September 2026 NI MOT, driving and theory test data released by DVA

DVA has released provisional September 2026 testing statistics; detailed numerical comparisons require checking its spreadsheet.

What has been published

The Driver and Vehicle Agency released provisional headline statistics for tests conducted in September 2026 on 16 October. The monthly publication covers vehicle tests, practical driving tests and theory tests, and includes comparative series going back to May 2014.

Why a monthly release is useful

Quarterly totals can conceal short-term changes in demand or capacity. Month-by-month numbers help readers distinguish the amount of testing undertaken from the separate issue of how long it takes to obtain an appointment. A number of tests completed does not, on its own, establish average waiting time.

What the available summary confirms

The publication page verifies the period, release date, statistical categories and provisional status. It links to a spreadsheet containing the actual series. This story deliberately avoids quoting a September count or percentage change without extracting and validating the spreadsheet figures.

What to compare next

A meaningful follow-up would compare September 2026 with August 2026 and September 2025, keeping vehicle tests, practical tests and theory tests separate. DVA may revise provisional statistics, so later editions should be checked against the current dataset.

What this means in practice

A monthly provisional statistics release is not the same as the quarterly report PureCar has already covered. It can provide a more recent indication of how many vehicle, practical driving and theory tests were conducted, but the figures should be extracted directly from the published data before drawing year-on-year conclusions. A headline without those numbers is only a notice that a spreadsheet has been issued.

Applications, completed tests, retests, missed appointments and pass rates describe different aspects of the service. For example, a month with more completed vehicle tests does not necessarily mean appointment delays have disappeared. Nor does a rise in test applications prove that more candidates have passed. A robust follow-up should separate these measures and compare like-for-like months.

Northern Ireland readers have a practical interest because the DVA's test centres and booking system differ from arrangements in Great Britain. The most useful next version of this article would give September totals, the comparable August or September 2025 totals, and the exact published revision status. Without those verified figures, do not invent a trend or a current waiting-time estimate.

Source: Original reporting or official publication. Information checked 17 October 2026.

How to follow the story

For the latest position, use the primary source linked below and compare its publication date with any later update. Check whether the document describes a consultation, a funding allocation, a planned scheme or a completed change; these carry different consequences for motorists. Do not assume a proposal is in force, a budget means work has finished, or an emergency restriction is still active after the incident. Where specific local access, opening dates or enforcement details matter, consult the final published notice before travelling or making arrangements.