Around half of learner drivers in Luton wait more than 21 weeks for a test
Learner drivers in Luton waited more than 21 weeks between booking and sitting their driving test in August, according to the latest figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
Figures for August show that while the median wait was just over 10 weeks, almost half of learners booking their tests waited over 21 weeks.
The figures reveal that just over 39 per cent of tests were taken within seven weeks of booking, while 7 per cent waited between seven and 14 weeks.
A further 6.4 per cent took between 14 and 21 weeks, but a whopping 47.5 per cent were left facing a week of more than 21 weeks after booking.
New DVSA data shows the median wait in Luton so far in 2026 has been:
- January: 8.4 weeks
- February: 4.9 weeks
- March: 4.1 weeks
- April: 7.6 weeks
- May: 16.1 weeks
- June: 7.6 weeks
- July: 10.3 weeks
- August: 10.3 weeks
Meanwhile, the DVSA's separate appointment-availability measure, which tracks how far ahead the booking window must extend before at least 10 per cent of weekly appointments remain available, stands at 20 weeks in Luton for August.
But that was down from 24 weeks in July, marking the first reduction in this measure recorded for Luton since the start of the year.
There were 2,119 standard test slots made available within the booking window in August, of which 2,096 were booked, leaving just 23 still available.
The DVSA stresses that the appointment-availability measure is different from the actual time learners waited between booking and taking their test.
Across Great Britain, the average of centre-level median waits was 12.8 weeks in August, meaning Luton's 10.3-week figure was below the national picture. The East of England regional average stood at 12.5 weeks.