Why Oswestry learners take tests hundreds of miles away

In data revealed to the Oswestry Advertizer it has been shown that some North Shropshire learners have been taking their test as far away as Lee on the Solent – 216 miles away.

The data reveals that this is not an outlier with Learners from Oswestry and Ellesmere taking tests in Tottenham 182 miles away and Pontefract- 124 miles away.

The DVSA said they could not account for all the reasons as they do not collect data on the reason for a candidate’s choice of test centre when they book.

This means a test candidate can choose to take a test at any DVSA test centre to fit around their own personal circumstances.

However, it is thought that a large number of these will be either students or junior doctors.

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A DVSA spokesperson said: “DVSA's priority is to continue to reduce waiting times.

“Many candidates may choose to take a test away from their home because of where they are studying or work.

“DVSA continues to seek volunteers from the examiner workforce based at test centres with lower waits to travel to locations with higher waits to help provide additional test where demand is significantly higher.

"This action directly helps combat the need for customers to travel significant distances to secure a test.

“Our measures to reduce waiting times are working and we have created over 48,300 extra car test slots each month, with nearly a third more tests in January this year compared to January 2024.”

The DVSA also confirmed that North Shropshire actually enjoys some of the shortest wait times in the UK for a test.

The national average waiting time for driving test is 16.1 weeks however they revealed that the average wait in Shropshire is 13.2 weeks and in Powys is just 8.9 weeks.