The Department for Infrastructure has published the latest quarterly statistics for Northern Ireland’s Driver and Vehicle Agency, revealing a decline in vehicle testing volumes during the final quarter of 2025 despite rising applications. Covering October to December 2025, the report shows that while the DVA processed fewer vehicle tests than the same period a year earlier, driving test volumes increased and the number of full licence holders reached new heights.
The DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics 2025/26 Quarter Three report indicates that the DVA delivered 290,865 vehicle tests during the three-month period, representing a 3.7% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2024/25. However, applications for vehicle tests rose by 11.2% to 297,278, suggesting growing demand that may strain capacity in the coming months.
Testing Activity and Attendance Rates
The statistics reveal a mixed picture across the DVA’s core services:
- Vehicle Testing: 246,023 full tests (84.6%) and 44,842 retests (14.4%) were conducted
- No-shows: 10,589 vehicles failed to attend booked tests—an improvement of 22.4% compared to the previous year, but still representing a significant waste of capacity
- Driving Tests: 17,399 practical tests conducted (up 3.6%), with 18,358 applications received (up 10.7%)
- Theory Tests: 23,273 delivered (up 3.9%), though 3,386 candidates failed to attend—approximately one in seven of all bookings
- Online Uptake: 96.8% of vehicle test applications were made through the DVA online system
The reduction in missed vehicle test appointments marks a notable reversal of the trend seen earlier in 2025, when no-shows had increased by 17.4% in the second quarter. Despite this improvement, the DVA notes that failed attendances continue to place “added pressure on testing capacity, as these appointments cannot be reallocated”—a longstanding issue for the agency.
Record Licence Numbers and Processing Performance
At the end of December 2025, Northern Ireland had 1,200,772 full and eligible licence holders with private car or light van entitlement—the highest figure on record and an increase from the previous quarter’s 1,196,137. This growth comes as the agency maintains strong performance in licence processing, with 99.7% of online applications processed within five working days, well above the 95% target.
Paper applications also exceeded targets, with 99.6% processed within ten working days against the 90% benchmark. Nearly three-quarters (74.9%) of all driver licensing transactions were completed online.
Enforcement and Road Safety Activity
The DVA’s compliance teams remained active during the quarter, conducting 360 roadside vehicle checks and issuing 178 fixed penalty notices totalling £23,750. The agency completed 29 joint operations with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and one cross-border operation with An Garda Síochána, reflecting continued co-operation under the Cross Border Policing Strategy 2025-2027.
School bus safety checks continued with 24 spot inspections during the quarter—a reduction from the 39 checks performed in the same period a year earlier, though the statistics do not indicate whether this reflects improved compliance or reduced enforcement capacity.
Unanswered Questions and Future Pressures
While the statistics provide a snapshot of operational performance, several gaps remain in the public disclosure. Notably absent from this quarterly release is specific data on driving test waiting times—a metric closely monitored following previous backlogs that saw waits stretch to 100 days for vehicle tests in 2024. The omission makes it difficult to assess whether Northern Ireland is maintaining its advantage over Great Britain, where DVSA waiting times reached 22 weeks in September 2025, according to National Audit Office findings.
Additionally, the report does not address capacity planning for the upcoming Graduated Driver Licensing reforms scheduled for October 2026, which will extend the R-plate restriction period from 12 to 24 months and introduce mandatory training modules. With driving test applications already rising by 10.7% year-on-year, the system may face significant strain as learners rush to qualify under current rules before the October deadline.
The statistics raise several questions for stakeholders:
- Why has the DVA ceased publishing specific driving test waiting time data in this release, and will this transparency gap continue?
- How will the agency manage the anticipated surge in demand ahead of the October 2026 GDL reforms, given that 18,358 driving test applications were already received this quarter?
- What specific measures are being implemented to reduce the persistent 14% no-show rate for theory tests, which represents a significant inefficiency in the system?
- Will the planned new testing facilities at Hydebank and Mallusk open on schedule to provide the additional 200,000 annual testing capacity previously announced?
- Given the record number of licence holders, what impact is this having on road safety statistics and insurance costs across Northern Ireland?
The next quarterly statistics, covering January to March 2026, will be crucial in determining whether the DVA can maintain service levels during what is traditionally a busy period for vehicle testing, and whether the improved attendance rates for vehicle tests can be sustained.