Title: Unprecedented Waiting Times for Driving Tests Plague Lincolnshire
Delays to driving tests in North Lincolnshire are at record levels, say local driving instructors and residents. The booking system for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) cites no vacancies at the Scunthorpe test centre until April 2026. The situation is causing deep frustration among both learner drivers and instructors. Graham Kent, an experienced driving instructor who provides lessons in Hull, North Lincolnshire, and Lincoln, voiced apprehension about the prolonged waiting durations. He said, “My pupils are becoming extremely exasperated, especially if they are not prepared by their test date and have to defer or if they commit an error and need to retake it.” The DVSA is trying to optimise the booking process and suggests that better pass rates infer pupils are eager to wait until they are confident of succeeding.
In April, almost all of the 319 driving examination centres in Great Britain achieved the maximum mean delay of 24 weeks to reserve a practical test. To combat these extensive waiting periods, Kent advises pupils to plan their theory exams as early as possible.
Scunthorpe resident, Donna Cook, managed to organise a driving test for her daughter in late December after her successful theory test in June. The postponement lead to an additional £600 expense for refresher lessons. By the time her daughter takes her test, Cook, who is concerned about the financial implications if her daughter fails, will have spent roughly £3,000. Cook expressed concern about the needless fortune other parents and their children are spending on driving lessons due to this issue.
Rob Waltham, leader of the North Lincolnshire Council, has formally raised the problem with the DVSA in response to residents’ concerns. Waltham stated, “The system is failing, causing remarkable stress and disruption for young people and families across North Lincolnshire.” Even though the DVSA has introduced a strategy to augment testing capacity by 10,000 slots each month, this is yet to make a significant difference. As of July 2025, the mean wait time for a practical car driving test in Scunthorpe is approximately 19.8 weeks—slightly less than the national average of 22.6 weeks. Loveday Ryder, CEO of DVSA, has thanked the public for their input on driving test booking improvements, noting a rise in available tests in July 2025.
This story has been rewritten based on original reporting by www.bbc.com.
