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Backlog until November 2027
Driving Test Waiting Times by Centre — 2026 Guide
The National Audit Office says the DVSA backlog won't clear until late 2027. Here are the current estimated waiting times.
1.1 million test backlog
The Covid-19 pandemic created a backlog of 1.1 million tests. The NAO estimates it won't be fully cleared until November 2027.
Estimated Waiting Times at Major Centres
Birmingham (Kingstanding)
22 weeksHigh demand
London (Wood Green)
24 weeksHigh demand
Manchester (Cheetham Hill)
20 weeksHigh demand
Leeds (Horsforth)
18 weeksHigh demand
Bristol (Southmead)
16 weeks
Glasgow (Anniesland)
14 weeks
Edinburgh (Currie)
13 weeks
Cardiff
15 weeks
Sheffield (Handsworth)
17 weeks
Liverpool (Norris Green)
19 weeksHigh demand
Nottingham (Colwick)
16 weeks
Newcastle (Gosforth)
14 weeks
* Estimates based on publicly available data and user reports. Actual times may vary. Last updated March 2026.
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