DVSA data shows driving test waiting times in the north east sit below national average
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DVSA data has revealed that driving test waiting times in the north east are below the national average, according to a new report.
A Freedom of Information request lodged by insurance brokers Adrian Flux revealed that the average wait for a driving test in Scotland is 16 weeks.
However, centres in the north east fall below the national average.
That includes Inverurie where learner drivers have to wait seven weeks for a test while those in Banff have to wait three weeks.
Aberdeen City, however, does not have as many good options for learner drivers with the best being Aberdeen North where there is an average waiting time of 18 weeks.
The national backlog has seen more learners take out insurance policies which stated that they were driving a car belonging to a parent.
According to Adrian Flux, there has been a 108 per cent increase in learner drivers taking out policies of that kind.
Gerry Bucke, Adrian Flux's general manager, said: “It’s clear that the backlog caused by various coronavirus lockdowns that began in March 2020 are continuing to cause frustrating delays for young drivers.
“Taking out a policy to learn to drive in your parents’ car makes so much sense on many levels.
"With short term and pay-as-you-go policies from 65p-per-day it’s much more cost effective than paying for extra lessons or extending learner driver insurance cover while you wait.
"The parents’ no claims bonus is protected and the extra practice should hopefully help ensure you don’t have to wait for a retest.”
Learner drivers experiencing the longest waits in Scotland are those in Bishopbriggs, Grangemouth, Baillieston, Shieldhall, Airdrie, Paisley, Hamilton, Dumbarton and Livingston.
Each of these areas are recorded as having a 24 week wait - the DVSA defaults to 24 weeks once a centre's available slots fall below ten per cent.
