Select Committee · Transport Committee

Driving tests availability

Status: Open Opened: 18 Nov 2024
Inquiry scopeAverage 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

Oral evidence sessions

1 session

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Date Session and witnesses Source
4 Dec 2024 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 View ↗

Who gave evidence

7 witnesses

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WitnessOrganisationSessions
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

13 letters

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PublishedDirectionLetter
1 Sep 2026 To committee Letter from the Minister for Roads, Department for Transport relating to driving tests waiting times, dated 28 August 2026
20 May 2026 Correspondence from the Minister for Roads, Department for Transport relating to the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency, dated 6 May 2026
15 Apr 2026 From committee Letter to the Minister for Roads, Department for Transport relating to latest update on driving tests availability, dated 30 March 2026
18 Mar 2026 To committee Letter from the Minister for Roads, Department for Transport relating to an update on DVSA efforts to reduce waiting times, dated 12 March 2026
21 Jan 2026 To committee Letter from the Minister for Roads, Department for Transport relating to driving tests waiting times, dated 12 January 2026
12 Nov 2025 To committee Letter from the Minister for Roads and Buses, Department for Transport relating to driving test waiting times, dated 10 November 2025
3 Sep 2025 To committee Letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport relating to the DVSA and driving tests availability, dated 22 July 2025
4 Jun 2025 To committee Letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport relating to driving tests waiting times, dated 20 May 2025
26 Mar 2025 To committee Letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport relating to Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2025, dated 17 March 2025
5 Mar 2025 To committee Letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Roads, Department for Transport relating to driving tests availability, dated 25 February 2025
5 Feb 2025 From committee Letter to the Minister of Roads, Department for Transport relating to driving tests availability, dated 4 February 2025
29 Jan 2025 To committee Letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport relating to assaults on DVSA staff, dated 23 January 2025
8 Jan 2025 To committee Letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport relating to driving tests availability, dated 18 December 2024