Driving Tests

(asked on 10th October 2025) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many learner drivers did not attend their practical driving test (a) nationally, (b) in Norfolk and (c) in North West Norfolk constituency in each of the last five years.


Answered by
Simon Lightwood Portrait
Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This question was answered on 20th October 2025

The number of learner drivers who fail to attend their driving test represents just 3% of all tests taken accounting for around 60,000 tests. With unprecedented demand for tests, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is doing all it can to further reduce unused test slots and encourage learners to inform them so that the test slot can be utilised.

DVSA issues text reminders to learners between 2 and 12 days beforehand to help learners plan for their test. Learners can also get email alerts, check their test details online, and find resources on the GOV.UK website and through the official "Ready to Pass?" campaign. If a test is cancelled within 10 days of their test date, the learner loses their driving test fee.

The tables below show how many learner drivers did not attend their practical driving test (a) nationally, (b) in Norfolk and (C) in North West Norfolk constituency in each of the last five years.

Financial Year 2021/22

Total tests completed

Failed to attend

Percentage

National

1,465,747

61,503

4.20

Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road)

16,051

502

3.13

North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn)

5,457

170

3.12

Financial Year 2022/23

Total tests completed

Failed to attend

Percentage

National

1,609,583

62,530

3.88

Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road)

20,941

965

4.61

North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn)

6,648

304

4.57

Financial Year 2023/24

Total tests completed

Failed to attend

Percentage

National

1,783,045

59,483

3.34

Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road)

22,596

983

4.35

North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn)

6,927

295

4.26

Financial Year 2024/25

Total tests completed

Failed to attend

Percentage

National

1,768,258

52,054

2.94

Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road)

21,360

666

3.12

North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn)

7,275

245

3.37

Financial Year 2025/26 (year to date)

Total tests completed

Failed to attend

Percentage

National

904,174

29,207

3.23

Norfolk (King's Lynn, Norwich Peachman Way, Norwich Jupiter Road)

9,221

295

3.20

North West Norfolk constituency (King's Lynn)

3,361

131

3.90

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