Chronic Shortage of Driving Test Slots

The DVSA is facing unprecedented demand for driving test slots, with some areas showing no test availability for six months.

The shortage is due in part to Covid lockdowns, which saw all tests stopped while the population was unable to leave their homes apart from for essential items.

However, it is also coming to light, according to the BBC, that operators are bulk booking slots and reselling them at inflated rates, with demand so high that many are paying up to double the price of a standard test.

The Driving Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is urging applicants to book through their official website booking system to avoid these price hikes, but often availability is chronically short leaving learners with little choice but to utilise the services of an external provider who can guarantee slots.

DVSA Chief Executive Loveday Ryder said to the BBC: “We’ve already put in place measures to monitor and prevent bots from accessing our systems while also strengthening our firewall to tackle the issue.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to crack down on companies that are exploiting learner drivers.”

The statement comes with some learner drivers being told they may need to wait until September or October for available test slots.

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