Publication of ‘DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics – September 2021’

Date published: 20 October 2021

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: DVA Monthly Tests - Conducted Statistics

KEY POINTS

The key points in the report are:

Driving Practical Tests

Following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, driver testing was able to resume from 23 April 2021 onwards. Due to the nature of particular tests, off-road Motorcycle and certain LGV tests had been able continue prior to this period. The DVA driver testing booking system opened to all customers in the first week of May 2021.

In September 2021, the DVA received 6,661 applications for a driving test appointment. This is almost 800 (13%) higher than in August (5,872), and 36% (1,773) above the five year September average (4,888).

The DVA conducted 6,441 driving tests in September, just over 800 (14%) higher compared with August (5,628), and 41% above the five year September average (4,567).

Private cars accounted for 82% (5,267) of all driving tests conducted in September.

Driver Theory Tests

Following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, theory testing was able to resume from 23 April 2021 onwards.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) took over the contract for theory testing from Pearson on 4 September 2021. With the administrative system in transition, figures for applications for August and September and tests conducted for September were not validated in time for publication but will be included in our published series at the earliest opportunity.

The DVA conducted 7,640 theory tests in August, almost 25% (2,494) below that for July (10,134). Private cars account for 88% (6,730) of all theory tests conducted in August. The transition to a new service provider (DVSA) may help to explain the drop in theory tests conducted for August.

Vehicle Testing

Following the initial 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). 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.

The DVA received 93,653 applications for a full vehicle test in September, just over 12,400 (15%) more than for August (81,227). This increase is in applications is partly due to Test Exemption Certificates issued in March 2021 expiring and requiring owners to present their vehicles for MOT in September.

In September 2021, the DVA conducted 57,227 full vehicle tests, just over 5% (3,453) fewer compared to August (60,680), and 86% of the five year September average (66,310). The switch over to a new administrative system may have affected testing operations during the weekend this new system was installed.

Private Cars accounted for almost 82% (46,943) of all full tests conducted in September.