Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what the average waiting time was on 1 August for those who had submitted paper applications to the DVLA for the renewal of their driving licences.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their driving licence within a few days.

However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application for a driving licence. The DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day which must be dealt with in person. Industrial action by members of the Public and Commercial Services union has led to delays for customers who make paper applications. The DVLA has also been working with fewer staff on site to ensure social distancing in line with Welsh Government requirements.

Information on average waiting time for a paper application for a driving licence to be processed on a specific day is not recorded.

The following table shows the average time taken to issue a driving licence after receiving a paper application where no medical condition is involved.

The time taken is measured from date the application is received at the DVLA to the date the driving licence is sent to the customer.

The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found on GOV.UK.