Worst UK Driving Test Spots: Learners 12 Times More Likely to Fail

A map reveals the worst spots for driving tests in the UK where learners are up to 12 times more likely to fail.

Repeated differences between regions and pass rates that are “too great to be anomalies” are under scrutiny.

The national pass rate is 50 percent. While the most “lenient” examiners pass nine in 10 of their candidates, the “toughest” pass less than one in 10.

Data collected from 2024 found learner drivers to be 12 times more likely to pass at Newport in Wales than Bredbury in Manchester. A Newport examiner passed a whopping 93.3 percent of their candidates, while a Bredbury examiner passed just 8 percent.

The largest range within a test center was found in Erith, London – with the lowest pass rate being 16.7 percent and the highest at 88.6 percent – creating a gap of 61.9 percent.

Bletchley in Buckinghamshire came next with a pass rate of 60.4 percent, followed by Chilwell in Nottinghamshire with 60 percent.

Similar statistics were also found in 2023. Candidates were a jaw-dropping 15 times more likely to pass at Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, than Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire. Ashfield contained the examiner with the highest pass rate, with 91.7 percent of their candidates passing that year.

Meanwhile, an examiner in Scunthorpe only passed 6.3 percent of their candidates. After this rather stingy statistic, was Basildon in Essex with 7.7 percent, followed by Hartlepool, Durham with 10 percent.

Disparities within the same driving center were also found in 2023.

Now experts are urging the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to investigate further. Ruth Cadbury, the Labour chair of the Commons transport committee, said: “I would encourage the department to take a keen interest in examining the reasons for these variations, which seem too great to simply be anomalies.”

Previously, delays and greater demands for tests were amongst the top causes for low pass rates, as desperate learners booked them before being ready. This along with Covid-19 has caused some backlog, Carly Brookfield, chief executive of the DIA agreed.

Ms. Brookfield also revealed examiner shortages to be another cause. She said: “If you have a blend of fewer examiners dealing with more demand … or a limited supply of new recruits still in training, you might see a reason for a dip in performance as a result.”

Other experts said the system needs an urgent inspection. James Hassall, the executive director of the parliamentary advisory council for transport safety said the national pass rate of 50 percent must be improved by ensuring learners don’t feel pressurized to book their test.

He suggested the current cost of £62 should be increased to over £100, with a 50 percent refund if the candidate passes.

He added: “The current system is a mess and needs a rethink.”

A DVSA spokesman said: “The driver testing and training regime tests candidates’ ability to drive safely and responsibly as well as making sure they know the theory behind safe driving. All candidates are assessed to the same standard and the result of their test is entirely dependent on their performance on the day.”

NEW DRIVING TEST RULES IN 2025

With average waiting times for tests at just under five months, the DVSA is changing the rules to slash them. Here is a comparison of the old and new rules:

Officials are also mulling how to stop touts ripping off learners by buying up slots. The DVSA is hiring an extra 450 driving examiners to boost the number of slots.

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