Dudley wait times significantly above national average
Learner drivers in Dudley are facing an average wait of 15.4 weeks between booking and taking their driving test, according to new data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). This is nearly five weeks longer than the Great Britain average of 10.7 weeks.
The data, released in June 2026, shows that Dudley has the longest wait time in the West Midlands region. Only 11.86 per cent of standard tests are available to book within the booking window across the UK, but in Dudley, the wait stretches to 24 weeks before 10 per cent or more of weekly appointments become available.
DVSA response and reforms
A spokesperson for the DVSA said: “The public deserve to know how the car driving test service is really performing. Our latest data shows the median waiting time for Great Britain was 10.7 weeks in June 2026, which means half of learners waited less than this and half waited longer. Test slot availability was at its highest point since November 2024 and the pass rate remains above 50 per cent.”
The DVSA has conducted 278,124 more car driving tests between June 2025 and June 2026 compared to the same period the previous year. The agency has also introduced reforms to tackle test reselling: from March 31, a maximum of two changes can be made to a test booking; from May 12, learners can only book and amend their own appointments; and from June 9, learners can only move a booked test to a nearby centre.
Impact on learners and local driving schools
The long wait times are causing frustration for learners in Dudley, who often have to wait months for a test slot. Driving instructors in the area report that students are booking tests as soon as they start learning to secure a slot, sometimes before they are ready. The DVSA’s crackdown on third-party resellers aims to prevent bots from hoovering up appointments and selling them at inflated prices, but learners still face significant delays.
Local driving schools have called for more test centres or additional examiners in the area to reduce waiting times. The DVSA has not announced any further changes for Dudley specifically, but continues to monitor the situation.
