THE hardest driving test centres across the UK have been revealed – with a Midlands city taking top spot as the toughest.
New data from the DVLA that’s been analysed by Auto Express shows a significant difference between regions when it comes to pass rates.
As perhaps expected, rural and less congested areas generally have higher success rates, while urban centres with heavy traffic and complex road layouts tend to be more challenging.
In general, the UK has a national average pass rate of 48.7%, with Dorchester, Dorset, enjoying the best odds with a 66.7% pass rate from over 4,500 tests conducted between April 2024 and March 2025.
A few test centres in remote locations do have higher pass rates – with the Isles of Scilly, for example, boasting an overall pass rate of 87.5% – but the sample was just eight tests.
Auto Express decided to exclude all centres that did fewer than 1,000 tests.
Kendal (Oxenholme Road), on the border of the Lake District, was ranked the second easiest, with Chichester, Bangor and Melton Mowbray all making up the top five.
In contrast, Wolverhampton in the West Midlands was found to be the hardest test centre, according to data.
Just 1,309 out of 3,920 learners managed to pass their test in the same time frame – working out at just 33.4%.
Featherstone, Wednesbury and Gateshead are also in the bottom five, joined by Chingford – the lowest ranked test centre for pass-rate in London.
Indeed, 13,235 hopefully learners took their test in the east London town, but only 4,825 were able to pass.
Top 10 hardest test centres to pass your driving test
The 10 hardest places to pass a driving test
1. Wolverhampton
Tests Conducted: 11,719
Passes: 3,920
Pass Rate: 33.4%
2. Featherstone
Tests Conducted: 14,070
Passes: 4,798
Pass Rate: 34.1%
3. Wednesbury
Tests Conducted: 8,335
Passes: 3,036
Pass Rate: 36.4%
4. Chingford (London)
Tests Conducted: 13,235
Passes: 4,825
Pass Rate: 36.5%
5. Gateshead
Tests Conducted: 8,109
Passes: 3,029
Pass Rate: 37.4%
6. Leicester (Cannock Street)
Tests Conducted: 11,638
Passes: 4,384
Pass Rate: 37.7%
7. Glasgow (Shieldhall)
Tests Conducted: 6,792
Passes: 2,563
Pass Rate: 37.7%
8. Barking (Tanner Street)
Tests Conducted: 7,499
Passes: 2,842
Pass Rate: 37.9%
9. Belvedere (London)
Tests Conducted: 4,337
Passes: 1,662
Pass Rate: 38.3%
10. Speke (Liverpool)
Tests Conducted: 1,079
Passes: 416
Pass Rate: 38.6%
Tom Jervis, Consumer Editor at Auto Express, said: “It’s no surprise that busy urban test centres like those in the Midlands, London and Liverpool are the most challenging.
“With heavy traffic, complex junctions and multi-lane roads adding to the difficulty while centres in more rural areas – like those in the countryside or by the coast, like Dorset, Wales and the Lake District – are easier, thanks to lighter traffic, simpler road layouts and few signs to confuse drivers.”
The 10 easiest test centres to pass a driving test
1. Dorchester
Tests Conducted: 4,561
Passes: 3,042
Pass Rate: 66.7%
2. Kendal (Oxenholme Road)
Tests Conducted: 2,149
Passes: 1,393
Pass Rate: 64.8%
3. Chichester
Tests Conducted: 5,295
Passes: 3,400
Pass Rate: 64.2%
4. Bangor
Tests Conducted: 3,433
Passes: 2,202
Pass Rate: 64.1%
5. Melton Mowbray
Tests Conducted: 2,486
Passes: 1,589
Pass Rate: 63.9%
6. Newtown
Tests Conducted: 1,740
Passes: 1,109
Pass Rate: 63.7%
7. Ipswich
Tests Conducted: 10,724
Passes: 6,762
Pass Rate: 63.1%
8. Haddington
Tests Conducted: 1,890
Passes: 1,175
Pass Rate: 62.2%
9. Barrow In Furness
Tests Conducted: 1,735
Passes: 1,074
Pass Rate: 61.9%
10. Barry
Tests Conducted: 1,621
Passes: 1,002
Pass Rate: 61.8%
He added: “We can see from the data that there are huge differences in pass rates across the country, but the best thing you can do to maximise your chances of success is to make sure you’re fully prepared.
“There is still quite a long waiting list for tests, so once learners finally get that long-awaited test date, they need to make sure they are ready to turn that coveted slot into a full licence.”
Tips for passing your driving test
Tom Jarvis, Consumer Editor at Auto Express, has revealed his top tips to help pass your driving test.
- Plan your time – Don’t rush. Give yourself enough time to develop your skills and experience and let your instructor advise when you’re truly ready
- Budget properly – It is a costly business, learning to drive – provisional driving licence, theory test, professional driving lessons and the practical driving test – so make sure you’ve got the budget in place to see it through
- Keep lessons regular – Aim for at least two hours a week behind the wheel to help you progress consistently, boost your confidence and ensure you don’t forget what you’ve already learnt
- Record your progress – Use a progress log to track milestones, it will keep you motivated and build confidence
- Practice outside lessons – One of the key differences between those who pass and those who don’t is experience – so spend as much time as you can behind the wheel, asking friends or relatives to help you gain extra practice
- Stay focused between lessons – Use online learning tools and practice spotting potential risks on the road. This will give you a deeper understanding of situations that may occur and how to avoid them
- Pass your theory early – Aim to pass your theory test after 10-14 hours of practical training. Once this has been passed, you can book the practical test and concentrate on working towards the ultimate goal
- Take a mock test – Do at least one mock test, under test conditions and using a test route; this will help you prepare for the big day and help to settle your nerves as you will know what to expect
- Get a good night’s sleep – Get a good night’s sleep and if you have time, take a lesson beforehand to settle the nerves and get you in the right frame of mind
- Keep calm – Try and keep calm and see the test like a normal lesson. Don’t worry if you make a mistake – it may only be minor, in which case you can still pass your test. And if you don’t understand something, ask your examiner to repeat any instructions
