DVSA 2024/25

The hardest driving test centres in the UK

Ranked by official DVSA car pass rate, these are the UK test centres where fewest learners pass. The national average is 50.2% — every centre below sits well beneath it.

The hardest UK driving test centre by pass rate is Wolverhampton at 33.4% (2024/25). The bottom of the list is dominated by busy city centres with complex junctions.

A low pass rate reflects tough local roads, not your ability. Use it to know what to practise — not to be put off booking.

1
Wolverhampton
33.4% pass rate · Harder than average · West Midlands · mostly city centre driving
33.4%
2
Featherstone
34.1% pass rate · Harder than average · West Midlands · mostly suburban driving
34.1%
3
Wednesbury
36.4% pass rate · Harder than average · West Midlands · mostly urban driving
36.4%
4
London (Chingford)
36.5% pass rate · Harder than average · London · mostly suburban driving
36.5%
5
Gateshead
37.4% pass rate · Harder than average · North East · mostly urban driving
37.4%
6
Leicester (Cannock Street)
37.7% pass rate · Harder than average · East Midlands · mostly urban driving
37.7%
7
Glasgow (Shieldhall)
37.7% pass rate · Harder than average · Scotland · mostly urban driving
37.7%
8
London (Barking)
37.9% pass rate · Harder than average · London · mostly urban driving
37.9%
9
London (Belvedere)
38.3% pass rate · Harder than average · London · mostly suburban driving
38.3%
10
Liverpool (Speke)
38.6% pass rate · Harder than average · North West · mostly urban driving
38.6%
11
Stirling
38.7% pass rate · Harder than average · Scotland · mostly urban driving
38.7%
12
Liverpool (Norris Green)
38.7% pass rate · Harder than average · North West · mostly urban driving
38.7%
13
Stoke-on-Trent (Cobridge)
38.8% pass rate · Harder than average · West Midlands · mostly urban driving
38.8%
14
Hamilton
39.5% pass rate · Harder than average · Scotland · mostly urban driving
39.5%
15
Banbury
39.9% pass rate · Harder than average · South East · mostly urban driving
39.9%
16
Widnes
40.1% pass rate · Harder than average · North West · mostly urban driving
40.1%
17
Luton
40.1% pass rate · Harder than average · East of England · mostly urban driving
40.1%
18
Crawley
40.1% pass rate · Harder than average · South East · mostly urban driving
40.1%
19
St Helens
40.2% pass rate · Harder than average · North West · mostly urban driving
40.2%
20
Bury
40.3% pass rate · Harder than average · North West · mostly urban driving
40.3%
21
London (Wanstead)
40.4% pass rate · Harder than average · London · mostly urban driving
40.4%
22
London (Greenford)
40.5% pass rate · Harder than average · London · mostly urban driving
40.5%
23
Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-under-Lyme)
40.7% pass rate · Harder than average · West Midlands · mostly urban driving
40.7%
24
Plymouth
40.8% pass rate · Harder than average · South West · mostly urban driving
40.8%
25
Glasgow (Anniesland)
40.8% pass rate · Harder than average · Scotland · mostly urban driving
40.8%

FAQs

What is the hardest driving test centre in the UK?

By 2024/25 DVSA pass rate, Wolverhampton is the hardest in our data at 33.4%. Big-city centres dominate the bottom of the table.

Why are urban test centres harder?

City centres pack in multi-lane roundabouts, bus lanes, one-way systems, heavy traffic and constant pedestrians and cyclists — far more places to pick up faults than on quieter routes.

Can I pass at a hard test centre?

Absolutely — thousands do every year. A low headline pass rate reflects difficult roads, not an impossible test. Targeted practice on the specific junctions around your centre is what moves the needle.