DVSA Test Capacity and Pass Rate Update

Introduction

Back in July, we published an article (click here) based on DVSA figures given in DTR121G (click this link and scroll down).

These figures are updated monthly and can serve as a guide to the overall health of the industry.

The July article celebrated the fact that the pass rate had gone over 50% for the first time.

But, pointed out that we do get a summer holiday effect where the pass rate goes up.

The new figures indicate that the pass rate has gone back down to under 50% again, but overall is up over the last few years.

We now have a new CEO for the DVSA (Beverly Warmington) who has committed to getting the waiting time down to 7 weeks by November 2027.

The date given is just under two years away, so where is the extra capacity coming from?

The DVSA Press Release states that she is being brought in to tackle the backlog.

They are bringing in MoD examiners who will work one day a month for one year, delivering a total of 6,500 tests.

While this is welcome, is it really going to make a difference?

Are the proposed changes to the booking system going to reduce the backlog?

They say they are now delivering an extra 75,000 tests from June 2025 to November 2025 compared to the same period last year.

I guess they have a better idea of what their resources are and how they can deploy them, but I’m a bit sceptical about their target.

We now have a commitment to November 2027, which I welcome, but I’m not holding my breath.

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