Luckless learner spent more than £3,200 on passing his driving test after failing 42 times, new data reveals
A learner driver spent more than GBP3,200 on passing his practical test after failing 42 times, new data has revealed. The unnamed male from England was 72 when he finally achieved his certificate. Meanwhile, a hapless L-plater from Scotland is yet to pass his theory test despite having 67 attempts.
That means the 34-year-old is GBP1,541 out of pocket and still no nearer to securing a full licence. The figures, obtained by Select Car Leasing[1] via a Freedom of Information request to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), reveal how some people find learning to drive a very bumpy road indeed. Graham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing[2], said: “You have to admire the level of commitment these people have shown to passing their test.
“Going from L plate to qualified can be a nerve-jangling experience for some, while others find it a breeze. For the former, it’s a case of ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again’. “Maybe they are being tripped up by tricky theory questions – confusing their stopping distances or forgetting what certain road signs signal.
Perhaps it’s executing a competent parallel parking manoeuvre or an emergency stop that has proved the obstacle to them getting a pass certificate. “Whatever the issues, these figures show the high level of skill and knowledge required to gain a UK driving licence. And while it can become a costly venture, whether you fail once or 67 times there is absolutely no shame in picking yourself up and having another try.”
The pass rate for practical driving tests in 2022/23 was 48 per cent – down from 49 per cent the year before and 50 per cent in 2020/21. For theory tests the level for success was 44 per cent, a dip from 50 per cent for the previous 12 months. The DVSA stats show a 38-year-old male took 38 practical tests to pass while a woman, 47, needed 37 attempts.
Another tough tale from the list is a 37-year-old female from England who has racked up 37 failed tests. Three other luckless learners have sat 34, 33 and 31 practical exams without reaching the required standard. In the theory test, a man from England took 60 papers before he passed – all by the age of 21.
Two others have sat 59 without achieving success, while a female learner from England is still trying after 54 goes. Participants have to answer at least 43 out of 50 questions correctly to gain a pass mark. The DVSA figures for practical test attempts run from December 2012 to June this year, while the theory test data is based on examinations taken after September 2021.
Fees for practical driving tests are GBP75 on weekends and bank holidays and GBP62 on weekdays. Theory tests booked through the gov.uk[3] website are GBP23, but could be more expensive if booked via an outside organisation. That means the top-failing practical test taker could have spent GBP3,225 just on test bookings, without considering the cost of lessons.
Separate data from the DVSA showed that the number of learners passing their tests without any minor faults has risen significantly over the past five years. In 2018, around 2.4 per cent of those who passed their tests did so without picking up a single error. By 2022 that figure has risen to 3.8 per cent – a difference of almost 11,500 learner drivers each year.
Mr Conway said: “On the face of it, an increase in the number of learner drivers passing their test without making any errors whatsoever is to be applauded. It could be a reflection that the UK’s dedicated vehicle instructors are driving up standards. “However, the stats could also be seen by some to be a result of the ‘dumbing down’ of the driving test in recent years, which has made it easier to pass with flying colours.
In my view, it’s important we continue to monitor these figures to ensure all road users are protected.”
References
- ^ https://www.selectcarleasing.co.uk/ (www.selectcarleasing.co.uk)
- ^ https://www.selectcarleasing.co.uk/ (www.selectcarleasing.co.uk)
- ^ gov.uk (gov.uk)