Publication of DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator and Enforcement Statistics Quarter 3 2016-2017

The DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator and Enforcement Statistics Quarter 3 2016-2017, containing statistics for October to December 2016, is now available.

The publication is produced by the Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB) of the Department for Infrastructure and contains summary statistical and trend information relating to the main functions of the DfI’s Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) and other vehicle licensing activity. The publication is available on the ASRB website at:

• Driver & Vehicle Agency Activity Statistics

Key Points

The key points for Quarter 3 2016/17 are:

Driver Testing

• Over 14,500 Driving Test Applications were submitted to the DVA. This marks an increase of 3% compared with the same quarter last year. While still approximately 17% less than the third quarter series high of 17,600 applications received in 2008, they have now returned to a level last seen in 2011.
• Numerically the largest increase has been for Private Car L Tests, which have experienced a rise of just under 300 applications over the year to reach over 12,200 in latest quarter. Again, it continues a generally increasing trend since the series low of 10,400 recorded during Quarter 3 2013/14 and is likely linked to continuing improvements in the economy.
• Nearly 15,100 Driving Tests were conducted by the DVA, representing only a very small decrease of less than half a percent on the same period last year.
• The pass rate for the Private Car L Test was down by over a percentage point from the same quarter last year to now sit just below 54%. This, however, is still around 7 percentage points higher than the third quarter series low of 47% recorded during 2008.

Vehicle Testing

• The most popular booking method for vehicle test applications was the internet booking system which received 61% of all applications, up by 5 percentage points on the same period last year.
• Approximately 237,000 Vehicle Tests were carried out by the DVA. The vast majority of these (82%) were Full Tests with the remainder vehicle retests. Overall, Tests Conducted have decreased by just under 3% compared with the same quarter in 2015 when the number was nearly 244,200.
• The overall pass rate for Full Tests was over 78%, an increase of just under a percentage point compared with the same period last year and a new series high for this quarter.

Theory Testing

• Approaching 19,000 applications for Theory Tests were received by DVA, an increase of 5% compared with the same period in 2015. The majority (64%) of the additional applications related to Private Cars. The increase in theory test applications will, in part, be due to the decreasing pass rate, resulting in more candidates booking to retake their test.
• Theory Test pass rates for Private Cars showed less than half a percentage point fall to around 46% when compared with the same quarter in 2015. This contrasts with a pass rate of just over 18% for the taxi theory test which itself has reduced by almost two percentage points from the same period last year.

Vehicle Registration

• During July to September 2016, nearly 17,900 new vehicles were registered for the first time in the north of Ireland. This represents an increase of over 2% from the same period last year. However, within this, new car first registrations decreased by over 1% and are down by over 1,000 new cars when compared with July to September 2014.
• The top make for private cars registered for the first time during July to September 2016 was Ford, accounting for around 1,850 first registrations followed by Volkswagen with over 1,400 first registrations. However, these represent reductions of around 90 and 240 first registrations, respectively, for these makes compared to the same quarter last year.

Driver Licensing

• A total of 53,500 ordinary licensing transactions were carried out by DVA during October to December 2016/17. This figure represented a decrease of over 16% compared with the volume carried out in the corresponding quarter of 2015/16 (64,000). However this reduction will, in part, be attributable to teething issues associated with the implementation of the Replacement Driver System which went live in November 2016.

Road Transport Licensing

• At the 31st December 2016, there were over 12,200 licensed Taxi Drivers in Northern Ireland, down by nearly 12% from almost 13,900 at the same point of 2015. This now means there are just under 3,600 less licensed taxi drivers in Northern Ireland since the end of 2013. There were also around 1,700 licensed Taxi Operators, down by over 10% across the year. This fall was driven primarily by a reduction in Small Operators (who can have up to two taxis on their licence) and account for 86% of all operators.

Enforcement Activities

• DVA Enforcement teams carried out 21 joint operations with the PSNI primarily targeted at Cars and Taxis. There were also a total of 29 spot checks on School Buses carried out by enforcement officers; this was down from the 82 checks carried out in the same quarter of 2015.

Notes to editors: 

1. Background to Driver and Vehicle Agency ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator and Enforcement Statistics - This is the latest quarterly edition of the Driver and Vehicle Agency ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator and Enforcement Statistics’ relating to October to December 2016. The report is written and issued by Analysis, Statistics & Research Branch in the Department for Infrastructure. This is the third edition of the quarterly publication under its new departmental title having previously been released by the former DoE.
2. Data sources - The figures are derived mainly from administrative sources held within the DfI’s Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) and its Transport Regulation Unit.
3. Vehicle Registration - Although no longer the responsibility of DVA, for completeness and to provide continuity of reporting, detailed figures have been included in this publication relating to NI vehicle first registrations and vehicle licensing. DVA statisticians receive, on a quarterly basis, north of Ireland specific quality assured vehicle registration and licensing extracts from the DVLA/DfT for the purposes of producing Official Statistics. The DVLA/DfT are, and continue to be, responsible for all vehicle licensing and registration enquiries. Due to publication timing differences with the DfT, who release the headline UK figures (and now includes NI); the latest available NI vehicle first registration figures are up to end-September 2016.
4. Future publication dates - The Driver and Vehicle Agency ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator and Enforcement Statistics’ is published every quarter at pre-announced release dates, which are available from the GOV.UK website.
5. Publication copies - Electronic copies of the ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator and Enforcement Statistics’ Quarter 3, October to December 2016 is available at: Driver & Vehicle Agency Activity Statistics
6. Infographic - A companion Infographic is also available on our website.

Official Statistics

This is a National Statistics publication and therefore follows the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. You can find further information about the Code of Practice at: Statistics Authority

Further Information

For further information please contact:

All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office on 028 9054 0007. Out of hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383.

• Tel (public enquiries): 02890 547932 (Text relay prefix 18001)
• E-mail: ASRB@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
• Website: Statistics and research

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