The Transport Agency is struggling with high demand as the wait time to sit practical driving tests in Auckland stretches out to 57 days, three times the country's average.
Transport Agency national delivery manager Robyn Elston said it was not prepared for the increased demand after it put a time limit on learner licences last year.
Ms Elston said more young people and immigrants were sitting the driver test.
The agency had hired new testers and was trying to reduce the backlog.
Some driving schools had said their students were travelling to other centres to sit their tests as a result of the waiting time.
