STORY
Young people are being prevented from taking up jobs because of lengthy waits for driving tests, according to new research from the Centre for Social Justice. Analysis of Department for Transport data by the think tank found that learners in England faced an average wait of 20.8 weeks for a practical car test in July 2026, compared with around five weeks in 2020. The CSJ said test availability remained extremely limited, with only 7.7% of slots across English test centres available on average during 2026.
The organisation said the backlog was particularly significant for young people who are not in employment, education or training because many jobs require applicants to hold a driving licence. Research cited by the CSJ found that 17.4% of job vacancies required applicants to be able to drive, rising to 34% of roles in care and social work and 68% of plumbing vacancies. Nearly one in five unemployed people also reported having turned down a job or decided not to apply because of transport difficulties. The proportion of 17 to 20 year olds in England holding a full car licence has fallen from 48% in 1994 to 29% in 2024.
The CSJ has called for accredited employers to be allowed to conduct car driving tests for employees who require a licence for their work, through an expansion of the existing Delegated Examiner Scheme. It also proposed regional testing hubs involving employers and further education colleges and allowing vocational and apprenticeship funding to help cover the cost of driving tests. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has been recruiting additional examiners and changing booking rules in an attempt to reduce waiting times, with 1,604 full time equivalent examiners in post by April 2026, its highest level since March 2018.