Working together: DVSA and the driver training industry  

Loveday Ryder delivering a keynote speech at the ADINJC & Intelligent Instructor National Conference in September 2025

First and foremost, I want to acknowledge the significant challenges that many of you as approved driving instructors (ADIs) are currently facing. We understand that the continued long waiting times for a test is: 

placing enormous pressure on your businesses  creating frustration for your pupils  making it difficult to plan lessons and tests effectively   Tackling driving test waiting times with concrete measures

We know that words alone will not solve the problem – you need to see tangible action and measurable improvements. We will reduce waiting times, and we’re working hard to do it. Here’s what we’ve done so far: 

1. Encouraging existing examiners to stay 

We introduced an exceptional payment for existing examiners for the next 12 months. For every full-time examiner who stays, this could keep 1,200 tests in the system. 

2. Recruiting and training 450 driving examiners 

271 new examiners are now testing across Great Britain, with 67 in training. We've nearly doubled our permanent trainers to speed up onboarding. 

3. Cracking down on abuse of the test booking service 

Since January 2024, we have created a dedicated team to work on this and have closed 880 accounts and suspended 377. This team is also continuing to review the terms and conditions for the service to book and manage driving tests for your pupils. This is to make it easier to remove those who abuse the system. 

4. Improving the way tests are booked 

We recently asked for views on how to improve the rules for booking driving tests, and the consultation closed in July. We received over 100,000 responses, and we’re now reviewing the feedback to help make the system fairer and stop learners being charged too much. We are also exploring how a fairer booking system can better support disabled learner drivers, including improving access to additional time slots where extra support may be required. 

5. Supporting better test preparation 

Our 'Ready to Pass?' campaign is continuing to help ensure your pupils are fully prepared when they take their test, reducing wasted test slots and supporting an increase in first-time pass rates. 

DVSA and driver training industry representatives in discussion at the car driver training and testing forum meeting in September 2025 Improving our communication and engagement

We've heard clearly that our communication and the way we engage with the driver training industry needs to be better. We’ve taken this on board and have been making improvements, such as:  

holding one-to-one meetings between senior DVSA leadership (including myself and Loveday Ryder, our Chief Executive) and important industry representatives, making sure your concerns reach the highest levels of our organisation  going to major industry events, including the recent ADINJC & Intelligent Instructor National Conference and Expo 2025, where over 1,750 driving instructors were able to speak directly with DVSA and hear an industry update from Loveday  running workshops to focus on specific issues, such as reviewing the ADI qualification process with large driving schools, franchises, and instructor associations continuing regular meetings with the National Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP) to maintain our vital connection with individual ADIs through their representative bodies setting up a car driver training and testing forum, which brings together large driving schools, franchises, instructor associations and DVSA to address issues and develop collaborative solutions Working together on shared priorities to achieve real change

Together, the forum has agreed on 5 important areas to focus on:

1. Reduce waiting times 

provide more tests  make booking fairer  stop wasted tests   get learners ready  

2. Protect the profession

stop illegal instruction stop test fraud  raise professional standards   support instructor businesses

3. Make roads safer

educate novice drivers  promote lifelong learning  support new technology  protect vulnerable groups  

4. Improve our services

make things simple  develop our people  work for everyone  become more efficient 

5. Improve our communications

listen more effectively   prioritise what matters  explain things clearly  keep you informed 

Four of these areas - 'Reduce waiting times', 'Protect the profession', 'Make roads safer' and 'Improve our communications' – will see DVSA and driving instructors working side by side to address problems. The fifth area, 'Improve our services', is where DVSA will change how we work internally to better support everything else we're doing together. 

Abigail Holland, DVSA Head of Marketing and External Affairs, sharing the scope of each workstream with the car driver training and testing forum members A personal commitment

The forum is a powerful example of how DVSA and the driver training industry are coming together to deal with shared challenges. We’re not just talking about partnership – we’re doing it. I’m incredibly proud of the energy and ideas that came out of our recent meeting, and I look forward to continuing this journey together. 

As Director of Driver Services, I make this personal commitment to you: we will continue to do all we can to reduce driving test waiting times, communicating transparently with you throughout the process.  

Where we succeed, we'll share that success with you because it will be the result of our partnership. Where we face challenges, we'll be honest about them and work with you to find solutions. 

Pauline Reeves, DVSA Director of Driver Services

Your success is essential to road safety in Great Britain. When ADIs thrive, learners receive better training, and our roads become safer. That's the partnership we're committed to strengthening. 

Your voice matters – share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below to help shape future forum meetings. If you're part of a national driving instructor association, raise your concerns with them – they’ll represent your views to DVSA. 

If you would like more information about what we talked about at the 2 recent car driver training and testing forum meetings, you can read the reports:

9 June 2025 24 September 2025

https://despatch.blog.gov.uk/2025/10/23/working-together-dvsa-and-the-driver-training-industry/

seen at 14:50, 23 October in Despatch for driver and rider trainers.