If you're waiting for a driving test, you've probably wondered how your own wait compares to everyone else's. DVSA has just changed how much of that picture it actually publishes.
What's New in DVSA's October 2026 Release
On 14 October 2026, DVSA updated its official waiting-time and availability tables, DRT121G (by country and region) and DRT122F (by test centre), with data to September 2026. DRT121G breaks results into four bands, tests taken in 7 weeks or less, in more than 7 up to 14 weeks, in more than 14 up to 21 weeks, and in more than 21 weeks after booking, with this banding available back to August 2019.
DVSA introduced the regional and per-test-centre tables on 18 June 2026 and updates them monthly, so each release adds the latest month to the series.
The National Picture, In DVSA's Own Words
DVSA's published figures show 191,682 car driving tests were conducted in September 2026, more than in any other September in the series, and 2,161,815 in the 12 months to September 2026, the highest rolling 12-month total in the series (source: DVSA, Driving test and theory test data: cars, table DRT121G).
The pass rate was 51.8% in September 2026 (provisional data), after 52.1% in August 2026, the highest monthly rate since April 2021.
How to Read the Data Yourself
DVSA updates these figures monthly, on the second Wednesday, with data to the end of the previous month. Because of that, any specific percentage or wait figure quoted on a page like this will be out of date within weeks, so rather than repeat numbers that will age quickly, it's worth checking DVSA's tables directly for your own area or test centre.
The two tables to look for are DRT121G for the country and regional view and DRT122F for individual test centres, both published on GOV.UK's driving test and theory test data: cars page.
What This Means If You're Waiting for a Test
A national or regional average tells you very little about your own test centre, two centres half an hour apart can have very different waits, so once you're ready to book, it's worth checking a few nearby centres rather than assuming the closest one is typical. Choose carefully, because after booking you can only move your test to one of the 3 centres nearest the one you booked, and you only get 2 changes (source: GOV.UK, Changes to driving test booking rules in 2026).
Since 12 May 2026, only the learner can book, change or cancel a car driving test, so instructors can't do it for their pupils and you'll book your own (source: GOV.UK, Changes to driving test booking rules in 2026). Check your instructor's availability before you do.
It's tempting to chase whichever centre has the earliest date, but switching centres usually means testing on roads you haven't practised, and unfamiliarity is one of the more common reasons an otherwise well-prepared pupil struggles on the day. It's worth talking it through with your instructor before moving centres purely for a shorter wait.
If the wait feels frustrating, don't be tempted by anyone offering a quicker route. Our guide to driving test cheating and impersonation explains what those offers involve and what can happen to people who take them up.
Above all, the timing that matters most is your own readiness, not the calendar. See our guide on choosing an instructor for what a properly structured build-up to test day should look like.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this waiting-time data updated?
Monthly, on the second Wednesday, with figures covering the previous month.
Where do the 7-week band figures actually come from?
DVSA's own published tables, DRT121G by country and region and DRT122F by test centre, both on GOV.UK.
Does a longer wait at my local test centre mean the instructors there are worse?
No. Waiting times mostly reflect local demand and test capacity, not instructor quality, it's a separate thing entirely from how prepared you are.
Sources
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Please note: This is general driving guidance, not a substitute for in-car instruction. The real situation in front of you, and what your instructor tells you, always takes priority over anything written on this page.
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