wrans/answers2025-06-09 conversation_1064
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-09)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-09 conversation_1064

James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to (a) reduce waiting times for practical driving tests and (b) expand access to test centres in (i) Norfolk and (ii) North West Norfolk constituency. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.

On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.

Further information on these actions and progress of DVSA’s plan to reduce driving test waiting times, which was announced in December 2024, can be found on GOV.UK.

From recruitment campaigns, beginning last year at driving test centres (DTC) that serve customers in Norfolk and the North West Norfolk constituency, DVSA have recruited three new driving examiners (DE). From recent recruitment campaigns, DVSA have one potential new DE currently due to start in July and have made an employment offer to another potential candidate.

DVSA is committed to providing its customers with the best service possible. DVSA continually reviews its estate to ensure it represents good value for money and is efficient.

The attached Excel document shows the average waiting time in weeks for a car practical driving test, at each DTC in Great Britain, for each month from October 2024 to May 2025.

The table below shows the average waiting time in weeks for a car practical driving test in each of the last five financial years, by DTCs in Norfolk and the North West Norfolk constituency.

Financial Year

Kings Lynn

Norwich (Peachman Way)

Total

2020/21

7.8

8.4

8.1

2021/22

12.8

15.3

14.1

2022/23

12.4

9.5

11

2023/24

16.6

17.3

16.9

2024/25

16.5

18.9

17.7

The table below shows the longest waiting time in weeks for a car practical driving test in each of the last five financial years, by DTCs in Norfolk and the North West Norfolk constituency.

Financial Year

Kings Lynn

Norwich (Peachman Way)

2020/21

16

18

2021/22

24

24

2022/23

24

24

2023/24

24

24

2024/25

22

24

The table below shows the average wait time for theory tests in Norfolk for the financial years 2021/22 to 2024/25.*

Norfolk (inclusive of Kings Lynn, Norwich, Cromer, Diss, Fakenham)

Financial year

Average wait time (Days)

2021/22 (from Sept 2021)

20.3

2022/23

17.6

2023/24

20.1

2024/25

26.4

The overall average for the total time period available (Sept 2021 to 2024/25) is 21.5 days.

The table below shows the average wait time for theory tests in the North West Norfolk constituency for the financial years 2021/22 to 2024/25.*

North-West Norfolk Constituency (inclusive of Kings Lynn only)

Financial year

Average wait time (Days)

2021/22 (from Sept 2021)

16.9

2022/23

18.1

2023/24

20.7

2024/25

25.5

The overall average for the total time period available (Sept 2021 to 2024/25) is 21.0 days.

*Please note, DVSA only hold data from when its new theory test booking service was implemented in September 2021. Theory test data availability is not measured in the same way as practical tests. DVSA’s relevant KPI for theory tests is the difference between the first confirmed booking date and the first confirmed test date, excluding bank holidays.

Table of driving tests waiting times (xlsx, 35.9KB)