LEARNER drivers in some rural parts of Scotland are experiencing significantly longer waiting times for driving tests compared to other regions of the country.
Sitting a driving test is often one of the most stressful experiences for young people, and the delays are adding to their frustrations.
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Sitting a driving test if often one of the most stressful experiences for young peopleCredit: Getty
Aspiring drivers in Scotland are encouraged to book their tests via the official Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) website.
But a backlog caused by the pandemic has led to increased waiting times, with some rural learners unable to book tests locally at all.
Others are facing waits of up to five months to secure a test slot.
Phil Machray, a driving instructor based in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, told BBC Scotland News that waiting times are the worst he’s seen in over a decade.
He expressed concern about the impact of delays on both instructors and learner drivers.
“It’s difficult to run a business,” Mr Machray explained, “as well as the pressure learners feel knowing that if they fail a test, they’ll face a significant wait again. It’s just not fair.”
Mr Machray believes rural areas are disadvantaged due to their geography.
He said: “Outlying test centres don’t get the same volume of tests as city centres, despite having larger populations.
“My waiting list is currently four to five months.”
The backlog has left many learners frustrated, with some waiting weeks or months before they can sit their exam.
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Adding to the problem, third-party organisations are using automated bots to secure cancelled test slots, reselling them at inflated prices.
“Any cancelled tests are snapped up by bots, and these are then sold on,” Mr Machray added.
One learner affected by the delays is 30-year-old Isla Forrester from Aberdeen, who failed her driving test earlier this month.
When she attempted to book a retest locally, the earliest available date was in September.
Isla expressed concerns about maintaining the momentum of her driving lessons and the additional financial burden.
“It’s frustrating and disheartening,” she told the BBC.
“I’m looking at other areas, which I believe many others are doing, not just in Scotland but across the UK.”
The Driving Instructors’ Association reports that the average waiting time for a driving test across the UK is currently 21 weeks, with some learners waiting more than six months for a slot.
On Wednesday, UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told MPs that her department aims to clear the backlog by summer next year.
She announced plans to offer at least 10,000 extra tests per month to learners. Ms Alexander stated that new measures would reduce waiting times to no more than seven weeks by summer 2026.
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Learner drivers are facing delays passing their testsCredit: Getty
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The UK government aims to reduce the backlog by offering more testsCredit: PA
The DVSA has been instructed to make “additional overtime incentive payments” to examiners delivering extra tests.
The government also plans to consult on changes to the booking system to prevent bots from mass-booking slots.
In a separate statement released by the Department for Transport, she said: “We inherited an enormous backlog of learners ready to ditch their L plates but being forced to endure record waiting time for their tests.
“We simply cannot deliver on our Plan for Change if thousands remain held back, with their aspirations on pause.”
Pauline Reeves, director of driver services at the DVSA, said: “Since December 2024, we’ve made significant progress on implementing our plan to reduce waiting times.
“But we know that many learner drivers are not seeing the immediate effects of the measures.
“The further action which the Secretary of State has announced today will help us to accelerate those measures, including expanding training capacity for newly recruited driving examiners so more of them can start carrying out driving tests sooner.”
Edmund King, president of The AA, highlighted the wider impact of the delays.
He said: “A driving licence is essential for more than one in six jobs in Scotland.
“Thousands of young people are seeing their mobility and employment prospects jeopardised because of these long waiting times.”
Read more on the Scottish Sun
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Learner drivers face delays sitting their test in rural locations in ScotlandCredit: Alamy
Mr King noted that learners in rural areas are particularly affected, with some travelling 50, 100, or even more miles to find test centres.
“Tests are being taken up very quickly, leaving rural learners at a disadvantage,” he added.