Driving Test Delays: MP Presses DVSA Chief for Urgent Reform

Recipient: Loveday Ryder, Chief Executive of DVSA (09/05/2025)

Dear Loveday,

I am writing again to raise ongoing and widespread concerns from my constituents about the driving test booking system, which continues to fall short of adequately meeting current demand.

Thank you for your responses to my previous letters (ref: 2501/067465 and 2501/065756), which outlined the DVSA’s plans to improve test availability, reduce waiting times and tackle systemic challenges. I welcomed the launch of the DVSA’s 7-point plan in December 2024 and support its aim to enhance the user experience and help more learners become safe, qualified drivers.

However, despite these efforts, many of my constituents report little or no improvement. The system remains a source of stress, inconvenience and financial strain. One constituent spent over three hours on the online portal trying to amend a test booked seven months earlier, only to find it impossible to rebook due to the lack of available slots. Another reported logging on at 6am on Monday for two weeks in a row, reaching the checkout with a test slot, only for the system to crash and the slot to vanish.

Recent figures from BBC Verify highlight the national scale of the problem: three-quarters of the 319 driving test centres in Great Britain have now reached the maximum average waiting time of 24 weeks. Only one in ten centres report waits of under ten weeks. This mirrors the situation in Surrey Heath, where the three most used centres, Farnborough, Chertsey and Guildford, all report 24-week waiting times.

The impact of these delays goes far beyond inconvenience. One constituent told me of their son, a young chef with autism, who depends on a car to access work due to limited public transport. The lack of driving test availability has left him demoralised and at risk of losing job opportunities. His parent fears he may end up reliant on welfare, despite his strong work ethic. Another parent shared that their 19-year-old daughter has been unable to apply for jobs or apprenticeships since leaving college last September, as she is unable to drive. They described how her life feels “on hold” and stressed the toll this has taken on her mental health.

While I note the Department for Transport and DVSA’s press release of 23 April, which set out further actions such as cracking down on third-party sellers and expanding examiner training, my constituents desire more immediate and visible improvements, particularly to the GOV.UK booking platform and test centre availability at the local level.

In light of these concerns, I would appreciate clarification on the following points:

• How will the DVSA ensure that additional test appointments are fairly and proportionately distributed across all regions, particularly in high-demand areas such as Surrey Heath?
• Since the introduction of the 7-point plan, how many third-party bots have been identified and successfully blocked from the booking system?
• What further reforms are being planned to improve the GOV.UK booking platform, particularly to address the technical issues whilst attempting to secure slots during the Monday 6am releases?
• Will the DVSA commit to publishing regular monthly updates on progress against the 7-point plan, including regional data on test availability and waiting times?

Greater transparency and regional accountability are clearly needed to restore public confidence in the system. I would be grateful for an update on the DVSA’s implementation of the 7-point plan and any additional steps being considered to make the booking process more responsive, equitable and accessible for all learners.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your swift response.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Al Pinkerton MP