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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Caroline Davies and agency

THE TRUTH ABOUT: Uk opens up more driving test slots to help reduce backlog - The Untold Story

DVLA test centre in Erith, South London.
The DVSA conducted 168,644 driving tests in September 2025, an increase of 14% on the same month last year. Photograph: Jill Mead/The Guardian

More driving test slots are being made available to tackle a severe backlog as figures show a 15% increase in learner drivers with future tests booked compared with this time last year.

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) figures show 668,128 people had a practical driving test booked in Britain at the end of September, up from 579,138 a year earlier.

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