Northern Ireland’s Driver and Vehicle Agency delivered nearly 276,000 vehicle tests and over 18,000 driving tests between April and June 2026, as demand for services continues to climb across all categories. The latest quarterly statistics show improved attendance at MOT appointments but reveal a sharp rise in no-shows for theory tests, while enforcement activity remains relatively limited compared to the scale of vehicles on the road.
The DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics report, published on 25 September 2026, marks the forty-seventh edition of this quarterly publication. It covers the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year and details performance across vehicle testing, driver testing, licensing, and enforcement.
Vehicle Testing: Better Attendance, Rising Demand
The DVA conducted approximately 276,011 vehicle tests during the quarter, with 84.6% being full tests and 15.4% retests. Crucially, the “failed to attend” rate improved from 4.5% to 3.7% year-on-year, with 10,551 vehicles missing their appointments compared to 13,590 in the same period last year.
However, demand continues to grow:
- 305,412 vehicle test applications received, up 4.9% from 291,250 in April-June 2025
- 97.0% of applications made online, up from 96.5% in the equivalent quarter of 2025/26
- Online booking now dominates, with only 3% of customers using other channels
The improved attendance rate suggests customer engagement efforts are working, though the source material does not specify what measures were implemented to achieve this reduction.
Driving Tests: Record Application Levels
Practical driving tests saw continued growth:
- 18,092 tests conducted, up 5.4% from 17,164 in April-June 2025
- 22,090 applications received, up 12.1% and described as “the highest quarterly level in recent years”
- 571 candidates failed to attend (3.2% of scheduled tests), a slight increase of 19 no-shows compared to last year
The report does not define what constitutes “recent years,” making it difficult to assess the historical significance of this peak. The source also does not address whether increased demand is creating waiting time pressures for learners—a notable omission given widespread reports of lengthy delays at test centres including Londonderry, where learners have faced waits of up to 12 weeks.
Theory Tests: Surging Demand, Worsening Attendance
Theory testing saw the steepest growth:
- 26,567 tests delivered, up 15.2% from 23,070 in April-June 2025
- 32,225 applications, up 17.8% and described as “one of the highest quarterly totals on record”
- 4,197 customers failed to attend, representing 13.6% of all scheduled tests
The failed-to-attend rate for theory tests has deteriorated significantly—33.2% higher than the same period last year, when 3,150 customers missed their appointments. While the report notes this “remained broadly in line with recent attendance patterns,” the upward trend raises questions about capacity utilisation: roughly one in seven theory test bookings now result in a no-show.
Driver Licensing and Digital Services
Driver licensing services reported strong processing performance:
- 99.5% of online applications processed within target times (target: 95%)
- 99.4% of paper applications processed within target (target: 90%)
- 81.2% of all transactions completed online
The high online completion rate reflects the DVA’s digital transformation programme, though the source does not provide historical data to show whether this represents improvement or plateau.
Enforcement Activity: Limited Scale
Enforcement statistics for the quarter show:
- 428 roadside enforcement checks
- 234 fixed penalty notices issued, totalling £33,030
- 53 convictions secured
- 4 cross-border operations with An Garda Síochána
- 14 joint operations with the PSNI
- 20 bus safety and licensing checks
These figures suggest relatively limited enforcement coverage. With over 1.2 million licensed vehicles in Northern Ireland, 428 quarterly checks equates to roughly 1,700 annually—approximately 0.14% of the vehicle fleet. The source provides no comparison with previous quarters or with enforcement levels in Great Britain, where DVSA enforcement activity has historically been at significantly higher volumes.
The four cross-border operations are mentioned without detail regarding their location, nature, or outcomes—an omission that limits public understanding of this aspect of the DVA’s work.
Missing Context: Capacity, Staffing, and Waiting Times
While the report presents numerous positive trends, several significant gaps deserve attention:
Staffing and capacity: Despite rising test volumes across all categories, the source offers no information on examiner numbers, recruitment status, or whether the DVA has sufficient capacity to meet sustained demand growth.
Waiting times: The report does not address how long customers wait between booking and test dates—a key concern for learners facing documented delays at multiple test centres.
GB comparison: No data is provided comparing Northern Ireland’s performance with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in Great Britain, which readers might expect for context on relative efficiency and outcomes.
Theory test no-shows: While the 13.6% failed-to-attend rate is noted, the report does not explain why this is worsening or what measures might address it, despite the clear waste of capacity.
Questions for the Department
- What specific measures have reduced vehicle test no-shows by 22.4%, and can these be applied to the deteriorating theory test attendance rate?
- How does the DVA define “recent years” when describing record application levels, and what is the actual historical context for these peaks?
- What were the objectives and outcomes of the four cross-border operations with An Garda Síochána, and why are details not disclosed?
- Given rising demand across all test categories, what is the current examiner staffing position and recruitment pipeline?
- How do Northern Ireland’s test waiting times, processing speeds, and enforcement rates compare with equivalent DVSA services in Great Britain?
The full quarterly statistics report and accompanying data tables are available on the Department for Infrastructure website.