Eastleigh’s MP welcomes Transport Secretary’s announcement to make thousands of extra driving tests available each month

Eastleigh’s Liberal Democrat MP, Liz Jarvis, has welcomed new measures unveiled to crack down on test-buying bots and deliver at least 10,000 extra tests a month.

Ms Jarvis wrote the Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander MP earlier this month calling for urgent action to tackle the driving test backlog in Eastleigh, where some young drivers are waiting for up to six months to book a test.

The scarcity of tests has provided opportunities for third parties to profit. Many learners have turned to unofficial test-cancellation apps and websites which promise to provide last-minute slots for a fee. The DVSA has advised against the use of these services, citing lax privacy and data protection policies, as well as the risk of scamming. It has also been reported that test brokers are now offering last-minute tests on social media.

The Government has announced it will accelerate the consultation to investigate the potential abuse of the driving test booking system and prevent bots from accessing tests. It will also double the number of permanent trainers to skill up new driving examiners quickly.

Commenting, Liz Jarvis, MP for Eastleigh said: 

“Once learner drivers pass their theory tests, they face wait times to book a practical test of up to six months in Eastleigh – a problem exacerbated further by the April 2022 closure of a local centre in Southampton. One illuminating case has seen a 17-year-old learner in my constituency having to book a test for January 2025 in Yeovil, nearly 100 miles away.

“While I recognize that the DVSA inherited a long backlog as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it is now on the Government to properly implement these announcements and give new drivers the reassurance that they will not be wasting months learning to drive but can’t actually earn their license.

“I have heard from numerous constituents who are waking up early in the morning to join a long online queue to be told that there aren’t any tests left. Learners would surely prefer a cost-effective, safe, and reliable government service, but they have become accustomed to alternative methods to access tests or in some cases, spending hours a day refreshing websites hoping to get lucky.”