Publication of ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics 2024/25 Quarter Three
Date published:
The ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics 2024/25 Quarter Three’ report, detailing statistics for October to December 2024 is now available.
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 Three
Key Points
The key points in the report are:
In the third quarter of 2024/25 the DVA delivered 267,253 vehicle tests, 221,438 (82.9%) full tests and 45,815 (17.1%) retests.
13,652 vehicles failed to attend a booked vehicle test this quarter, 14.5% (1,950) more than the same quarter the previous year (11,924). 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 267,253 vehicle test applications this quarter, a decrease of 7.6% (22,027) compared to the same period in 2023/24 (289,280).
For all vehicle test applications made this quarter, 96.0% were booked using the DVA online booking system, relative to 95.4% and 94.3% for the same quarter the previous two years respectively.
The DVA conducted 16,802 driving tests, which is 4.1% (655) more than for the equivalent quarter in 2023/24 with 84.4% (14,181) of these being for private cars.
There were 16,579 applications for a driving test this quarter, relative to 16,304 for the same quarter last year, an increase of 1.7% (275).
This quarter 583 candidates failed to attend a booked driving test, 32 more than the 551 who failed to attend for the same period in 2023/24.
The DVA delivered 22,410 theory tests this quarter, a rise of 7.9% (1,645) relative to the 20,765 tests conducted in the same quarter of 2023/24.
There were 3,191 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 98.9% for the quarter was well above the 95% target level for online applications.
Paper driver licensing applications performance at 95.4% was almost 5 percentage points above the 90% target level.
Into the third quarter of this financial year, 71.8% of all driver licensing transactions were carried out using the DVA online applications facility.
At the end of December 2024, there were 1,184,605 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 606 vehicles, issued 174 fixed penalties notices totalling £27,050 in fines, completed 19 joint operations with the PSNI and 2 cross border operations with An Garda Síochána.
Notes to editors:
Background to Driver & Vehicle Agency ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics’
- This is the forty-first edition of the quarterly report ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics’, relating to October to December 2024.
- The release covers the main DVA business areas: vehicle testing, theory testing, driver testing, driver licensing, road transport and taxi licensing, enforcement, goods operator licensing and advanced driving and motorcycle instructors.
- Due to DVLA changing their release schedule due to resource pressure, the most recent vehicle licensing statistics covered in the report are for April to June 2024. Vehicle licensing data for the full 2024/25 financial year will be published in our quarter one 2025/26 report scheduled for release in September 2025.
- We derive the majority of statistics from administrative data sources held within the DVA, the DfI’s Transport Regulation Unit, and the Department for Transport.
- The report is written and issued by NISRA statisticians posted to the DVA.
- ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator and Enforcement Statistics’ is published every quarter at pre-announced release dates, which are available from the GOV.UK website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements
- Electronic copies of the ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics 2024-25 Quarter Three’ can be downloaded from our website at: Driver and Vehicle Agency Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics
- A detailed User Guidance document is also available on our website.
- This is a National Statistics report and therefore follows the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. You can find further information about the Code on the Statistics Authority’s website.
- For further information, please contact: DVA Statistics, Driver and Vehicle Agency, Hydebank House, 4a Hospital Road, Ballydollaghan, Belfast, BT8 8JL
Tel (public enquiries): 02890 547911 (Text relay prefix 18001)
E-mail: dva.statistics@nisra.gov.uk
Website: Driver and Vehicle Agency Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics - The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
- Follow the Department on X/(Twitter) @deptinfra, on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure and on LinkedIn at Department for Infrastructure.