The UK government is deploying military examiners and implementing stricter booking rules to address a backlog in driving tests, where average wait times currently stand at 21 weeks. The measures, announced by Transport Minister Heidi Alexander, reflect growing pressure to reduce delays that have frustrated learners across the country.
Military Support and Retention Incentives
To immediately boost testing capacity, 35 examiners from the Ministry of Defence will dedicate one day per week for the next year to administering driving tests. This temporary measure aims to alleviate the strain on the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
Simultaneously, the government is offering current examiners a £5,000 “retention payment” to discourage resignations. Despite a recent recruitment drive that added 316 new examiners, the net gain remains modest at only 40, indicating ongoing challenges in staffing.
Booking Restrictions to Combat Resellers
Learner drivers will now be the only ones allowed to book tests directly, eliminating third-party resellers who exploit high demand. The DVSA will also limit the number of times a test can be moved or swapped, and restrict how far a test can be relocated once booked with a specific center.
These measures are intended to protect learners from being exploited by automated “bots” and touts who resell test slots at inflated prices. The government acknowledges that previous efforts to reduce wait times to seven weeks by next summer will not be met, citing sustained high demand.
Industry Reaction
The RAC Foundation’s Director, Steve Gooding, welcomed the new measures, particularly those targeting test resellers. “It is good to see steps being put in place to put a stop to those touting tests to frustrated learners,” he said.
Gooding emphasized that a return to pre-pandemic waiting times remains the ultimate goal, hoping the combined efforts of military examiners and new DVSA recruits will deliver faster results.
The government’s response reflects a broader trend of temporary workforce solutions in public services facing staffing shortages. The reliance on military personnel highlights the urgency of the situation, while the booking restrictions underscore the need to address systemic issues in test availability and prevent exploitation. These measures, though reactive, signal a commitment to improving access to driving tests and reducing the burden on learners
