Where in the UK are you most likely to pass your driving test?

From hill starts and parallel parking to following directions and answering ‘show me’ questions, driving tests allow aspiring motorists to demonstrate their ability at the wheel.

A whopping 865,703 exams were carried out between April 2023 and September 2023 across the UK, with an average pass rate of 48.8%.

Within this timeframe, 50% of all aspiring male drivers were awarded a driving licence at the end of the test. As for women learners, 47.3% of wannabe motorists passed their tests, registering the highest female pass rate in at least 15 years.

But where in the country are you most – or least – likely to officially become a qualified car driver for city commutes and motorway journeys alike?

Based on data released by the DVLA in December 2023, we've crunched the numbers to unveil the locations with the highest and lowest pass rates in the UK.

Locations with the highest percentage of successful driving tests

Most of the UK driving centres with the highest success rates for driving tests are in Scotland, especially in small towns and remote areas.

Sam Sheehan, our motoring editor, said: “According to DVLA figures, aspiring motorists taking their driving test north of the border tend to have an above-average chance of nailing their exam.

“Between April 2023 and September 2023, there were several months where Scottish locations such as Ballater, Benbecula Island, Duns, the Isle of Skye and Mallaig saw every single candidate pass their driving test without fault.

“Considering that the average pass rate in the UK stands at 48.8%, these areas – as well as their test centres – have plenty to be proud of.

“The Angus-based town of Arbroath seems to brim with talented driving students. In September 2023, 91% of its 45 budding drivers passed their test, meaning learners in this part of the world know how to confidently hit the road behind the wheel of a used VW or BMW and perform on exam day.”

While pass rates aren’t as resounding elsewhere across the nation, several locations still stand out from the crowd.

For example, the Cumbrian towns of Barrow-in-Furness and Kendal are England's most fruitful driving-test locations, boasting 77.1% (August 2023) and 73.4% (July 2023) pass rates, respectively.

What about Wales? The likes of Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham don’t quite make the cut. Instead, aspiring drivers in the historic town of Newtown (Powys) are often in the good books of examiners, with 72% of 175 candidates passing their test in August 2023 and finally getting the chance to own an ideal cheap first car.

Other UK locations that deserve a special mention include Berwick-on-Tweed (68.9% pass rate in May 2023), Salisbury (68.3% in July 2023), Louth (67.7% in April 2023), Basingstoke (67.3% in June 2023), Whitby (66.7% in August 2023) and Chichester (66.3% in June 2023).

Locations with the lowest percentage of pass rates

London has recently been crowned the slowest city in the UK for drivers, with a 10km journey taking 37 minutes and 20 seconds on average. It’s fair to say, then, that the capital city of England isn’t the easiest place to navigate in the UK.

One test centre in Belvedere, located in south-east London, has an average successful pass rate of 36%, with only 31.2% of 218 aspiring drivers getting their licence in April 2023.

To find the location that registered the worst pass rate anytime between April 2023 and September 2023, we travel to the Scottish town of Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway.

Learners who took their exam in Castle Douglas in June 2023 had a tough time earning their driving licence, with only 12 out of 40 people (30%) becoming fully qualified motorists at the end of the test. However, it might just have been an anomalous month, as the overall percentage of successful driving tests in this Scottish town stands at 55.7% – significantly better than the national average.

Two cities that showed a consistently poor record between April 2023 and September 2023 were Liverpool and Wolverhampton.

The suburb area of Speke in Liverpool registered the lowest pass rate in England, with just 229 candidates out of 756 (30.3%) demonstrating they have the skills to sit safely behind the wheel in June 2023.

As for Wolverhampton, the scores are just as unenviable. In September 2023, the average pass rate stood at 30.6%, with only 399 of 1,303 prospective drivers completing their driving tests successfully.

So, how does your hometown compare to other locations across the UK? If you’re taking your driving test in the near future, keep calm – and good luck.

But if you’ve passed your test already, read more about some of the best motors for new drivers and the ins and outs of car insurance.