Great Britain Driving Test Trends: Pass Rates, Test Demand and What the Data Shows
What official DVSA figures show about car practical driving test pass rates and demand in Great Britain.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Driving test and theory test data: cars, table DRT121A Data period: 2025 to 2026 financial year (April 2025 to March 2026) Last checked: 28 September 2026
These figures cover Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). DVSA does not run driving tests in Northern Ireland, so they are not UK-wide figures.
Car practical test pass rate
In the 2025 to 2026 financial year, DVSA recorded 1,998,621 car practical driving tests in Great Britain, of which 1,000,043 were passes. That is a pass rate of 50.0%.
For comparison, in the 2024 to 2025 financial year DVSA recorded 1,839,817 tests and a pass rate of 48.7%.
2025 to 2026 is the latest complete financial year DVSA has published. DVSA also publishes quarterly figures, which you can find in the same table.
Why pass rates alone don't tell the full story
- Pass rates reflect who takes the test at a centre, not just the centre itself.
- Learner preparation, first-attempt vs repeat candidates and local traffic all matter.
- A higher pass rate doesn't mean a centre is "easier".
Test demand and waiting times
DVSA publishes monthly driving test waiting-time and availability data by region and by test centre (tables DRT121G and DRT122F). At the time of checking, the latest month published was August 2026. Waiting times change month to month, so check the latest table before booking.
Find your driving test centre or a local instructor.
This guide gives general advice. Always check the latest GOV.UK/DVSA guidance for current rules and requirements.
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