In spite of the government rolling out new rules in summer 2023 to reduce the driving test backlog, waiting times have increased since this time last year by an average of 5.1 weeks. Whilst the average waiting time for Great Britain was 14.2 weeks in October 2022, the average waiting time is now 19.3 weeks – a far cry from the pre-coronavirus average waiting time of six weeks.

The backlog, which was caused by driving lessons and tests being put on hold during the COVID-19 lockdowns, has led many to resort to buying a slot on the driving test black market. But if you do go through these routes to book your driving test sooner, you could end up paying up to £400 for a slot – over six times the cost of a standard weekday practical test (£62).

And while the number of driving tests increased by 7% over the months of April to June 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, this figure is nowhere near the amount needed to keep up with demand.

Thankfully all hope is not lost – we recently provided our own set of tips for how to beat driving test wait times. In it, we suggested that learners wanting to book their tests quickly might want to consider taking their test at a different test centre as some are less impacted by the backlog.

Read on to find out which driving test centres have the lowest driving test waiting times in your area and which you should avoid.

Jump to section

• Revealed: The driving test centres with the shortest waiting times (by region)
• North East
• North West
• Yorkshire and the Humber
• East Midlands
• West Midlands
• South East (including London)
• South West
• East
• Scotland
• Wales
• The test centres with the longest waiting times

Revealed: The driving test centres with the shortest waiting times (by region)

If you’re struggling to book a driving test in your area, it might be easier to book one at a different test centre. Here we breakdown the driving test centres with the shortest wait times in different regions of Britain.

North East

Average waiting time: 13.1 weeks (14.1 weeks in October 2022)

The North East offers the shortest waiting times in Great Britain and is the only region where average waiting times have decreased year on year. That being said, the average waiting time hasn’t decreased by much; learners should expect to wait just over three months before they can get a driving test slot. There are a few centres in counties across the North East that would offer relatively short waiting times, as listed below.

• Darlington (11 weeks) and Hartlepool (13 weeks) are the best options for those living in County Durham
• Blyth (13 weeks) and Alnwick (13 weeks) in Northumberland have the shortest waiting times
• For those living in Tyne and Wear, learners in Gateshead only have to wait one week to take their test. Gosforth (seven weeks) is also a good option

North West

Average waiting time: 17.58 weeks (15.42 weeks in October 2022)

Although the average waiting times in the North West are relatively high, there are still some decent options available if you want to book your driving test as soon as possible.

• With a waiting time of 12 weeks, Widnes is the best option in Cheshire. This is closely followed by Northwich (14 weeks), Macclesfield (15 weeks) and Crewe (16 weeks)
• Kendal Oxenholme Road (six weeks) offers the shortest waiting time by far in Cumbria. Workington (10 weeks) and Barrow In Furness (11 weeks) are also good options
• There aren’t many good options in the Greater Manchester area. With a waiting time of around 21 weeks, either Rochdale or Sale in Manchester are your best options
• Nelson (eight weeks), Blackpool (13 weeks) and Heysham (13 weeks) are your best bets for those living in Lancashire
• There aren’t many good options in Merseyside, but Southport, Speke and Upton have the shortest waiting times in the area, with a wait of 14 weeks

Yorkshire and the Humber

Average waiting time: 19.58 weeks (19.04 weeks in October 2022)

If you’re looking to book your test in Yorkshire, on average you will have to wait almost five months for a slot. If you’re a learner driver living in Yorkshire eager to take your test, the following are the best options.

• There aren’t many good options in East Riding of Yorkshire; the best is Bridlington (16 weeks)
• Scarborough (12 weeks) and Northallerton (12 weeks) are your best options in North Yorkshire
• There aren’t many good options in South Yorkshire – Barnsley (15 weeks) is the best
• Steeton (eight weeks) is your best bet in West Yorkshire. The next best options are Featherstone and Huddersfield, but here you’ll have to wait 21 weeks to book your test

East Midlands

Average waiting time: 20.96 weeks (10.57 weeks in October 2022)

If you’re looking to take your test in the East Midlands, you could have to wait around five months before you can book your test. Thankfully, there are a few options with shorter waiting times in the area.

• Buxton (23 weeks) offers the short waiting time compared to other centres in Derbyshire
• Skegness (two weeks), Scunthorpe (11 weeks), Grimsby Coldwater (13 weeks) and Lincoln (19 weeks) are all fairly decent options in Lincolnshire
• Watnall (11 weeks) is the best option for booking your driving test quickly in Nottinghamshire

West Midlands

Average waiting time: 22.67 weeks (12.50 weeks in October 2022)

Although the average waiting time has increased significantly since this time last year, there are a number of test centres with relatively short waiting times in the region.

• Oswestry (16 weeks) and Shrewsbury (16 weeks) offer the shortest waiting times in Shropshire
• Stafford (19 weeks) has the shortest waiting time in Staffordshire
• Wolverhampton (18 weeks), Wednesbury (21 weeks) and Dudley (23 weeks) are the best options in the West Midlands county

South East (including London)

Average waiting time: 22.76 (14.78 weeks in October 2022)

The South East of England has the worst driving test waiting times in Britain, with learners having to wait an average of almost 23 weeks – that’s almost half a year. All hope is not lost though as there are a few centres that have comparatively lower waiting times than the average. Alternatively, you might want to consider taking your test outside of the South East region.

• Yeading (17 weeks) is the best option in Greater London
• Ashford (15 weeks) and Canterbury (10 weeks) are the best options in Kent
• Oxford Cowley (nine weeks) is the best option in Oxfordshire
• Guildford (two weeks) test centre is comparatively better than the only other test centre in Surrey
• Newport Isle of Wight (18 weeks) offers a fairly decent option for those on the Isle of Wight

South West

Average waiting time: 21.86 weeks (15.3 weeks in October 2022)

If you live in the South West, you’ll have to wait an average of just over five months before you can take your test. There are a number of test centres that help you beat driving test waiting times.

• Launceston (13 weeks) and Bodmin (13 weeks) offer the shortest waiting times in Cornwall
• Newton Abbot (20 weeks) and Barnstaple (22 weeks) offer the shortest waiting times in Devon
• Trowbridge (eight weeks) in Wiltshire offers the shortest waiting times

East

Average waiting time: 22.55 weeks (11.82 weeks in October 2022)

Driving test centre waiting times in the East have increased significantly year on year by an average of 10.73 weeks, but thankfully there are still some fairly decent options you might want to consider in the area.

• Southend-on-Sea (four weeks) is the best option in Essex
• Norwich Jupiter Road (13 weeks) and Norwich Peachman Way (23 weeks) driving test centres are the best options in Norfolk

Scotland

Average waiting time: 16.53 (16.19 weeks in October 2022)

Although Scotland has the highest number of test centres with the longest waiting times, there are still some decent options available – far more than regions like the South East. Scotland offers one of the shortest waiting times in Britain, but waits do vary quite a lot between counties.

• Aberdeen South, Cove (one week) offers by far the best option in Aberdeen City. The next best option is Aberdeen North, with a waiting time of 11 weeks
• Fraserburgh (three weeks) and Inverurie (six weeks) are ideal for those living in Aberdeenshire, with Peterhead (10 weeks) not far behind
• Arbroath (four weeks) or Montrose (11 weeks) are your best bets in Angus
• Isle of Mull (one week) and Oban (23 weeks) are your only options in Argyll and Bute – the rest are fully booked
• Castle Douglas (one week), Stranraer (five weeks) and Dumfries (nine weeks) are good options in Dumfries and Galloway
• Dundee (eight weeks) isn’t a bad option in Dundee City
• The wait at Cumnock (14 weeks) in East Ayrshire isn’t too bad
• Those wanting to take their test in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire will have to wait 21 weeks to book their test – you might want to consider travelling to another county to take your test
• Haddington (eight weeks) offers the shortest waiting times in East Lothian
• Those taking their test in Grangemouth, Falkirk will have to wait 15 weeks to take their test
• Dunfermline is the best option in Fife, with a waiting time of 18 weeks
• The Baillieston (21 weeks) test centre has the shortest waiting time in Glasgow City county
• Inverness Seafield Road (11 weeks) and Thurso (11 weeks) offer the shortest waiting times in Highland, with Alness (13 weeks) not far behind
• Greenock (10 weeks) is a fairly decent option in Inverclyde
• Waiting times in Buckie (nine weeks) and Elgin (11 weeks) aren’t too bad for those wanting to take their test in Moray
• Irvine (13 weeks) offers the shortest waiting times in North Ayrshire
• Those living in North Lanarkshire will have to wait 21 weeks to book a test in Airdrie; you might want to consider booking your driving test elsewhere if possible
• Orkney (13 weeks) doesn’t have too long of a wait
• Benbecula Island (eight weeks) is the best option in the Outer Hebrides
• Pitlochry (one week), Crieff (five weeks) and Perth Arran Road (nine weeks) have the shortest waiting times in Perth and Kinross
• Duns (eight weeks) and Hawick (12 weeks) in the Scottish Borders offers the shortest waiting times in the county
• Girvan (18 weeks) and Ayr (20 weeks) in South Ayrshire are the best places to go if you want to book a test in the area
• There’s a 10 week waiting time for learner drivers in Callander, Stirlingshire
• Learners in Dumbarton will have to wait around 23 weeks, so might be better off looking for slots outside of West Dunbartonshire

Wales

Average waiting time: 15.38 weeks (average waiting time was 5.76 weeks in October 2022)

With an average wait of 15.38 weeks, Wales has a relatively short driving test waiting time. If any English or Scottish learners are eager to book their test, you might even want to consider booking a test in Wales, although you would have to get used to the bilingual road signs first.

• Carmarthen (eight weeks) is a decent option in Carmarthenshire
• Wrexham in Clwyd has a waiting time of 13 weeks
• Pembroke Dock (eight weeks) and Cardigan (nine weeks) are your best options in Dyfed
• Bala (four weeks) is your best choice in Gwynedd – the second best is Pwllheli (16 weeks)
• If you live in Mid Glamorgan, Llantrisant (17 weeks) and Bridgend (19 weeks) are both relatively good options
• The only two test centres in Powys – Brecon and Newtown – offer comparatively decent waiting times (six weeks and 10 weeks respectively)
• Barry offers a 15 week waiting list in South Glamorgan
• Swansea in West Glamorgan has a waiting time of 13 weeks

The test centres with the longest waiting times

For many up and down the country, driving tests are fully booked for 24 weeks, the furthest in advance you can now book your test. The majority of fully booked driving test centres are in Scotland, which has been hit hardest by the backlog. The following test centres are fully booked:

1. Ballater (Scotland)
2. Barra (Scotland)
3. Campbeltown (Scotland)
4. Clacton-on-Sea (East)
5. Dunoon (Scotland)
6. East Kilbride (Scotland)
7. Fort William (Scotland)
8. Gairloch (Scotland)
9. Inveraray (Scotland)
10. Islay Island (Scotland)
11. Isle of Tiree (Scotland)
12. Kelso (Scotland)
13. Kingussie (Scotland)
14. Lanark (Scotland)
15. Lerwick (Scotland)
16. Lochgilphead (Scotland)
17. Mallaig (Scotland)
18. Melton Mowbray (East Midlands)
19. Rothesay (Scotland)
20. Peebles (Scotland)
21. Penzance (South West)
22. Sevenoaks (South East)
23. Southall, London (South East)
24. Stornoway (Scotland)
25. Tottenham (South East)
26. Ullapool (Scotland)
27. Wellingborough (East Midlands)

Read our exclusive tip from a driving instructor on how to avoid long driving test waiting times, and if you’re struggling to book lessons, we have tips on reducing waiting times for them too.

Remember to take out learner driver insurance while you practise

If you’re a learner driver practising for your upcoming driving test, make sure you have learner driver insurance in place. Our covers starts from just 65p a day.

*Note that driving test centres automatically default to 24 weeks when slots available fall below 10%.

Data, supplied by the DVSA, correct as of October 2023.