Would UK drivers pass their driving test today?

New data reveals millions of motorists lack confidence in passing a modern test

Passing your driving test is a milestone many motorists never expect to revisit. But if UK drivers had to retake their test today, how many would actually feel confident they'd pass? 

To find out, we surveyed 2,000 UK adults on whether they believe they would definitely pass a practical driving test if they had to retake it now, and the results suggest many drivers aren't as road ready as they might think.

Driving test fails at a glance

• 58% believe they would definitely pass their driving test today 
• 42% lack confidence that they would pass 
• 16% believe they would fail outright 
• 26% are unsure whether they would pass

Would UK drivers pass their driving test today?

Responses	Percentage
Yes, I'd definitely pass	58%
No, I'd fail	16%
Not sure	26%

While the majority believe they would pass, the number of drivers who are unsure or openly expect to fail shows how many motorists may be relying on confidence built years ago, rather than up to date knowledge of today's test.

Older drivers are among the least confident about passing today 

Confidence varies sharply by age. Younger drivers are much more likely to back themselves, while older motorists are far less certain. 

Having more experience on the road doesn't necessarily mean feeling prepared to take today's test, particularly when it comes to current theory knowledge and test requirements.

Driving test confidence by age group

Rank	Age group	Confident they'd pass
1	25-34	82%
2	35-44	71%
3	18-24	66%
4	45-54	49%
5	65+	45%
6	55-64	38%

Drivers aged 55-64 are the least confident overall, with fewer than two in five (38%) saying they would definitely pass. Among drivers aged 65+, fewer than half (45%) feel confident they would pass a modern test.

Among over 65s who lack confidence, over half (52%) say the theory test would be their biggest concern, the highest proportion of any age group.

Theory knowledge is the biggest reason drivers think they'd fail 

For those who said they would fail or were unsure, the biggest concern was not manoeuvres, nerves or bad habits, but the theory test. 

This suggests many drivers may feel comfortable behind the wheel day to day, but less confident when it comes to remembering the rules, guidance and safety knowledge needed to pass a modern test.

Top reasons UK drivers think they'd fail a driving test

Rank	Reasons drivers think they'd fail	Percentage
1	Theory test	42%
2	Test pressure	38%
3	Manoeuvres	20%
4	Forgotten the basics	18%
5	Forgetting mirror checks	12%

Theory knowledge is the clear standout, with more than two in five of those who lacked confidence (42%) naming it as a reason they think they would fail. 

Test pressure also plays a major role, with nearly four in ten (38%) saying nerves could be their downfall.

The Highway Code questions catching motorists out 

To understand where knowledge gaps appear, we also asked drivers a series of Highway Code questions covering everyday road safety scenarios.

The biggest gaps were around fuel spillage, cyclist crossings, and tunnel safety, with more than a third of drivers (37%) saying they did not know the answer to each. 

Highway Code questions drivers struggled with most

Rank	Question	Drivers who didn't know
1	How to avoid fuel spillage	37%
2	Which crossing allows cyclists to ride across with pedestrians	37%
3	What to do when stopping in a congested tunnel	37%
4	Minimum time gap on a wet road	32%
5	What to do before driving into a tunnel	31%

Older drivers lack confidence, but know their road signs 

One of the most interesting findings is that older drivers are among the least confident overall, but perform strongly when tested on road sign recognition.

Drivers aged 65 and over were among the best at recognising several of the signs shown, with between 93% and 98% correctly identifying most signs tested.

This suggests the issue may not be a lack of driving experience or basic road awareness, but confidence around modern test requirements, updated guidance and theory knowledge. 

Road sign recognition among drivers aged 65+

Rank	Road sign number	Road sign	Meaning	65+ recognition rate	National recognition rate
1	Sign number 3		Warning: loose chippings	98%	93%
2	Sign number 7		Warning: slippery road	98%	93%
3	Sign number 6		Warning: road narrows	97%	92%
4	Sign number 8		Warning: pedestrian crossing	97%	92%
5	Sign number 1		Mandatory keep left	95%	91%
6	Sign number 2		No parking	91%	86%
7	Sign number 5		Warning: uneven road	87%	83%
8	Sign number 4		Warning: T-junction ahead	63%	66%

Drivers aged 65 and over outperformed the national average on seven of the eight road signs tested. The only exception was sign number 4, a warning for a T-junction ahead, which was the least recognised sign overall. This suggests older drivers' lower confidence may not be linked to poor road awareness but could be more closely tied to modern test expectations and theory knowledge.

Young drivers are most confident, but admit basic fail points 

Younger drivers were much more likely to feel confident about passing a modern test, but the data also shows they are more likely to admit certain practical mistakes. 

Drivers aged 25-34 were the most confident group overall, with more than eight in ten (82%) saying they would definitely pass if they retook their test today. 

However, among 18-24s who lacked confidence, the most common reasons for expecting to fail were linked to everyday road safety: 

• 37% said they would fail for forgetting to check mirrors 
• 37% said they would fail for not sticking to a safe or reasonable speed 
• 26% said they would fail for not giving way to other cars

More than a third of less confident Gen Z drivers pointed to mirror checks or speed control as potential fail points, suggesting confidence does not always reflect stronger driving habits.

Women are more likely to worry about test pressure 

The research also found a clear gender divide.

Men were more likely than women to say they would definitely pass, but women were significantly more likely to cite nerves as a reason they might fail.

Finding	Women	Men
Confident they'd pass	55%	62%
Not sure they'd pass	27%	24%
Would fail due to test pressure	45%	28%
Would fail because they've forgotten the basics	16%	22%

Women were 60% more likely than men to say test pressure would be their downfall. Men, however, were more likely to admit they had forgotten the basics.

Which UK cities are most confident about passing? 

Confidence also varied across the UK. Bristol drivers were the most confident, with seven in ten (70%) saying they would definitely pass today.

Cardiff was the least confident, with fewer than half (46%) saying they would pass. 

Top 10 most confident UK cities

Rank	City	Confident they'd pass
1	Bristol	70%
2	London	65%
3	Edinburgh	65%
4	Nottingham	59%
5	Birmingham	58%
6	Glasgow	58%
7	Newcastle	57%
8	Southampton	57%
9	Leeds	52%
10	Belfast	51%

The regional results show that confidence varies widely across the UK, with a 24% gap between the most and least confident cities.

Jonathan, motoring expert here at First Response Finance, commented:

"The key takeaway from this research isn't that drivers are unsafe, but that confidence around modern rules and theory knowledge can fade over time. 

"Motorists build experience every time they drive, but road guidance, test expectations and the Highway Code can change. That means even confident and experienced drivers can benefit from refreshing their knowledge. 

"For anyone who passed their test years ago, a simple Highway Code refresh can make a real difference. It's worth revisiting areas such as stopping distances, tunnel safety, cyclist crossings, road signs, and recent updates to guidance. 

"Experience is valuable, but it works best when it's paired with up-to-date knowledge."

 

Our research shows that confidence in passing a modern driving test varies dramatically across the UK. 

More than two in five drivers do not feel confident they would pass today, with theory knowledge emerging as the biggest concern. Older motorists are among the least confident overall, but perform strongly on road sign recognition, suggesting the issue is not simply driving ability. 

Younger drivers, meanwhile, are far more confident, but are more likely to admit to practical mistakes such as forgetting mirror checks, not maintaining safe speed, and failing to give way. 

Overall, the findings suggest many UK drivers could benefit from refreshing their Highway Code knowledge, regardless of age or experience.

 

Methodology 

• Survey of over 2,000+ UK adults (18+), July 2026 

 

Additional sources

• Road sign images from Department for Transport official signage
  

 

FAQs

How many UK drivers believe they'd pass their driving test today? 

Most drivers believe they would: 58% of UK drivers said they would definitely pass, while 16% believed they would fail and 26% were unsure.

Which part of the driving test do UK drivers think they would most likely fail? 

The theory test is the leading concern, cited by 42% of drivers who believed they would fail or were unsure. This was followed by test pressure (38%) and maneuvers (20%). 

Which road sign do UK drivers find most difficult to recognise? 

The T-junction warning sign was the least recognised road sign tested, with 34% of UK drivers saying they did not know what it meant. 

Which age group is least confident about passing a driving test? 

Drivers aged 55-64 were the least confident, with only 38% believing they would definitely pass today. This compared with 82% of drivers aged 25-24, the most confident group. 

Which UK city has the most confident drivers? 

Bristol has the most confident drivers, with 70% believing they would definitely pass. Cardiff ranked lowest, at 46%.