Publication of "DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics - March 2022

Date published: 15 April 2022

The ‘DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics – February 2022’ report, containing statistics up to March 2022, 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:

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 March 2022, the DVA received 6,493 applications for a driving test appointment, the highest number recorded for any March since 2014.

The DVA conducted 6,544 driving tests in March 2022, which is the highest number of tests conducted for any March since 2014, and more than 83% (2,979) above the five year March average (3,565).

Private cars accounted for over 83% (5,463) of all driving tests conducted in March 2022.

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 85,392 applications for a full vehicle test in March 2022. This was almost 8% (6286) above the five year average for March (79,106).

In March 2022, the DVA conducted 84,034 full vehicle tests, 27% (17,873) above the five year March average (66,161).

Private Cars accounted for just over 81% (68,247) of all full tests conducted in March 2022.

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.

Theory test applications for August 2021 to March 2022 were not validated in time for publication. These will be included in our published series at the earliest opportunity. Theory tests conducted figures are provisional.

The DVA conducted 5,146 theory tests in March 2022 which was almost 10% (465) above the March five year average (4,681).

Private cars accounted for 78% (4,030) of all theory tests conducted in March.

Notes to editors: 

  1. This is the nineteenth edition of the publication ‘DVA Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics’, to March 2022. 
  2. The release presents statistics on vehicle, driver, and theory tests conducted during March 2022, 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 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. Theory test application statistics for August 2021 to March 2022 were not validated in time for publication. These will be included in our published series at the earliest opportunity.
  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 – March 2022’ can be downloaded from our website at:
  1. A detailed User Guidance document is also available on our website.
  2. This report supplements the existing quarterly National Statistics publication ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics’.  The latest edition of this for quarter two 2021-22 was released on 5 April and is available on our website at:
  1. 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: https://code.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/
  2. For further information, please contact:
DVA Statistics Branch,
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 and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure.

 

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