Northern Ireland Executive

12/19/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/19/2025 04:02

Publication of ‘DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics 2025/26 Quarter Two

Publication of 'DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics 2025/26 Quarter Two

Date published: 19 December 2025

The 'DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics 2025/26 Quarter Two' report, detailing statistics for July to September 2025 is now available.

The report is produced and published by NISRA Statisticians working in the Driver Vehicle Agency (DVA) The report contains summary statistical, performance, and trend information relating to the main business functions of the DVA and other licensing activity.

The publication is available on the DfI website at:

Key Points:

  • In the second quarter of 2025/26 the DVA delivered 266,924 vehicle tests, 227,290 (85.2%) full tests and 39,634 (14.8%) retests, which is 3.7% (10,174) lower than the same quarter in 2024/25 (277,098).
  • A total of 11,581 vehicles failed to attend a booked vehicle test this quarter, 17.4% (1,716) more than the same quarter the previous year (9,865).
  • There were 309,058 vehicle test applications this quarter, an increase of 10.6% (29,511) compared to the same period in 2024/25 (279,547).
  • For all vehicle test applications made this quarter, 96.5% were booked using the DVA online booking system, relative to 95.6% and 94.6% for the same quarter the previous two years respectively.
  • The DVA conducted 17,839 driving tests, which is 2.4% (441) less than for the equivalent quarter in 2024/25 with 82.4% (14,699) of these being for private cars.
  • There were 20,052 applications for a driving test this quarter, relative to 17,912 for the same quarter last year, an increase of 11.9% (2,140).
  • This quarter 575 candidates failed to attend a booked driving test, 85 less than the 660 who failed to attend for the same period in 2024/25.
  • The DVA delivered 24,620 theory tests this quarter, a rise of 8.7% (1,972) relative to the 22,648 tests conducted in the same quarter of 2024/25.
  • There were 3,421 customers that failed to attend a booked theory test this quarter, which represents approximately one in seven of all theory tests conducted during this period.
  • The proportion of online driver licensing applications processed within five working days was 99.5% for the quarter, well above the 95% target level.
  • The proportion of paper driver licensing applications processed within ten working days was 93.5%, almost 4 percentage points above the 90% target level.
  • In the second quarter of this financial year, 76.7% of all driver licensing transactions were carried out using the DVA online applications facility.
  • At the end of September 2025, there were 1,196,137 full and eligible licence holders with private car/light vans entitlement, which is the highest on record.
  • DVA were active across the full range of enforcement activities this quarter having checked 347 vehicles, issued 234 fixed penalties notices totalling £38,230 in fines, completed 19 joint operations with the PSNI and 5 cross border operations with An Garda Síochána, and 10 spot checks on school buses.

Notes to editors:

  1. This is the forty-fourth edition of the quarterly report 'DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics', relating to July to September 2025.
  2. The release covers the main DVA business areas: vehicle testing, theory testing, driver testing, driver licensing, road transport and taxi licensing, enforcement, goods operator licensing and advanced driving and motorcycle instructors.
  3. The most recent vehicle licensing statistics covered in the report are for April to June 2025. Vehicle licensing data for the full 2024/25 financial year is published in this report.
  4. We derive the majority of statistics from administrative data sources held within the DVA, the DfI's Transport Regulation Unit, and the Department for Transport.
  5. The report is written and issued by NISRA statisticians posted to the DVA.
  6. 'DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator and Enforcement Statistics' is published every quarter at pre-announced release dates, which are available from the GOV.UK website at: Research and statistics - GOV.UK
  7. Electronic copies of the 'DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics 2025-26 Quarter Two' can be downloaded from our website at: DfI Driver, Vehicle, Operator, and Enforcement Statistics - 2025-26 - Quarter Two
  8. A detailed User Guidance document is also available on our website.
  9. This is an Official Statistics report and therefore follows the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. You can find further information about the Code on the Statistics Authority's website.
  10. For further information, please contact: DVA Statistics, Driver and Vehicle Agency, Hydebank House, 4a Hospital Road, Ballydollaghan, Belfast,BT8 8JL
    Tel (public enquiries): 02890 547911 (Text relay prefix 18001)
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Website: Driver and Vehicle Agency Monthly Tests Conducted Statistics
  11. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
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Northern Ireland Executive published this content on December 19, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 19, 2025 at 10:02 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]