A growing number of African immigrants in the United Kingdom (UK) have expressed frustration and anxiety over the extensive delays in securing driving test appointments. This is a challenge they say puts unfair pressure on their livelihoods, well-being, and integration efforts. The backlog, which has worsened post-pandemic, has seen some applicants wait up to six months or more to secure a slot for their practical driving test, despite having passed the theory component months prior.
For many African immigrants, particularly those in care work, delivery services, and other mobility-dependent roles, the delay is more than an inconvenience. It is a barrier to employment and economic stability. “I completed all my lessons last year and passed the theory in December,” says Dread Adesanya, a care worker from Nigeria based in Manchester. “But I’ve been checking the booking system daily for months. Without a UK license, I can’t drive to shifts outside town, and that’s where most of the jobs are. ”Many immigrants arriving from African countries already have years of driving experience, but because the UK does not accept licenses from several African nations for automatic exchange, they must undergo the full testing process.
The challenge is compounded by geographical disparities, with urban centres often fully booked and rural test centres too far to be practical. Immigration and integration advocates say the system unintentionally discriminates. “It’s a structural issue that disproportionately affects those from Africa and the Global South,” said Fatidat Ibrahim, a migration policy analyst in Birmingham. “Driving in the UK is essential for employment in many sectors, and when people are locked out, it deepens inequalities.”
According to DVSA data, the test backlog is the result of a combination of instructor shortages, limited examiners, and increased demand. While the agency has acknowledged the delays, affected communities say more targeted solutions are needed. Some have taken matters into their own hands. Informal WhatsApp groups and Telegram channels have sprung up where users share cancellations and booking tips. Yet even this workaround creates stress and desperation, with appointments disappearing in minutes, often snapped up by bots or resellers. Investigations revealed that some instructors have been making a kill out of scarcity by charging at least £70 to make a change or get a closer date for candidates willing to pay for such services behind the doors. DVSA while playing ignorance to the ongoing practice have promised to rectify the backlogs by employing over 400 new examiners in 2025. “But this is like putting water in a basket; to clear the backlog, DVSA needs a holistic solution” said Rita Oteman, who has taken the test twice.
She does not see a reason why driving tests should not extend till 6pm, as against its current 3 pm practice, during summer, or why examiners should not attend to candidates on Sundays. “It does not just make sense,” she said.
According to Rita, if DVSA is finding it difficult to get examiners, it should arrange a scheme that will allow both retirees and other volunteers to help out in one way or the other. And the current practice of failing test candidates based on “unreasonable errors” will only prolong the backlog, “I see licensed drivers make such errors every day, and nobody does anything to them. I think the DVSA scheme has become a money-making body for the government and a discrimatory tool to promote inequalities among immigrants in the UK”.
For African immigrants juggling multiple jobs, language barriers, and unfamiliar systems, the stakes are high. “This is more than just a driving test,” said Esther Twangi, a Kenyan mother of two. “It’s about feeding our families, accessing opportunities, and being truly part of society.”
As the UK continues to rely on immigrant labour, especially in logistics, health, and social care, advocates are urging the government to introduce fast-track options for essential workers, language assistance for test preparation, and more examiners in immigrant-heavy areas.
