Frustrated learner drivers across Britain are set to receive much-needed relief as the government announces an unprecedented intervention to tackle the massive driving test backlog that has left many waiting up to twenty months for a slot.
Record waiting times plague learners
The Department for Transport has revealed that military driving examiners will be deployed to help clear the enormous backlog that continues to affect thousands of aspiring drivers five years after the coronavirus pandemic initially ground testing to a halt.
Waiting times have reached critical levels, with learners in London facing delays of nearly six months, while those elsewhere in the country confront an average twenty-month wait for a test appointment. The situation has become so desperate that third-party websites have been exploiting the shortage by using automated bots to snap up available slots and resell them at inflated prices.
Crackdown on booking exploitation
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced sweeping changes to make the system fairer for all learners. Third parties will be banned from booking tests on behalf of learners, ensuring that only those actually taking the test can secure appointments through the official government website.
Under the new measures, learner drivers will be restricted to making only two changes to their test booking before being required to cancel and rebook entirely. This limitation is expected to free up additional slots that have been tied up by frequent rescheduling.
The crackdown means learners will only need to pay the standard DVSA fee of £62 on weekdays and £75 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays, rather than the inflated prices charged by opportunistic third-party sites.
Military expertise brought to civilian testing
The deployment of military driving examiners represents a significant escalation in efforts to resolve the crisis. These specialists, while not military personnel themselves but civil servants employed by the military, typically test soldiers on their ability to handle everything from standard cars to fuel tankers and armoured carriers in challenging conditions.
Al Carns, the minister for the armed forces, confirmed that the project is estimated to cost approximately £100,000 and will have no negative impact on military operations. He emphasised that the armed forces and Ministry of Defence civilians have consistently demonstrated their willingness to support the country when needed.
The initiative is expected to make up to 6,500 additional tests available over the next year at driving test centres experiencing the highest demand across the country.
Ms Alexander stated: 'We inherited an enormous backlog of learners ready to ditch their L-Plates who have been forced to endure record waiting times. Every learner should have an equal and fair opportunity to take a test, and we're taking decisive action to deliver thousands of extra tests over the next year.'
The transport secretary added that these measures form part of the government's broader Plan for Change, designed to ease pressure on the system, remove barriers to opportunity, and support economic growth by getting more qualified drivers on the road.
