Publication of ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics 2024/25 Quarter Four

Date published: 30 May 2025

The report is produced and published by NISRA Statisticians working in the DVA. The report contains summary statistical, performance, and trend information relating to the main business functions of the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), and other licensing activity.

The publication is available on the DfI website at: DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics - 2024-25 - Quarter Four

Key Points

The key points in the report are:

In the fourth quarter of 2024/25 the DVA delivered 308,658 vehicle tests, 262,415 (85.0%) full tests and 46,243 (15.0%) retests.

14,928 vehicles failed to attend a booked vehicle test this quarter, 27.0% (3,178) more than the same quarter the previous year (11,750). This is the second most recorded in the time series, second only to that of the 15,501 reported between January and March 2023 (15,501).

There were 310,016 vehicle test applications this quarter, a decrease of 8.4% (28,597) compared to the same period in 2023/24 (338,613).

For all vehicle test applications made this quarter, 96.1% were booked using the DVA online booking system, relative to 95.1% and 94.5% for the same quarter the previous two years respectively.

The DVA conducted 16,048 driving tests, which is 6.9% (1,039) more than for the equivalent quarter in 2023/24 with 83.4% (13,379) of these being for private cars.

There were 17,904 applications for a driving test this quarter, relative to 17,878 for the same quarter last year, an increase of 0.1% (26).

This quarter 539 candidates failed to attend a booked driving test, 16 less than the 555 who failed to attend for the same period in 2023/24.

The DVA delivered 22,344 theory tests this quarter, a fall of 0.9% (195) relative to the 22,539 tests conducted in the same quarter of 2023/24.

There were 3,159 customers that failed to attend a booked theory test this quarter, which represents approximately one in seven of all theory tests conducted during this period.

Online driver licensing application performance at 99.7% for the quarter was well above the 95% target level for online applications.

Paper driver licensing applications performance at 94.1% was over 4 percentage points above the 90% target level.

Into the fourth quarter of this financial year, 76.3% of all driver licensing transactions were carried out using the DVA online applications facility.

At the end of March 2025, there were 1,187,429 full and eligible licence holders with private car/light vans entitlement, which is the highest on record.

DVA were active across the full range of enforcement activities this quarter having checked 483 vehicles, issued 189 fixed penalties notices totalling £26,700 in fines, completed 17 joint operations with the PSNI and 5 cross border operations with An Garda Síochána, and 18 spot checks on school buses.