‘Penzance Deserves Full-Time Driving Test Centre’ – George

Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP for West Cornwall, has taken his campaign to restore Penzance Driving Test Centre to full time operation to Westminster this week. Earlier this week (27th April), he delivered a petition to Parliament with over 1,000 signatures from local people in support of greater test availability in Penzance.

Penzance Driving Test Centre – which is currently open for just 2 days per week – previously operated full time before the Covid-19 pandemic hit; something many local instructors and test candidates wish to see reversed. They have raised concerns with Andrew about long waiting lists for tests, and the future of the DVSA test centre itself.

Commenting on the situation, George said:

“West Cornwall is at the end of a long, thin peninsular. On top of long waits for test appointments, learners who can’t get a test in Penzance must travel to Camborne (or further afield); a round trip of several hours for some constituents who rely on public transport. DVSA guidance on distance and population density can’t properly understand a geography like ours; it’s time Penzance was reinstated as a full time test centre.”

Andrew has followed his petition by writing again to local and national DVSA managers, seeking their assurance about the future of the Penzance Test Centre.

A recent report by the National Audit Office (attached) found that the Government’s efforts to tackle the nationwide driving test backlog have so far struggled. Their report highlights a test booking system infected by bots, and abused by unscrupulous third-party re-sellers (who have been known to charge over £500 for test slots), as well as poor progress on a drive to recruit 400 new instructors which has so far found just 83.

Further information can be found on Hansard here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2026-04-27/debates/BF10E909-48FB-49B4-9EAE-0343ED3A0A1B/PenzanceDrivingTestCentre