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What are the easiest and hardest places to pass your practical driving test in the UK? Find out how your test centre rates

With learner drivers paying £42 million in failed practical driving tests last year, new research has revealed the UK’s test centres with the highest and lowest pass rates.

Find the easiest place to pass your test below. Photo: © Phil Champion (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Where’s the ‘easiest’ place to pass your test?

The top three spots were all taken by rural Scottish towns, with Lochgilphead topping the table first with an 80 per cent pass rate, followed by Crieff and Montrose.

It’s also possible that picking a centre with low levels of traffic in the surrounding area could boost your chances of success, with the top ten driving test centres predominantly located in rural locations.

Top ten driving test centres with the highest practical test pass rates

Centre Pass rate
Lochgilphead, Scotland 80%
Crieff, Scotland 79%
Montrose, Scotland 79%
Peebles, Scotland 78%
Hawick, Scotland 78%
Newtown, Wales 76%
Fraserburgh, Scotland 75%
Lerwick, Scotland 75%
Stranraer, Scotland 75%
Kelso, Scotland 72%

Where’s the ‘hardest’ place to pass your test?

If you’re looking to avoid a dreaded fail, then unsurprisingly the hardest places to pass your driving test are in the UK’s major cities. London takes half of the top spots with the number one place going to Erith, with a pass rate of just 32 per cent. Manchester and Birmingham also featured in the top ten, showing that built-up, traffic-heavy areas prove more difficult for learner drivers.

Top ten driving test centres with the lowest practical test pass rates

Centre Pass rate
Erith, London 32%
Belvedere, London 37%
Speke 37%
Rochdale, Manchester 38%
Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham 39%
Kings Standing, Birmingham 39%
Wanstead, London 39%
South Yardley, Birmingham 40%
Crewe 40%
Chingford, London 41%


What are the UK driving test changes from December 4, 2017?

What percentage of learners passed their test in 2022?

Across the UK, 50.5 per cent of all practical driving tests that took place resulted in a learner driver being handed a full licence.

However, the pass rate is showing a trending raise, compared with ten years ago when just 44 per cent of learner drivers were successful.

With the average practical driving test costing £62, and more 600,000 failed tests, learners were collectively set back £41.9 million.

Men or women – who got the better pass rate?

Men were more likely to pass their practical driving test last year with a 50 per cent pass rate compared with women who returned a 44 per cent success rate.

However, women were more likely to pass the theory test with 51 per cent against 47 per cent for men.

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