Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that (1) driving lessons, and (2) driving tests, are (a) available, and (b) affordable.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.

As of 9 September 2024, there were 556,774 car practical driving tests booked, and 91,059 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.

Measures already in place to reduce waiting times for customers at driving test centres. These include the recruitment of driving examiners, conducting tests outside of regular hours, including at weekends and on public holidays, and buying back annual leave from driving examiners. The Secretary of State for Transport has met with the Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to discuss solutions to barriers to obtaining a driving test.

The DVSA also continues to deploy examiners from areas with lower waiting times into those centres with longer waiting times. This is in addition to the DVSA recruiting additional examiners across the country into areas where waiting times are highest.

The DVSA does not employ driving instructors so has no control over what they charge for their services, including lessons.

Driving test fees are set in legislation.