Publication of ‘DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics – April 2023’

Date published: 12 May 2023

The ‘DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics – April 2023’ report, containing statistics up to April 2023, is now available.

Statistical press release

The publication is produced by the DVA Statistics Branch of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), and contains summary volumes on the vehicle, driver, and theory tests conducted by the DfI’s Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA).

The publication is available on the DfI website at:

The key points in the report are:

Vehicle Testing

In April 2023, the DVA conducted 79,504 full vehicle tests, 42% (23,691) above the five-year April average (55,813).

Private cars accounted for 82% (65,182) of all full vehicle tests conducted in April 2023.

The DVA received 87,600 applications for a full vehicle test during April 2023.

Driving Practical Testing

The DVA conducted 4,916 driving tests in April 2023. This figure is 54% (1,719) higher than the five-year April average (3,197).

Private cars accounted for 81% (3,998) of all driving tests conducted in April 2023.

In April 2023, the DVA received 6,396 applications for a driving test.

Driver Theory Testing

The DVA conducted 7,789 theory tests in April 2023, 63% higher than the five-year April average (4,764).

Private cars accounted for 86% (6,727) of all theory tests conducted in April 2023.

The DVA received 8,375 applications for a theory test during April 2023.

Notes to editors: 

  1. This is the thirty-second edition of the publication ‘DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics’, to April 2023. 
  2. The release presents statistics on vehicle, driver, and theory tests conducted during April 2023, together with trend series over the previous seven financial years. 
  3. We source vehicle and driver data from administrative data sources within the DVA, whilst DVSA supply theory-testing data. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) took over the contract for theory testing from Pearson on 4 September 2021.
  4. ‘DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics’ is published every month at pre-announced release dates, which are available from the GOV.UK website.
  5. Electronic copies of ‘DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics – April 2023’ can be downloaded from our website at: Driver and Vehicle Agency Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics
  6. A detailed User Guidance document is also available on our website.
  7. This report supplements the existing quarterly National Statistics publication ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics’.  The latest edition of this for quarter three 2022-23 was released on 1 March 2023 and is available on our website at: Driver & Vehicle Agency Activity Statistics
  8. This is an Official 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
  9. For further information, please contact:
DVA Statistics,
Driver and Vehicle Agency,
Annex 4,
Belfast Test Centre,
66 Balmoral Road,
Belfast,
BT12 6QL
  1. 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.
  2. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra, on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure and on LinkedIn at Department for Infrastructure.

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