Key points
- In Sep 2026, half of the people who took a car test in Great Britain had waited 11.6 weeks or less since booking (DVSA's median wait).
- 41.1% took their test within 7 weeks of booking; 29.5% had waited more than 21 weeks.
- These are published monthly statistics. They don't show live availability — only the official GOV.UK service does.
Median wait, Sep 202611.6 weeksGreat Britain
Weeks to 10% availability19.7 weeksGB average of centres
Taken within 7 weeks41.1%of tests in Sep 2026
How waiting times have changed
Show the data as a table
| Month | Median wait | Weeks to 10% availability | Within 7 weeks | Over 21 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 11.6 weeks | 19.7 weeks | 41.1% | 29.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 11.1 weeks | 20.0 weeks | 40.8% | 29.8% |
| Jul 2026 | 11.1 weeks | 20.2 weeks | 40.8% | 30.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 10.7 weeks | 20.9 weeks | 41.3% | 28.7% |
| May 2026 | 9.7 weeks | 21.8 weeks | 43.9% | 28.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 9.1 weeks | 22.2 weeks | 44.7% | 28.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 9.0 weeks | 22.1 weeks | 45.6% | 28.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 10.4 weeks | 21.3 weeks | 42.7% | 29.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 10.1 weeks | 20.4 weeks | 41.4% | 29.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 10.1 weeks | 21.4 weeks | 42.5% | 27.5% |
| Nov 2025 | 10.4 weeks | 21.6 weeks | 42.1% | 31.1% |
| Oct 2025 | 11.6 weeks | 21.7 weeks | 39.5% | 31.4% |
| Sep 2025 | 12.4 weeks | 21.2 weeks | 38.4% | 30.0% |
| Aug 2025 | 11.7 weeks | 21.8 weeks | 38.8% | 28.5% |
| Jul 2025 | 12.0 weeks | 21.8 weeks | 37.6% | 28.5% |
| Jun 2025 | 11.0 weeks | 22.1 weeks | 39.7% | 25.4% |
| May 2025 | 11.3 weeks | 22.1 weeks | 39.0% | 26.0% |
| Apr 2025 | 10.6 weeks | 21.7 weeks | 41.0% | 24.4% |
| Mar 2025 | 10.4 weeks | 20.9 weeks | 41.9% | 24.0% |
| Feb 2025 | 11.4 weeks | 20.4 weeks | 40.1% | 23.6% |
| Jan 2025 | 11.0 weeks | 19.6 weeks | 39.7% | 22.8% |
| Dec 2024 | 10.4 weeks | 19.7 weeks | 40.6% | 19.7% |
| Nov 2024 | 9.9 weeks | 18.9 weeks | 42.0% | 20.0% |
| Oct 2024 | 9.7 weeks | 18.6 weeks | 42.8% | 19.4% |
| Sep 2024 | 9.7 weeks | 18.3 weeks | 42.2% | 19.3% |
| Aug 2024 | 9.3 weeks | 17.9 weeks | 42.7% | 18.4% |
| Jul 2024 | 9.0 weeks | 17.2 weeks | 44.2% | 18.4% |
| Jun 2024 | 7.7 weeks | 17.6 weeks | 47.9% | 16.8% |
| May 2024 | 7.0 weeks | 18.1 weeks | 50.2% | 17.7% |
| Apr 2024 | 6.4 weeks | 17.3 weeks | 52.5% | 18.3% |
| Mar 2024 | 5.6 weeks | 16.7 weeks | 55.7% | 17.2% |
| Feb 2024 | 6.0 weeks | 15.4 weeks | 53.5% | 19.1% |
| Jan 2024 | 6.6 weeks | 14.7 weeks | 51.7% | 20.0% |
| Dec 2023 | 6.1 weeks | 16.8 weeks | 52.4% | 19.0% |
| Nov 2023 | 7.1 weeks | 17.5 weeks | 49.8% | 21.2% |
| Oct 2023 | 8.7 weeks | 17.7 weeks | 45.8% | 23.1% |
| Sep 2023 | 10.1 weeks | 19.2 weeks | 42.4% | 25.4% |
| Aug 2023 | 10.1 weeks | 19.1 weeks | 42.3% | 24.7% |
| Jul 2023 | 10.4 weeks | 18.4 weeks | 41.7% | 24.3% |
| Jun 2023 | 10.1 weeks | 17.7 weeks | 42.7% | 22.7% |
| May 2023 | 9.4 weeks | 16.7 weeks | 43.7% | 21.9% |
| Apr 2023 | 9.3 weeks | 15.6 weeks | 44.2% | 24.1% |
| Mar 2023 | 10.9 weeks | 15.3 weeks | 40.9% | 26.6% |
| Feb 2023 | 11.6 weeks | 15.4 weeks | 40.3% | 25.4% |
| Jan 2023 | 11.1 weeks | 14.0 weeks | 38.0% | 25.5% |
| Dec 2022 | 9.1 weeks | 14.9 weeks | 43.9% | 21.5% |
| Nov 2022 | 9.3 weeks | 15.2 weeks | 43.7% | 25.1% |
| Oct 2022 | 10.0 weeks | 14.0 weeks | 42.5% | 25.8% |
| Sep 2022 | 11.1 weeks | 14.0 weeks | 39.8% | 26.5% |
| Aug 2022 | 10.6 weeks | 14.0 weeks | 40.7% | 24.8% |
| Jul 2022 | 11.4 weeks | 14.4 weeks | 38.8% | 26.6% |
| Jun 2022 | 10.6 weeks | 15.5 weeks | 40.9% | 24.4% |
| May 2022 | 11.3 weeks | 15.5 weeks | 39.6% | 26.2% |
| Apr 2022 | 10.1 weeks | 14.9 weeks | 42.1% | 24.4% |
| Mar 2022 | 11.6 weeks | 14.7 weeks | 40.2% | 26.8% |
| Feb 2022 | 11.7 weeks | 14.3 weeks | 40.4% | 28.4% |
| Jan 2022 | 11.4 weeks | 14.6 weeks | 39.9% | 29.4% |
| Dec 2021 | 12.1 weeks | 14.9 weeks | 39.1% | 27.0% |
| Nov 2021 | 13.9 weeks | 15.6 weeks | 35.1% | 25.0% |
| Oct 2021 | 13.3 weeks | 15.2 weeks | 34.5% | 22.8% |
| Sep 2021 | 12.9 weeks | 15.1 weeks | 31.8% | 18.3% |
| Aug 2021 | 13.7 weeks | 15.3 weeks | 31.2% | 31.0% |
| Jul 2021 | 20.1 weeks | 14.0 weeks | 30.2% | 49.6% |
| Jun 2021 | 30.4 weeks | 13.7 weeks | 27.2% | 64.4% |
| May 2021 | 27.0 weeks | 13.3 weeks | 19.7% | 65.4% |
| Apr 2021 | 21.0 weeks | 13.8 weeks | 9.4% | 49.8% |
| Mar 2021 | 18.3 weeks | 14.8 weeks | 18.2% | 40.1% |
| Feb 2021 | 17.1 weeks | 13.7 weeks | 7.2% | 31.9% |
| Jan 2021 | 13.0 weeks | 13.8 weeks | 27.7% | 2.5% |
| Dec 2020 | 11.1 weeks | 13.9 weeks | 22.9% | 3.0% |
| Nov 2020 | 7.3 weeks | 13.7 weeks | 38.0% | 14.0% |
| Oct 2020 | 6.1 weeks | 12.4 weeks | 76.3% | 17.1% |
| Sep 2020 | 6.3 weeks | 10.5 weeks | 51.7% | 48.1% |
| Aug 2020 | 24.4 weeks | 7.8 weeks | 11.6% | 83.7% |
| Jul 2020 | 21.0 weeks | 3.9 weeks | 15.3% | 49.2% |
| Jun 2020 | 5.1 weeks | 6.5 weeks | 54.3% | 5.0% |
| May 2020 | 10.9 weeks | 8.6 weeks | 18.5% | 3.9% |
| Apr 2020 | 7.4 weeks | 10.5 weeks | 47.3% | 1.7% |
| Mar 2020 | 5.0 weeks | 8.8 weeks | 74.1% | 1.2% |
| Feb 2020 | 5.3 weeks | 5.8 weeks | 65.8% | 1.5% |
| Jan 2020 | 6.9 weeks | 5.6 weeks | 52.8% | 1.5% |
| Dec 2019 | 6.4 weeks | 7.8 weeks | 59.3% | 1.3% |
| Nov 2019 | 6.7 weeks | 8.3 weeks | 55.5% | 1.2% |
| Oct 2019 | 7.1 weeks | 8.0 weeks | 48.9% | 1.1% |
| Sep 2019 | 7.4 weeks | 8.4 weeks | 44.9% | 1.1% |
| Aug 2019 | 7.0 weeks | 9.1 weeks | 51.6% | 1.0% |
| Jul 2019 | 6.6 weeks | 8.9 weeks | — | — |
| Jun 2019 | 6.3 weeks | 8.2 weeks | — | — |
| May 2019 | 6.6 weeks | 7.8 weeks | — | — |
| Apr 2019 | — | 7.8 weeks | — | — |
| Mar 2019 | — | 7.0 weeks | — | — |
| Feb 2019 | — | 6.5 weeks | — | — |
| Jan 2019 | — | 5.8 weeks | — | — |
By country and region, Sep 2026
| Area | Median wait | Weeks to 10% availability | Within 7 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | 11.6 weeks | 19.7 weeks | 41.1% |
| England | 11.7 weeks | 20.4 weeks | 41.5% |
| Scotland | 15.1 weeks | 19.4 weeks | 32.1% |
| Wales | 7.4 weeks | 11.6 weeks | 47.9% |
| East Midlands | 11.0 weeks | 22.3 weeks | 41.9% |
| East of England | 12.0 weeks | 23.2 weeks | 42.2% |
| London | 14.3 weeks | 23.8 weeks | 41.0% |
| North East | 13.1 weeks | 20.1 weeks | 34.0% |
| North West | 12.6 weeks | 19.6 weeks | 39.4% |
| South East | 11.4 weeks | 19.9 weeks | 42.5% |
| South West | 8.4 weeks | 14.2 weeks | 46.7% |
| West Midlands | 12.1 weeks | 22.9 weeks | 40.6% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 10.9 weeks | 17.2 weeks | 42.2% |
For a single centre, open it from the test centre list.
What the measures mean
- Median wait — This shows the median waiting time between booking a driving test and taking it, for people who took a test during the month. The median is the middle value when all waiting times are ordered from shortest to longest. This means half of people waited less time and half waited longer.The waiting time is based on the date the test was eventually taken, not the original date it was first booked for. This means it includes cases where a learner moved their test to an earlier or later date after booking.
- Weeks to 10% availability — DVSA: "The number of weeks until 10% or more of weekly test appointments are still available to book." At a single centre it can't go beyond the 24-week booking window, so we show a value at the limit as "24+ weeks". DVSA also notes that many people book and take a test sooner than this, because appointments come up through cancellations or extra capacity.
- Within 7 weeks / over 21 weeks — the share of completed tests taken that soon (or that long) after the booking date, including tests that were moved.
- DVSA's annual report headline figure for 2025 to 2026 — 21.5 weeks — is the weeks-to-10%-availability measure, not an average wait. See if you fail your driving test.
Looking for an earlier test?
Only use the official service. DVSA explains how and when new appointments are released in its guidance on release dates and finding earlier tests. It is against the law for anyone other than you to book your car test, and unofficial services that scan the booking system can get your access suspended — see how to book or change your test.
Sources
Last checked against the cited sources on 14 October 2026. PassNav is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA, DVLA or TomTom. Our guides are prepared with AI assistance and checked against the official sources cited on each page. Rules and fees change — for current legal requirements and booking rules, always check GOV.UK. This is general guidance and does not replace professional driving instruction. Figures are published historical statistics, not live test availability, and a centre's pass rate is not a measure of how easy or hard its test is. Spotted something out of date? Email passnav@smartaisolution.co.uk — see our editorial policy.