If you're waiting for a driving test, or booking one for someone else, 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 August 2026 Release
On 9 September 2026, DVSA updated its official waiting-time and availability tables, DRT121G (by country and region) and DRT122F (by test centre), with data to August 2026. For the first time, those tables break 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 specific banding available back to August 2019.
Regional and per-test-centre reporting itself isn't brand new, DVSA introduced those two tables back on 18 June 2026. What's changed this month is the level of detail inside them, moving from a single figure to a clearer breakdown of how many learners actually fall into each waiting band.
The National Picture, In DVSA's Own Words
In the driver trainer newsletter accompanying this release, DVSA reported a record number of driving tests conducted in August 2026, more than any other August on record, and more than 2.13 million tests over the past 12 months, the highest rolling 12-month figure on record.
DVSA also confirmed the pass rate remains above 50%, at its highest level since May 2021, crediting instructors and learners for the work put into being properly test ready before booking.
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 Because of that, any specific percentage or wait figure quoted on a page like this will be out of date within weeks, so rather than repeat numbers that will age quickly, it's worth checking DVSA's tables directly for your own area or test centre.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.
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.
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.
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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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