New data reveals more than 60,000 driving tests were cancelled due to examiner medical absences in 2025/26, disrupting thousands of learners waiting to get on the road.
As demand for driving tests continues to outpace availability, learner driver insurance experts, Tempcover, analysed the latest DVSA data to uncover the main reasons behind cancelled tests and where learners are facing the most disruption.
Key Findings Include:
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More than 60,000 driving tests were cancelled due to examiner medical absences in 2025/26, accounting for 59% of all cancellations.
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Medical absences were more than twice as common as examiner leave, which was responsible for 29,438 cancellations.
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101,423 driving tests were cancelled overall in 2025/26, despite cancellations falling 16% year-on-year.
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Driving test cancellations remain 36% higher than a decade ago, rising from 74,693 in 2015/16 to 101,423 in 2025/26.
DVSA figures show that driving test cancellations have significantly increased over the past decade. In 2015/16, there were 74,693 cancelled driving tests, compared with 101,423 in 2025/26, representing an increase of almost 36%.
While cancellations have fluctuated year-on-year, the number of cancelled tests has remained consistently above 100,000 in recent years, reflecting the continued pressure on the driving test system following the pandemic. In 2023/24, 102,125 tests were cancelled, followed by 120,710 in 2024/25.
Driving Test Centres and Cancellation Rate (2025/26)
Lee On The Solent recorded the lowest driving test cancellation rate in 2025/26, at just 0.3%. Of the 8,526 tests scheduled at the centre, 24 were cancelled, including 21 due to staff leave and three linked to medical absences. Salisbury and Yeovil also recorded some of the lowest cancellation rates, at 0.4% and 0.6% respectively.
Claire Wills-McKissick, learner driver insurance expert at Tempcover, said: “A test cancellation at short notice can throw off months of preparation, whether it’s caused by bad weather, vehicle issues, or examiner availability. When faced with unexpected delays, the primary challenge for learners is maintaining their driving rhythm and keeping that hard-earned momentum going.
One way to mitigate the impact of these waiting periods is by continuing to log hours on the road and refining core skills. Utilising temporary learner driver insurance to get extra practice with a qualified friend or family member is a practical way for learners to keep their skills test-ready and feel better prepared when their next test date arrives.”
