Learner drivers in Birmingham are facing waits of up to six months to secure a practical test slot at their preferred city test centre, according to new figures and local accounts. In one case reported to BirminghamLive, a teenager who booked an examination at Kingstanding when new slots were released early on Monday, August 31, found the first available appointment was not until February the following year.
Long delays across Midlands test centres
The delays are not confined to Birmingham. At Dudley test centre, the average wait exceeded 14 weeks in July, according to Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) figures, though this was a slight improvement from more than 15 weeks in June. Learners must first pass their theory test before they can book the practical exam, which extends the total time from starting lessons to becoming fully licensed.
Jack Beckett, 24, hopes to take his driving test in Dudley. He has been learning to drive on and off since April last year and has his theory test booked for October, after a four-month wait. He said he is resigned to another long wait for his practical test.
Student's frustration and new booking rules
“God knows when I’ll get a practical test – it’s looking like I’ll be waiting another four or five months due to the backlog,” Beckett said. He welcomed new rules that allow only students to book tests, saying this should stop “instructors from bulk hoarding them.” However, he noted the long wait has made him “less independent,” forcing him to rely on lifts or public transport to get around.
Beckett added that not being able to drive “prevents progression in my current job role and it could potentially restrict where I choose to buy a property due to poor transport links.” His experience reflects broader concerns raised by The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), which found that young people in Britain are being locked out of work because of the driving test backlog.
National data and government response
CSJ research shows the number of 17-to-20-year-olds holding a full car driving licence in England fell from 48 per cent in 1994 to 29 per cent in 2024, despite one-in-six job vacancies requiring a driving licence. A Department for Transport spokeswoman told The Sun: “Our latest data shows the median driving test waiting time for Great Britain was 11.1 weeks in July 2026, and the number of tests at its highest point since our records began.
“But we recognise how frustrating it is for every learner who has to wait longer for their test date. That’s why we’re continuing to put more tests into the system, with almost 305,000 extra tests carried out since June 2025.” A DVSA spokesperson said last month: “Our latest data shows the median waiting time for Great Britain was 10.7 weeks in June 2026. Test slot availability was at its highest point since November 2024 and the pass rate remains above 50 per cent. But we recognise how frustrating it is for every learner who has to wait longer for their test date. That’s why we’re continuing to put more tests into the system, with almost 280,000 extra tests carried out since June 2025.”
