The Drivers & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) carries out driving tests, approve people to be driving instructors and MOT testers, carry out tests to make sure lorries and buses are safe to drive, carry out roadside checks on drivers and vehicles, and monitor vehicle recalls.
Responsibilities
We’re responsible for:
- carrying out theory tests and driving tests for people who want to drive cars, motorcycles, lorries, buses and coaches, and specialist vehicles.
- approving people to be driving instructors and motorcycle trainers, and making sure they provide good-quality training.
- approving people to be MOT testers, approving the centres they work in, and testing lorries, buses and coaches ourselves.
- carrying out roadside checks on commercial drivers and vehicles to make sure they follow safety rules and keep their vehicles safe to drive.
- monitoring recalls of vehicles, parts and accessories to make sure that manufacturers fix problems quickly.
- approving training courses for qualified drivers, such as Driver Certificate of Professional Competence courses for lorry, bus and coach drivers, and drink-drive rehabilitation courses.
- supporting the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain and the Northern Ireland transport regulator to license and monitor companies who operate lorries, buses and coaches, and to register local bus services.
Priorities
In 2023 to 2024, our main priorities are to:
- have theory test waiting times average 4 weeks or less during the year.
- have car practical driving tests waiting times at 7 weeks or less by the end of March 2024.
- have at least 80% of vehicle operators satisfied with the service they receive from DVSA.
- process HGV operator licence applications in an average of 35 working days or less.
- detect 28,000 serious roadworthiness defects and traffic offences.
- handle 70% of calls within 60 seconds.
Who we are
We keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably, by:
- helping you through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys
- helping you keep your vehicle safe to drive
- protecting you from unsafe drivers and vehicles
We employ around 4,600 people across Great Britain to do this. They include:
- driving examiners
- vehicle standards assessors
- vehicle examiners
- traffic examiners
- customer service agents
- registration and licensing officers
- digital services and technology experts
- corporate services experts, such as communications, finance and HR.
DVSA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Transport.
