As driving test waiting times continue to cause problems across the country, offering candidates financial incentives could help reduce waiting times.

That is the idea of The RAC Foundation as it looks for solutions for what is proving a stubborn problem.

It could also fit well with the DVSA’s own ‘Ready To Pass Campaign’.

Taking or passing?

According to a study by The RAC Foundation, offering learner drivers a rebate on their driving test fee if they pass the first time could help.

As the industry struggles to cut waiting times, first-time pass rates remain stuck at under 50%.

This has been the pass rate for decades, not just post-COVID, but it does not mean it should remain the case.

Improving first-time pass rates would cut test waiting times because fewer candidates would book re-tests.

What is more, the cost of learning to drive and taking a test means learners face costs averaging over £1500.

More than money

There is undeniable financial pressure on pupils to take — and hopefully pass — their tests as soon as possible.

But this can too often lead candidates to book and take the test before they are ready.

While ADIs are sometimes blamed for allowing pupils to book their tests too early, it is often outside their control.

Pressure from parents (who are usually paying) and pupils themselves, who may believe they are ready, means the booking system is running at over capacity.

Offering financial incentives to candidates could encourage more patience when taking the test, but it may also help them focus their minds more effectively in their training.

Passing potential

A rebate incentive could mean learners only taking a test when they are fully prepared.

Whilst this might mean some extra lessons and practice are needed, an improved first-time pass rate would potentially save tens of thousands of drivers the additional financial and time costs associated with retakes and further driving lessons.

Fewer tests overall would also bring down the waiting times for everyone.

In 2023-24, 895,978 first-time driving tests were taken, but only 430,799 (48.1%) were passed.

Overall, a record 1,945,225 tests were taken.

Of these, 931,494 (47.9%) resulted in a pass.

Traffic jams

In May the average waiting time for a test was almost 18 weeks.

The waiting time and backlog has been growing since Covid when many tests were cancelled

This is despite the DVSA adding more than 150,000 extra driving test slots into the system.

Unfortunately, the long waiting times are actually encouraging more candidates to book even earlier, guessing when they might be ready to take the test, to find a test slot.

In addition to providing more driving test slots, a way needs to be found to incentivize candidates to wait until they are ‘ready to pass’.

Making a difference

The weekday practical test fee is £62, rising to £75 for evening, weekend and bank holiday tests.

The RAC believes that a “modest premium” could be added to tests taken by people who have already failed several to help pay for the rebates.

There could be exceptions to this for those with medical conditions that make passing a test more challenging.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said:

“Of the nearly 2 million practical car driving tests conducted last year fewer than half resulted in the candidate being awarded a full licence – a pass rate of only 48% – the same as the rate for candidates taking the test for the first time, 430,000 of whom passed.

“It must be in everyone’s interests to improve this pass rate so people can access the opportunities driving brings, not least when it comes to employment. But also, more first-time passes means fewer people queueing to take another test, clogging up a system already struggling to cope with demand.

“Unfortunately, many learners apply for a test date as soon as they first get behind the wheel and stick with it, ready or not, for fear of a long wait for a replacement if they postpone.

“To break this vicious circle, we need some fresh thinking from the next government. Why not offer a fee rebate of some kind for candidates who pass their test first time?

“This might mean candidates need a bit more practice and a few more lessons to pass first time, but better a confident candidate whose instructor has checked they are ready by running a mock-test than a learner gambling on getting through, with all the extra time, trouble and expense that comes with failing.”