2 June 2025
Driving tests have been compulsory for 90 years, but only a third of drivers are sure they would pass a driving test re-take.
New research, from the AA Driving School, launched to coincide with the anniversary, shows only 32% of drivers are very confident they would pass a retake of their practical test today. Just 17% felt the same about a retake of their theory test.
“The driving test was introduced to help stem the tide of rising road deaths. Safety has remained at its core and over time more features have been added to help ensure new drivers are as prepared as possible for life on the road.”
As you might expect, younger drivers were more likely to feel very confident about passing a re-take compared to those over 65 (40% vs 30%).
When asked why they thought they would fail, in both the practical and theory tests, the top five reasons were:
|
|
Practical Test |
Theory Test |
|
1. |
Bad Habits (73%) |
Highway Code knowledge (88%) |
|
2. |
Nerves (33%) | Other area of theory (50%) |
|
3. |
Reversing manoeuvres (30%) | Rules of the road (46%) |
|
4. |
Following a sat nav (25%) | Knowledge of road signs (38%) |
| 5. | Mirrors / Attitude to other road users / Other (all 13%) | Hazard Perception (32%) |
90 years of change
Compulsory testing was brought in on 1 June 1935 for all drivers and riders who started driving on or after 1 April 1934. Prior to this, testing had been voluntary.
|
|
1935 |
2025 |
|
Pass Rate |
63% |
49% |
|
Duration |
30 minutes driving |
40 minutes driving; 80 minutes theory test |
|
Requirements |
Hill start; emergency stop; Highway Code knowledge; correct use of arm signals |
Eyesight check; general driving ability; reversing vehicle; 20 minutes independent driving; ‘Show Me Tell Me’ questions; Separate theory test. |
|
Number of examiners |
250 |
1627** |
|
Test Centres |
None – candidates met examiners somewhere like a post office or train station. |
Around 320 centres offer practical car driving tests |
|
Cost |
7s 6D |
Practical - £63 (weekdays); £75 (evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays) Theory - £23 |
|
Annual road deaths *** |
7,343 |
1,607 |
The AA Driving School began in 1991. AA Driving School franchised instructors teach thousands of learners every year. The driving school also offers Driving Instructor Training, helping new instructors gain their teaching qualification. Last year, the AA Driving School supported more than 13,000 learners.
BSM, founded in 1910 before the compulsory driving test, is the UK’s oldest driving school, and is also owned by the AA.
Emma Bush, managing director of AA Driving School, said: “The driving test was introduced to help stem the tide of rising road deaths.
“Safety has remained at its core and over time more features have been added to help ensure new drivers are as prepared as possible for life on the road.
“Learners today can take lessons with a qualified instructor on the motorway and must show they can follow directions from a sat nav or road signs.
“It’s a robust test, so it’s no wonder so many qualified drivers think they would struggle with a re-test.
“With electric vehicles gaining popularity; autonomous vehicle technology evolving and an ever greater focus on road safety, the next 90 years will undoubtedly bring many more changes to the test and process of learning to drive.”
Driving Test Waiting Times
Another big change to the driving test is the recent increase in waiting times to book a slot.
New data, from a Freedom of Information request**** to the DVSA by AA Driving School, shows average waiting times for a driving test have reached a new high, with learners typically facing waits of 21.3 weeks.
The number of driving test centres showing the maximum wait of 24 weeks has risen to an astonishing 79% of test centres (as of April 7th 2025). In just two months the number of test centres with 24 week waits rose from 183 in February 2025 to 253 at the start of April 2025- an increase of 38%.
There has been a small increase in the number of test centres with waits at or below the DVSA’s target of 7 weeks, from 14 in February 2025 to 20 in April 2025.
* Yonder received 10,509 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 13th to 21st May 2025. Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
** FOI 2501-064975
*** How the Thirties saw Britain fall in love with the car... and become a nation of road hogs | Daily Mail Online and Reported road casualties in Great Britain, provisional estimates: year ending June 2024 - GOV.UK
****FOI 2504-075210