5.2 million driving tests changed since 2023 as booking backlog persists
Our new research shows how the backlog is impacting learners
)
)
More than 5.2 million practical driving test appointments have been changed since the beginning of 2023, according to new Freedom of Information (FOI) data we obtained in our latest study.
New figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) show 5,207,297 appointments were changed between January 2023 and March 2026, equivalent to around one every 20 seconds across the period.
Number of driving test appointment changes per year:
2023: 1,413,290
2024: 1,663,973 (17.1% increase compared to 2023)
2025: 1,640,721 (16.1% increase compared to 2023)
2026 (Jan-Mar): 489,313
)
During the first three months of 2026, an average of 5,437 appointments were changed each day.
By comparison, an average of 4,305 appointments were changed each day between 2023 and 2025, meaning the daily rate during the first three months of 2026 was around 26% higher than across the previous three years.
The findings come after new rules were introduced on 31 March 2026 to reduce the number of changes learners can make to an existing test booking from six to two.
The changes form part of wider efforts to reduce waiting times, with DVSA not expected to reach its seven-week-maximum-wait target until November 2027.
Nearly 280,000 appointments changed three or more times in 2025
The data also reveals how often individual appointments were being changed before the new restrictions were introduced.
Of the 1.64 million appointments changed during 2025, 1,038,804 were changed once, 323,090 were changed twice and 278,827 were changed three or more times.
310,872 appointments were changed three or more times in 2024, compared with 254,629 in 2023.
A further 65,019 appointments had already been changed three or more times between January and March 2026.
The highest number of changes recorded against a single appointment was 16 in both 2023 and 2024. The maximum recorded against an individual appointment was 13 in 2025 and nine during the first three months of 2026.
More than 200,000 driving test appointments missed since 2023
In total, 201,427 practical driving test appointments were recorded as ‘failed to attend’ between January 2023 and 30 March 2026, equivalent to around 170 every day, or one every eight-and-a-half minutes.
There were 62,601 failed-to-attend appointments in 2023, 59,091 in 2024, and 62,267 in 2025. A further 17,468 were recorded during the first three months of 2026.
Changes have also increased at a faster rate than overall bookings. 16.1% more tests were changed in 2025 compared to 2023, and 9.9% more new tests were booked across the same period.
605,772 practical driving test appointments were booked during the first three months of 2026.
Ben Welham, our motoring expert, said: “These figures show just how much movement there has been within the driving test booking system, making it more difficult for new drivers to book a test and therefore increasing the backlog.
“Learners should speak to their instructors and only book a test when they realistically expect to be test-ready, and on a date they’re available.
“Driving test appointments are still in high demand, so the changes introduced by DVSA should hopefully make getting a test fairer for all learners. Learners and instructors do still need to make sure to only book tests they know they’ll be able to take, and cancel if not, so someone else can take that slot.”
New rules to limit driving test changes
Under the previous system, learners could change the date, time or location of a driving test up to six times. Tests could also be swapped between different learners an unlimited number of times.
Since 31 March 2026, learners have been limited to two changes to an existing car driving test booking. Changing the date or time, moving to another test centre or swapping an appointment with another learner all now count towards the same two-change limit.
Further restrictions introduced this year mean that since 12 May, only the learner taking the test can book and manage their car driving test. And, since 9 June, tests can generally only be moved to one of the three nearest test centres.
DVSA said limiting test swaps and location changes would help it manage the booking system more effectively and improve the planning of driving tests by reducing speculative bookings.
Once both permitted changes have been used, learners must cancel their existing appointment and make a new booking if they need to change it again.
)
