Publication of DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics – December 2020

The ‘DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics – December 2020’ report, containing statistics up to December 2020, is now available.

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:

• Driver and Vehicle Agency Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics

Key Points

The key points in the report are:

Vehicle Testing

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the DVA suspended all vehicle testing from 24 March 2020, and resumed testing in stages during June (IVA), July (priority groups incl. taxis and buses), and September (four-year-old private cars and motorcycles, three-year-old light goods, and all heavy goods).  Temporary Exemption Certificates (TEC) were issued to those eligible vehicles that the DVA was unable to test.

In December 2020, the DVA conducted just under 20,100 full vehicle tests, a decrease 

of 2,600 compared to November, and only 40% of the 5-year December average prior to the pandemic.  In 2020, the DVA conducted approximately 217,000 full vehicle tests, which is 23% of the equivalent total in 2019 (962,000 tests).

Driving Practical Tests

Similarly, all driver testing was suspended from 20 March 2020.  Testing resumed on-and-off for the summer and autumn, due to the restrictions set in place by the NI Executive.  For December, the DVA was able to conduct driver testing between the 11th and 23rd of the month only.

In December 2020, the DVA conducted nearly 2,000 driving tests, an increase of 700 compared to November.  This is 47% of the 5-year December average prior to the pandemic, albeit over a shorter period due to the restriction of testing.  In 2020, the DVA conducted over 21,300 driving tests, which is 37% of the equivalent total in 2019 (57,200 tests).

Driver Theory Tests

The DVA suspended all theory testing from 20 March 2020, and resumed on 6 July. Theory testing was again suspended from 26 December onwards.

During December 2020, the DVA conducted over 2,600 theory tests, a decrease of 57% compared to November, and 48% of the 5-year December average prior to the pandemic.  In 2020, the DVA conducted approximately 45,200 theory tests, which is 63% of the equivalent total in 2019 (almost 72,200 tests).

Notes to editors: 

1. This is the fourth edition of the publication ‘DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics’, relating to data up to December 2020.  The release is written, and issued by, the DVA Statistics Branch in the Department for Infrastructure. 
2. The release presents statistics on vehicle, driver, and theory tests conducted during December 2020, together with trend series over the previous five financial years. 
3. We source vehicle and driver data from administrative data sources within the DVA, whilst Pearson VUE supply the theory data.
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 – December 2020’ 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 quarter two edition of which was published 25 November and is available on our website at:

• Driver & Vehicle Agency Activity Statistics

Official Statistics

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

Further Information

For further information, please contact:

• Tel (press enquiries):  02890 540007
• 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

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