61% of UK drivers would fail their test today

Reviewed by: Greg Wilson
Founder & Insurance Expert

Written by: Katie Gawley
Insurance Content Writer

Fact-checked by: Quotezone Editorial Team

This content follows our Editorial Guidelines

Last Updated: September 2026
Read time: 4 min

Nearly two-thirds (61%) of UK motorists would fail their driving test if they were made to retake it today, according to a new survey by car insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk.

The survey revealed that rules around solid white lines were the most misunderstood amongst drivers, with 31.7% answering incorrectly.

And despite being an offence which could lead to a £100 fine and three penalty points, almost 20% of drivers admitted they would deliberately cross a solid white line while driving.*

Solid white lines proved the biggest stumbling block for motorists when questioned, narrowly ahead of safety precautions in wet weather (31.4%) and the rules when approaching a yellow box junction (21.9%).

A solid white centre line on UK roads is designed to prevent overtaking or crossing in areas where it may be unsafe to do so.

There are limited exceptions where drivers may cross a solid white line provided it’s safe and the road ahead is clear – including to pass a stationary vehicle, to overtake a cyclist, a horse rider, or a slow-moving road maintenance vehicle travelling at 10mph or less, or to enter a side road or adjoining property.*

Yet despite Highway Code rules being clear, one in five drivers even admitted they would ignore the rules under certain conditions – 9.9% said they would cross a solid white line to overtake slow-moving vehicles, while a further 8.9% would do so whenever there was no visible oncoming traffic.

The findings come as record numbers of new drivers join the roads – almost 2 million driving tests were taken between April 2025 and March 2026, with just over 1 million passes, up 11.7% on the previous year.**

With a large proportion of drivers failing to correctly answer important Highway Code questions, experts warn that outdated knowledge could prove costly in terms of fines, penalty points, or even invalidated insurance.

Greg Wilson, car insurance expert and CEO at Quotezone.co.uk, said: “It’s worrying to see such a high percentage of drivers would fail their driving test if they were to retake it today.

“A driving licence doesn’t guarantee up-to-date knowledge of the Highway Code, so it’s important that drivers continue to keep themselves informed of any rule changes to ensure they remain safe on the roads.

“Something as fundamental as the rules when driving alongside a solid white line should be more widely understood, but it’s even more concerning to see almost 20% of drivers say they would ignore these rules under certain conditions.

“Disregarding the rules of the road could have serious consequences, putting both the driver and other road users in danger. If drivers are caught breaking the law, they could face costly fines, penalty points, or even a conviction.

“And while insurers may offer bespoke policies for convicted drivers, penalty points on a licence are often seen as an indicator of higher risk, which can result in increased insurance premiums for years to come, with research showing six penalty points can up the cost by 26% on average.”

As one of the largest price comparison sites in the UK, Quotezone has been supporting drivers for over 20 years, helping them compare and find savings on all sorts of motoring products, such as breakdown cover, car and van insurance. 

References:

*https://www.motoringassist.com/news/learn-your-lines-and-save-yourself-a-penalty

**https://www.gov.uk/government/news/end-of-the-road-for-unofficial-driving-test-booking-services

Photo credit – iStock.com Tosh Lubek

This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.