What is the UK driving test pass rate?

The UK average pass rate for the Category B (car) practical driving test is around 48%, though it varies significantly between test centres — from roughly 35% at the hardest urban centres to over 65% at the easiest rural ones.

Which UK driving test centre has the highest pass rate?

Small rural test centres (particularly in Scotland and the Scottish Islands) consistently show the highest pass rates — often above 65%. Lerwick in Shetland leads the UK at around 68.5%.

Where does the data come from?

All statistics come from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) quarterly statistical release on GOV.UK. The dataset is released under the Open Government Licence and is updated automatically each quarter.

Does PassRates.uk show motorcycle and HGV pass rates?

Yes. The data covers the Category B (car) practical test, motorcycle Module 1 and Module 2 tests, and heavy-vehicle (LGV/HGV) tests for every UK test centre.

UK Top 50 · Ranked

Best for First-Time Pass

These are the 50 UK driving test centres with the highest first-time pass rates — meaning the percentage of candidates who pass on their first attempt is highest here. This is often a more useful metric than overall pass rate, as it excludes retake distortions.

UK national average pass rate: 48% · Source: DVSA quarterly statistical release.

1
Lerwick
Lerwick, Scotland · 1.1K tests
66.5%
1st-time pass
2
Kendal (Oxenholme Road)
Kendal Driving Test Centre, England · 3.6K tests
65.5%
1st-time pass
3
Malton
Malton, England · 1.7K tests
64.3%
1st-time pass
4
Orkney
Orkney Islands, Scotland · 767 tests
63.6%
1st-time pass
5
Arbroath
Arbroath, Scotland · 1.2K tests
63.1%
1st-time pass
6
Dorchester
Dorchester, England · 8.8K tests
62.8%
1st-time pass
7
Kelso
Kelso, Scotland · 579 tests
62.5%
1st-time pass
8
Montrose
Montrose, Scotland · 1.2K tests
62.1%
1st-time pass
9
Forfar
Forfar, Scotland · 1.1K tests
61.9%
1st-time pass
10
Stranraer
Stranraer, Scotland · 577 tests
61.8%
1st-time pass
11
Hawick
Hawick, Scotland · 807 tests
61.3%
1st-time pass
12
Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh, Scotland · 1.0K tests
61.2%
1st-time pass
13
Peebles
Peebles, Scotland · 742 tests
61.1%
1st-time pass
14
Whitby
Whitby, England · 1.1K tests
60.6%
1st-time pass
15
Brecon
Brecon Driving Test Centre, Wales · 2.9K tests
60.3%
1st-time pass
16
Fort William
Fort William, Scotland · 766 tests
60.1%
1st-time pass
17
Inverurie
Inverurie, Scotland · 2.1K tests
60.1%
1st-time pass
18
Alnwick
Alnwick, England · 2.1K tests
59.8%
1st-time pass
19
Newtown
Newtown, Wales · 3.2K tests
59.5%
1st-time pass
20
Peterhead
Peterhead, Scotland · 2.6K tests
59.5%
1st-time pass
21
Berwick-On-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed, England · 1.3K tests
59.2%
1st-time pass
22
Haddington
Haddington, Scotland · 3.4K tests
58.7%
1st-time pass
23
Barrow In Furness
Barrow-in-Furness, England · 4.0K tests
58.7%
1st-time pass
24
Abergavenny
Abergavenny driving test centre, Wales · 9.7K tests
58.7%
1st-time pass
25
Skegness
Skegness Driving Test Centre, England · 3.4K tests
58.5%
1st-time pass
26
Banff
Banff, Scotland · 512 tests
58.5%
1st-time pass
27
Pwllheli
Pwllheli, Wales · 1.4K tests
58.3%
1st-time pass
28
Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray, England · 5.3K tests
58.1%
1st-time pass
29
Durham
County Durham, England · 14.2K tests
58%
1st-time pass
30
Lee On The Solent
Lee-on-the-Solent, England · 15.9K tests
57.9%
1st-time pass
31
Barry
Barry, Wales · 3.1K tests
57.7%
1st-time pass
32
Alness
Alness Driving Test Centre, Scotland · 2.0K tests
57.6%
1st-time pass
33
Galashiels
Galashiels, Scotland · 3.4K tests
57.6%
1st-time pass
34
Ipswich
Ipswich, England · 19.8K tests
57.2%
1st-time pass
35
Yeovil
Yeovil, England · 12.2K tests
57.2%
1st-time pass
36
Wellingborough
Wellingborough, England · 2.5K tests
56.8%
1st-time pass
37
Ashfield
Ashfield, England · 17.3K tests
56.8%
1st-time pass
38
Northallerton
Northallerton, England · 5.8K tests
56.5%
1st-time pass
39
Bridlington
Bridlington, England · 5.3K tests
56.4%
1st-time pass
40
Chichester
Chichester, England · 11.0K tests
56.2%
1st-time pass
41
Louth
Louth, England · 1.5K tests
56.1%
1st-time pass
42
Dundee
Dundee, Scotland · 10.3K tests
56%
1st-time pass
43
Cumnock
Cumnock, Scotland · 2.2K tests
55.8%
1st-time pass
44
Taunton
Taunton, England · 12.3K tests
55.8%
1st-time pass
45
Oban
Oban, Scotland · 670 tests
55.4%
1st-time pass
46
Norwich (Peachman Way)
Norwich, England · 16.0K tests
55.2%
1st-time pass
47
Llantrisant
Llantrisant, Wales · 9.9K tests
55.1%
1st-time pass
48
Farnborough
Farnborough, England · 17.4K tests
55%
1st-time pass
49
Newport IOW (Innovation Centre)
Age UK, England · 699 tests
54.9%
1st-time pass
50
Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock, Wales · 4.4K tests
54.8%
1st-time pass

Methodology: Rankings are computed from DVSA quarterly statistical data aggregated across all available years. Centres with fewer than 500 lifetime tests on record are excluded to avoid small-sample distortion. Only car (Category B) test centres are included in this ranking.