The Department for Infrastructure has published its final quarterly statistics for the 2025/26 financial year, revealing that the Driver and Vehicle Agency delivered over 1.1 million vehicle tests and record numbers of driver theory examinations. The report, covering January to March 2026, highlights sustained high operational capacity alongside a significant improvement in customer attendance rates.
This forty-sixth edition of the quarterly statistical series provides detailed performance data across vehicle testing, driver licensing, and enforcement activities. It demonstrates continued recovery from the pandemic-era backlogs that previously affected the service, while raising questions about the agency’s readiness for emerging policy changes.
Record Annual Testing Volumes
During the 2025/26 financial year, the DVA delivered approximately 1.149 million vehicle tests, making it one of the highest annual totals recorded. The final quarter alone saw 302,727 tests conducted, comprising 262,415 full tests and 46,243 retests.
Demand remained robust throughout the year, with 1.23 million vehicle test applications submitted—an increase of 5.5% (63,886) compared with 2024/25. Of these, 97.1% were booked via the DVA’s online system in the final quarter, up from 96.1% in the same period the previous year.
- 1.149 million vehicle tests delivered in 2025/26 (one of the highest annual totals on record)
- 302,727 tests conducted in Q4 (January–March 2026)
- 1.23 million applications received during the year (up 5.5%)
- 97.1% of Q4 applications made online
Driving Test Demand Hits New Peaks
Data reveals surging demand for driver testing services. The DVA conducted 70,023 practical driving tests during 2025/26—the second highest annual total on record—representing a 1.9% increase on the previous year. Applications rose even more sharply, climbing 8.5% to 78,555, with the final quarter seeing 20,440 applications, the highest quarterly level in recent years.
Theory testing reached unprecedented levels, with 94,763 tests delivered across the year (up 5.5%) and 32,327 applications received in the final quarter alone (up 12.9%). This suggests a growing cohort of new drivers entering the system, potentially driven by forthcoming regulatory changes.
Failed Attendances Drop Sharply
A standout improvement is the reduction in missed appointments. Only 10,751 vehicles failed to attend booked tests in the final quarter—a 28% reduction (4,177 fewer) compared with the 14,928 recorded in January–March 2025. This brought the quarterly “failed to attend” rate down from 4.8% to 3.6%.
Driving test attendance also improved, with just 539 candidates failing to appear in the final quarter (down from 583 in the same period the previous year). Across the full year, failed attendances represented only 3.2% of all driving tests conducted.
Digital Services and Licensing Performance
The statistics underscore the DVA’s accelerating shift to digital service delivery. During 2025/26, 77.3% of all driver licensing transactions were completed online, with 99.7% of online applications processed within target times (exceeding the 95% target). Paper applications also performed well, with 99.6% processed within target (against a 90% target).
By the end of March 2026, Northern Ireland had 1,203,596 full licence holders with private car or light van entitlement—reflecting the substantial customer base dependent on the agency’s services.
Enforcement Activity Across the Roads
DVA compliance teams maintained an active presence throughout the year, conducting 1,573 roadside enforcement checks and issuing 853 fixed penalty notices totalling £124,200 in fines. The agency secured 110 convictions and participated in 97 joint operations with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, alongside cross-border work with An Garda Síochána.
Missing Context and Unanswered Questions
While the statistical release provides comprehensive volume data, it omits several policy contexts that would help interpret the trends. The publication contains no ministerial commentary explaining the figures or addressing the sustainability of current demand levels. There is no analysis of whether the surge in driving test applications relates to the impending introduction of graduated driver licensing reforms—which will see Northern Ireland become the first part of the UK to impose restrictions on newly qualified drivers—potentially prompting learners to rush their tests before the changes take effect.
Similarly, the report does not address the ongoing public consultation regarding proposals to extend MOT testing intervals from annually to biennially for vehicles aged four to ten years—a change that could significantly impact future testing volumes. The statistics also lack the gender breakdowns and pass-rate differentials by test centre that have featured in previous publications, limiting public understanding of equity in testing outcomes.
Furthermore, while the reduction in failed attendances is welcome, the release offers no explanation of what specific measures—whether improved reminder systems, booking flexibility, or penalty enforcement—drove this improvement, making it difficult to assess whether the trend can be sustained.
What to Watch For Next
The data suggests the DVA has successfully stabilised its operations following the crises of 2020–2023, when equipment failures and pandemic suspensions created severe backlogs. However, with testing volumes at near-record highs and legislative changes on the horizon, the agency faces pressure to maintain performance without compromising safety standards.
Key questions remain: Can the DVA sustain these operational levels if the proposed biennial MOT changes reduce testing frequency but increase complexity? How will graduated driver licensing affect practical test demand once implemented? And what support remains for the minority of customers unable to access online services, given that 97% of applications now arrive through digital channels?
The next quarterly report, covering April to June 2026, will be crucial for determining whether these trends represent a new baseline or a temporary peak driven by regulatory anticipation.