Learners face a ‘lottery’ when booking test, says marmalade

L-PLATE LOSERS According to Marmalade, test capacity is a third too low

FRUSTRATED learner drivers looking to take driving tests will be dismayed to learn that demand in 2024 could exceed capacity by a staggering 177 per cent.

The claim follows crunching of official data by young driver insurance specialist Marmalade, which has estimated that 5,004,282 learners will be fighting for just 1,808,148 test slots this year. Marmalade claims the data also reveals that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) capacity to conduct driving tests is a third lower than required, and that the service will again be overwhelmed, leading to a “huge rollover” of tests into 2025. The firm has warned that “the backlog might never end if capacity doesn’t increase”.

Breaking down the figures shows that demand for driving tests every month in the UK runs to 195,982, but the average monthly DVSA capacity is only 144,429 test slots. In January, 527,722 test slots were booked for the first half of the year, as instructors push candidates to book tests as soon as possible. And according to the insurer, the backlog will be compounded every month as demand overtakes the DVSA’s efforts to reduce wait times for tests.

The DVSA system is overseen by chief executive Loveday Ryder, who says, “We strongly urge learner drivers only to book their driving tests when they are ready to pass”. Ryder claims the agency is “taking all measures it can to reduce waiting times”, and says it has already g