DSA is an executive agency within the Department for Transport. DSA works with the department and other motoring agencies (such as Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) to deliver quality services that offer value for money.

DSA’s mission is ‘safe driving for life’. DSA sets standards for pre-driver education, driver trainers, supervising trainers, as well as carrying out theory and practical driving and riding tests.

DSA educates drivers to encourage them to continue improving their driving abilities beyond the practical driving test.

DSA’s foremost activity is to assess driving competence through theory and practical tests. DSA delivers tests from around 400 practical driving test centres. Theory tests are carried out at around 150 theory test centres.

DSA operates as a trading fund, financed almost entirely by the income generated from fees for its services.