Select committee: Transport Committee
Driving tests availability
Open
Opened 18 Nov 2024
Transport Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
Average waiting times from practical driving tests has increased from the pre-pandemic average of 6 weeks to 17 weeks in September 2024. In this evidence session the Committee will seek to understand the causes of the long wait times, the impacts that this is having on future drivers, potential solutions, and the effectiveness of steps taken by the DVSA to date. The Committee will discuss: • The impact of the difficulty in accessing practical driving tests • How the scarcity of HGV driving tests has affected industry • What possible solutions there are there for reducing waiting times and preventing slots being blocked out by automated bookings
Where it stands
The inquiry is open, opened 18 November 2024.
The committee has not published a report yet.
Evidence
- 1 oral evidence sessionLatest 4 December 2024
- 7 witnesses
Recent activity
- Letter from the Minister for Roads, Department for Transport relating to driving tests waiting times, dated 28 August 20261 September 2026, Correspondence
- Correspondence from the Minister for Roads, Department for Transport relating to the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency, dated 6 May 202620 May 2026, Correspondence
- Letter to the Minister for Roads, Department for Transport relating to latest update on driving tests availability, dated 30 March 202615 April 2026, Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Dec 2024 |
Oral evidence session
Camilla Benitz · The AA,
Carly Brookfield · Driving Instructors Association,
Emma Ward CBE · Department for Transport,
Lilian Greenwood MP · Department for Transport,
Loveday Ryder · DVSA,
Lyndsey Marchant-Davies · PCS,
Sally Gilson · Freight Transport Association
|
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Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Camilla Benitz · Managing Director of Driving School | The AA | 1 |
| Carly Brookfield · Chief Executive | Driving Instructors Association | 1 |
| Emma Ward CBE | Department for Transport | 1 |
| Lilian Greenwood MP · Minister for Roads | Department for Transport | 1 |
| Loveday Ryder · Chief Executive | DVSA | 1 |
| Lyndsey Marchant-Davies · DfT Group Secretary | PCS | 1 |
| Sally Gilson · Head of Skills and Welsh Polivy | Freight Transport Association | 1 |
Correspondence
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