2026. The longer median wait in 2026 came in a month when more tests were completed.

Comparing July with July avoids comparing different points in the calendar year. It does not account for changes in demand, examiner availability or the mix of centres, so the chart cannot explain what caused the longer wait.

Booking your first practical test

Book your own car driving test on GOV.UK. You usually need to pass the theory test first. Have your UK driving licence number and a payment card ready. If you plan to use your instructor's car, confirm that they can attend at the time you choose. GOV.UK booking requirements

When do new and earlier appointments appear?

DVSA adds a week of appointments at 6am on Mondays, for dates 24 weeks ahead. Earlier dates can appear throughout the week when another learner moves or cancels a test, or when DVSA adds examiner time. If you want a date sooner than 24 weeks away, DVSA says joining the Monday queue at 6am offers no advantage. DVSA appointment release guidance

Changing an appointment you already have

Use the change service to look for a different date. You can change a car driving test appointment twice. Give at least 10 full working days' notice to change without paying for a new test. Saturdays count, but Sundays and public holidays do not. Your booking confirmation or the online service shows your deadline. GOV.UK rules for changing a test

If you want to change centre, check the DVSA list for the centre where your test is currently booked. You can move to one of the three centres on that list or return to the centre you originally booked. If you already had a booking on 9 June 2026, you can return to the centre you were booked at on that date. DVSA list of permitted test centres · Compare nearby centres on Drivings

How long is the wait for a driving test?

The Great Britain median for completed car tests was 11.1 weeks in July 2026. Use the centre selector for the local median. Dates you can book depend on what the official service has available when you search.

What does median actual wait mean?

DVSA measures the time from the original booking to the date the test took place. The median is the middle of those waits when put in order, so a small number of very long waits does not pull it up the way it would an average.

What does 10% availability mean?

DVSA counts forward from its snapshot to the first week where at least one in ten standard slots are open. A week before that can still have bookable slots.

How can a recorded wait be longer than 24 weeks?

The booking window limits how far ahead you can book at the time you search. If someone moves a test to a later date, their completed wait still starts from the original booking. DVSA explanation of the booking window

How is the percentage of open slots calculated?

It is the number of open standard slots divided by total standard capacity in the booking window. A large centre can have a lower percentage of slots open and still have more open appointments than a small centre.

Does the open-slot percentage include overtime?

The published share covers the standard booking window. DVSA reports slots provided through examiner overtime separately for the reporting month.

Is the national figure an average of centre waits?

The Great Britain figure is the median DVSA publishes for completed tests across England, Scotland and Wales. Each centre's median describes that centre alone, so averaging the centre rows does not reproduce the national figure.

How often does DVSA publish waiting times?

DVSA publishes the measures monthly. The month in the table is when the tests took place and the booking snapshot was taken. The release date is when DVSA published those figures. This report covers July 2026. For a newer month, look for DRT121G and DRT122F on the official data page. DVSA monthly tables

Can past waiting-time figures change?

DVSA marks figures from April 2025 onwards as provisional and can revise them. When two editions disagree, check the reporting month, geography and release date before comparing the numbers.

Why is a centre missing from the map or showing a dash?

Centres without map coordinates are still in the centre selector and the full table. A dash means the workbook does not report a value for that measure. A reported zero for open slots means no standard appointments were open at that centre in the snapshot.

When does DVSA release new driving test slots?

DVSA adds another week of standard appointments at 6am on Mondays, for dates 24 weeks away. Earlier dates can appear at other times. DVSA appointment release guidance

How do I look for an earlier driving test?

If you already have a car test booked, use the official change service to check earlier dates. Openings can appear after a cancellation, a booking change or extra examiner capacity. Change your driving test

Can I join a list for cancelled driving tests?

Most test centres do not have a cancellation waiting list. At some centres with limited opening days, the booking service may offer to put your test on hold. If you see that option and DVSA finds a date, it will contact you by email. DVSA guidance on tests on hold

Can I move my test to any centre with a shorter wait?

For an existing car test booking, use DVSA's list for the centre where you are currently booked. You can choose one of its three permitted alternatives or return to the eligible original centre. The DVSA page explains which centre counts as your original if you already had a booking on 9 June 2026. DVSA list of permitted test centres

How many times can I change a booked driving test?

You can change a car driving test appointment twice. Check the deadline in your confirmation or the change service. Changing with fewer than 10 full working days' notice means paying for a new test. GOV.UK rules for changing a test

Do I need to pass theory before booking a practical test?

For a first car practical test, you usually need to pass the theory test before you book. Check GOV.UK for the exceptions and make sure your theory pass will still be valid on the practical test date. GOV.UK booking requirements

Does a high pass rate mean a short wait?

A centre's pass rate describes the outcomes of tests already taken. It measures neither the time people waited nor the number of future appointments. It also does not predict your own result. Use pass rates for context and check the booking service for dates. Practical driving test pass rates

Where can I check a test date in Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland has a separate booking service run by the Driver and Vehicle Agency. Check nidirect for dates and eligibility. Since 1 October 2026, holders of a Great Britain provisional licence cannot book or take a car practical test in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland practical test booking

How to check the figures in the workbooks

Use DRT121G for Great Britain, country and region figures, and DRT122F for individual centres. Filter the Month column to the edition you are comparing and check the geographic level. The Great Britain median comes from the national DVSA row. Taking the median of centre medians instead would give a small centre the same weight as one that conducted many more tests.

The open share divides open standard slots by total standard capacity at the snapshot. DVSA reports slots provided through examiner overtime separately for the reporting month. Adding that monthly overtime count to open standard slots would combine capacity from different periods.