- Pass rates vary widely between test centres, with some in the North West and Midlands having pass rates as low as 33-38%. While some Scottish centres exceed 70-80%.
- Over 6.2 million driving tests were taken across Britain from 2021 to 2024, yet only 3.05 million were successful.
- More than 1 in 4 (27%) learner drivers had to wait between 2-4 months between booking and taking their driving test.
- More than half (51%) learner drivers said they’d travel up to 10 miles to book at a centre with a better pass rate.
- In response to this, Confused.com has launched a learner driver tool. This will help learner drivers find out the passing rate of nearby test centres, so they can choose one with the best chance of success. That way, they won’t have to wait even longer to hit the road.
New research by Confused.com reveals a striking postcode lottery when it comes to passing a practical driving test in the UK. Between 2021 and 2024, pass rates varied dramatically across Britain, from 33% in Speke, Liverpool to over 80% percent in Mallaig, Scotland(1). This suggests that where learners take their test could be the deciding factor in whether they manage to get on the road.
These figures were obtained through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland. More than 6.2 million driving tests were taken between 2021 and 2024. But just 3.05 million passed, giving an average pass rate of 49% over the last 4 years.
In 2024 alone, almost 976,000 learners took their test, but fewer than 477,000 passed. As a result, more learner drivers are having to pay to retake the test, adding further financial and emotional stress when learning to drive.
Behind the UK-wide figures lies a stark regional divide, where pass rates swing dramatically from one area to another. Many of the test centres with the lowest average pass rate are found in the North West and Midlands. The test centres around the UK with the lowest pass rates include:
| Driving test centre location | Region | Average pass rate between 2021-2024 |
|---|---|---|
|
Speke (Liverpool)
|
North West
|
33.4%
|
|
Wolverhampton
|
Midlands
|
34.6%
|
|
Belvedere (London)
|
South East
|
35.1%
|
|
Featherstone
|
Midlands
|
35.9%
|
|
Wednesbury
|
Midlands
|
36.9%
|
|
Crawley
|
South East
|
37.3%
|
|
Rochdale (Manchester)
|
North West
|
37.7%
|
|
Bury (Manchester)
|
North West
|
37.8%
|
|
Chingford (London)
|
South East
|
38.2%
|
Scotland is home to some of the highest pass rates, with certain test centres reporting success rates between 70% and 80%. Mallaig test centre holds an average pass rate of 80.6% since 2021/22, and Inverary follows closely behind at 79.6%.
The DVSA and DVA also disclosed where learners are most likely to slip up during their test. The most common reason in 2023 was poor observation at junctions, with many simply not checking properly before moving. Forgetting to use mirrors when changing direction came next. While failing to move off safely was the third most common mistake. These errors cost thousands their licence each year.
Most common reasons for failing driving tests in 2023
| DVSA (England, Scotland, and Wales) | DVA (Northern Ireland) |
|---|---|
|
Junctions - observation
|
Check, controls & moving away
|
|
Mirrors - change directions
|
Mirrors, signs & signals
|
|
Move off safely
|
Situational judgement
|
|
Junctions - turning right
|
Junctions & Awareness
|
|
Lights
|
Test exercises
|
Learning to drive is meant to give people independence. But for many, getting a licence feels out of reach and unnecessarily stressful these days. According to a survey of 2,000 UK drivers and learner drivers, the pressure to pass is high for many. More than 1 in 5 (21%) drivers felt under pressure to pass because the rebooking would take too long or cost too much.
For many, the long wait times are one of the biggest frustrations with the current system. More than a quarter (26%) believe there should be a national cap on how long people can be left waiting for a test. As more than 1 in 4 (27%) learner drivers had to wait between 2-4 months between booking and taking their driving test.
This growing concern has prompted calls for action. Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander has called on the DVSA to step up action to cut waiting times and widen access to driving tests through its Plan for Change(2). However, the 2024/2025 DVSA Annual Report and Accounts show that average waiting times for a practical test continue to rise. As of March 2025, learners were waiting an average of 21.9 weeks, more than 5 months, to take their test. That's up from 16.1 weeks the year before(3). Much of this backlog is partly due to ongoing driving examiner shortages, with demand far exceeding capacity at many centres.
On top of that, the cost of trying to pass can quickly add up. One in 4 (25%) feel that the price of sitting a driving test, especially when it comes to retaking, is too high.
This is pushing learners to think more strategically when booking their test in the hope of improving their chances. Nearly a third (31%) believe the time of day you take the test can make a difference. A quarter (26%) say they avoid booking their test during rush hour. This suggests that learners feel external factors, from traffic to timing, are as important as their driving ability when it comes to passing.
Although 3 in 5 (60%) learner drivers think being familiar with their test area helps, some are willing to go the extra mile, quite literally, to increase their chances. More than half (51%) say they'd travel up to 10 miles from home if it meant booking at a centre with a better pass rate. In fact, more than 1 in 4 (27%) changed their test location after failing their first attempt.
Overall, these findings paint a clear picture of a system that many feel is inconsistent, expensive, and stressful. This is leaving learners to go to extreme lengths to boost their chances of finally getting on the road and achieving that independence. To help learners set themselves up for the best chances to pass, Confused.com has created an online learner driver tool. It ranks test centres near the learner by their average pass rate, helping them decide where to take their test, so they can choose one with the best chance of success. That way, the hope is that they won't have to wait even longer to hit the road.
Rhydian Jones, Confused.com car insurance expert, comments:
"Passing your driving test is a huge milestone but our latest research shows just how challenging and inconsistent the system can be. This is especially true when learners are waiting months for a test date, only to find their chances of passing depend heavily on where they take it.
Shockingly, only around half of the 6 million tests taken since 2021 have passed. And with some centres showing pass rates as low as 33%, it’s no wonder many feel the system isn’t setting them up for success.
It’s clear more needs to be done. But in the meantime, our leaner driver tool can help learners make smarter choices about where to book. By ranking nearby test centres based on their pass rates, it encourages you to consider alternative locations that might speed up your booking and increase your chances of passing. You can also search by location to explore the options available near you.”
- ENDS -
Unless otherwise stated, all research was carried out by OnePoll on behalf of Confused.com OnePoll of 2,000 UK drivers and learner drivers. This was conducted between the 10th and 17th July 2025.
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