Publication of DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics – February 2021

The ‘DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics – February 2021’ report, containing statistics up to February 2021, 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 including taxis and buses), and September (four-year-old private cars and motorcycles, three-year-old light goods, and all heavy goods).  The DVA was able to continue testing throughout the winter-2020 lockdown, albeit with a reduced capacity due to social distancing measures.  Temporary Exemption Certificates (TEC) were issued to those eligible vehicles that the DVA was unable to test.

In February 2021, the DVA conducted just over 48,000 full vehicle tests, an increase of 13,800 compared to January, and 69% of the 5-year February average (i.e. 2016 to 2020).  This was the highest total since January 2020. 

Since the reopening of testing in summer 2020, the DVA has conducted almost 166,000 full vehicle tests, which is 25% of the total in the equivalent period in 2019-20 (664,000 tests). 

Driving Practical Tests

Due to the restrictions set in place by the NI Executive, the vast majority of driver testing was suspended from the 23 December onwards, and is not expected to resume until March.  Due to the nature of particular tests, off-road Motorcycle and certain LGV tests were able to continue during this period.

In February 2021, the DVA conducted only 182 driving tests, of which 96% were off-road motorcycle tests.

Since the reopening of testing in summer 2020, the DVA has conducted just under 9,300 driver tests, which is approximately 24% of the total in the equivalent period in 2019-20 (33,800 tests).

Driver Theory Tests

The DVA suspended all theory testing from 20 March 2020, and resumed on 6 July.  Due to the restrictions set in place by the NI Executive, theory testing was again suspended from 26 December onwards, and is not expected to resume until March.

During February 2021, theory testing was limited to 'critical workers' only, and so only 23 tests were conducted.

Notes to editors: 

Background to ‘DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics’

1. This is the sixth edition of the publication ‘DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics’, relating to data up to February 2021.  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 February 2021, 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 – February 2021’ 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 three edition of which was released 23 March 2021.  The publication is available on our website at:

• Driver & Vehicle Agency Activity Statistics

8. 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

9. Further Information

For further information, please contact:

• 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

10. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk.
11. 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.

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