Are UK drivers good enough to pass today’s driving test?

Driving tests are on the rise across Britain, with more than 1.9 million driving tests taken between April 2025 and March 2026, a 8.6% increase year on year. [1] 

Yet while more people are getting behind the wheel, a significant number are also losing the right to drive. In 2024 alone, the DVLA revoked more than 141,000 driving licences across the UK. [2] Although medical conditions remain one of the leading causes of licence revocations, [3] drivers can also lose their licence for serious motoring offences or for accumulating more than 12 penalty points. [4] 

For many motorists, getting back on the road is not as simple as reapplying. In some cases, drivers are required to retake their driving test to prove they are still fit and safe to drive on UK roads. [5]

With this in mind, we set out to discover how today’s drivers would fare if they had to sit their driving test again. We surveyed 1,028 UK adults, focusing exclusively on respondents who currently hold a valid UK driving licence. Participants were asked a series of questions based on everyday driving scenarios and common situations motorists are likely to encounter on the road.

To ensure accuracy, we also consulted with driving expert Colin O’Farrell from Kent Driving School, who helped to assess the severity of each potential driving fault.

The findings reveal a striking divide between newly qualified and experienced motorists, while offering a fascinating insight into how many Brits could actually pass their driving test if they were required to retake it today.

Key findings:

• Almost two-thirds of UK drivers (61%) would fail their driving test if they had to retake it today.
• Driving alongside a solid white centre line proved the biggest stumbling block, with 31.7% of drivers getting the question wrong.
• More than one in ten motorists (11.9%) incorrectly believe they can legally use their phone while driving, with men more likely to admit to it than women (14.4% vs 9.2%).
• Drivers who have held their licence for 5 to 10 years recorded the highest failure rate overall, at 82.8%.
• Gen Z and Millennials were the age groups most likely to fail a driving test retake, with both having a fail rate of 82.5%.
• Participants were most confident about overtaking a slow-moving vehicle on a single-lane rural road, with 74% answering correctly, 22.8% likely to receive a minor fault, and just 3.2% resulting in a fail. 

How many Brits would fail their driving test if they had to retake it today?

Our research found that, on average, 61% of UK drivers would fail their driving test if they were required to retake it today. While some mistakes were relatively minor, others revealed gaps in driving knowledge and road awareness that could have far more serious consequences.

In some cases, the errors identified could lead to penalty points, licence revocation or even a driving ban, particularly where drivers showed a lack of care or consideration for other road users.

The driving scenarios most likely to catch motorists out

The survey revealed that certain driving scenarios consistently caused problems for motorists, with some everyday situations proving far more challenging than drivers expected.

Which driving scenarios are most likely to fail UK motorists?
Rank	Scenario	Percentage that would have failed their test
1	Rules when driving alongside a solid white line	31.7%
2	Safety precautions when driving in wet conditions	31.4%
3	Rules when approaching a yellow box junction	21.9%
4	Appropriate use of a pelican crossing	14.9%
5	Using a mobile phone while driving	11.9%

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Almost one in ten (9.9%) drivers admit overtaking on a solid white line so long as the road appears clear

The driving scenario that caught out the highest number of motorists involved rules when driving alongside a solid white line, with 31.7% of respondents answering incorrectly.

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. [6] There are, however, limited circumstances where drivers are permitted to cross the line, such as passing a stationary vehicle or cyclist, or when turning into a side road or property, provided it is safe and does not obstruct other road users. Encouragingly, 68.3% of participants correctly identified these exceptions.

Despite this, nearly one in ten motorists admitted they would ignore the rule under certain conditions. Around 9.9% said they would cross a solid white line to overtake a slower-moving vehicle if the road ahead looked clear, while a further 8.9% said they would cross the line whenever there was no visible oncoming traffic. 

Almost a third (31.4%) would fail their driving test if driving in wet conditions

Participants were asked what precautions they would normally take when driving in wet conditions. While 61.4% correctly said they would leave a four-second gap between themselves and the vehicle in front, more than one in five drivers admitted they would leave far less space.

In fact, 20.5% said they would typically stay just one car length behind the vehicle ahead. According to driving expert Colin O’Farrell, this would likely be marked as a serious fault during a driving test, as it leaves drivers with little time to react if the car in front brakes suddenly.

Nearly one in ten (9.2%) drivers believe it is acceptable to stop in a yellow box for emergency vehicles

The research also revealed confusion around yellow box junctions and emergency vehicles. Almost one in ten respondents (9.2%) believed they could stop and wait in a yellow box junction if an emergency vehicle was behind them. 

However, drivers who enter a yellow box without a clear exit, even when attempting to make way for an emergency vehicle, could still face prosecution. [7] Colin comments, 

“It would be very unfortunate if this happened during a test, but in my experience, most examiners would offer some guidance because it’s an unusual situation. That said, a learner could still receive a major fault if the examiner felt there was a lack of planning or anticipation.

“In this situation, the best approach is to pull over safely and as far to one side as possible to allow the emergency vehicle through. It’s also helpful to explain to the examiner what you’re doing and why, so they understand your thought process. From my experience, examiners tend to be far more understanding in situations like this nowadays.”

Other motorists also admitted to misunderstandings around yellow box junction rules. The survey found that 6% believed it was acceptable to enter and wait in a yellow box as long as they were not completely blocking other vehicles, while 2.1% said they would enter the box during slow-moving traffic to avoid losing their place in the queue. A further 1.3% believed it was acceptable to proceed into the junction simply because the vehicle in front had already entered the box. All of these actions would likely result in a driving test failure.

Almost one in six (14.9%) drivers would fail at a pelican crossing

The research also highlighted widespread confusion around pelican crossings, with 14.9% of motorists giving an incorrect response to questions about flashing amber signals.

While more than half of respondents (58.4%) correctly stated that a flashing amber light means drivers may proceed if the crossing is clear, more than a quarter (26.8%) believed they should always remain stationary until the traffic light turns green again.

Although this mistake would be unlikely to result in a serious fault during a driving test, it could still be marked as unnecessary hesitation or a lack of confidence in correctly interpreting road signals.

Colin adds that while many learner drivers will already be familiar with what a flashing amber light means at a pelican crossing, it’s not surprising to see that many experienced drivers aren’t as aware. 

Over one in ten (11.9%) drivers misuse mobile phones behind the wheel

The fifth most commonly missed question in the survey related to mobile phone use while driving, revealing ongoing confusion about what is and is not permitted on UK roads.

Despite this, 68.9% of respondents correctly identified that using a mobile phone is allowed when calling the emergency services, and a further 19.3% recognised that it is permitted when making a contactless payment at a drive-through.

However, 11.9% of drivers selected scenarios that would not only count as a serious fault in a driving test but also breach the law and risk prosecution. These included using a phone while waiting at traffic lights (4.1%), driving slowly in traffic (2.5%), holding a device while checking directions (2.6%), and using a phone at any time provided it is not seen as distracting (2.7%).

Since March 2017, illegal mobile phone use while driving can result in a £200 fine, six penalty points on a licence, and increased car insurance premiums. [8] In fact, our previous research found that those with six points can expect their average premium to rise by 26%. 

And those caught misusing their phone while driving within two years of passing their test will lose their licence. This is especially alarming considering 21.4% of those who have held their licence for less than one year answered this question incorrectly. 

Greg Wilson, car insurance expert and CEO at Quotezone.co.uk comments,

“It’s concerning that more than one in five newly qualified drivers are unable to correctly identify the rules around mobile phone use while driving. Beyond the risk of failing a driving test, using a phone behind the wheel can have serious consequences, putting both the driver and other road users in danger.

“While insurers may offer 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.”

Who is safest on the road?

The results also explored whether driving experience has any impact on road safety knowledge, with some surprising findings.

Overall, the data showed that longer driving experience often translates into better performance. In fact, drivers who had held their licence for 5 to 10 years recorded the highest proportion of incorrect answers at 82.8% resulting in a fail, followed by those who have 1 to 5 years driving experience (81%). 

The safest groups on the road, based on the survey, were drivers who had held a licence for 40 to 60 years, who recorded the lowest error rate of 69.2%, followed by those who had been licensed for 30 to 40 years at 74.4%.

Gen Z and Millennials are most likely to fail a driving test retake (82.5%)

The findings suggest clear differences across age groups when it comes to driving knowledge and test readiness. Drivers aged 18-34, often referred to as Gen Z and Millennial, were the most likely to fail if they had to retake their driving test today, with 82.5% falling below the pass standard.

In contrast, the oldest group in the study, aged 55-64, performed slightly better, with 72% likely to fail. 

Men and women show similar levels of driving knowledge

Despite common perceptions that one gender may be better behind the wheel than the other, [9] the survey found very little difference in overall performance between men and women. Incorrect answers resulting in fails were split almost evenly, with men accounting for 50.7% and women 49.3%.

However, differences did emerge in specific behaviours. Men were more likely to report inappropriate mobile phone use while driving, at 14.4% compared with 9.2% of women.

The driving scenarios Brits are most confident on

Which driving scenarios are Brits most confident in?
Rank	Scenario	Percentage that would have failed their test
1	Overtaking on single lane roads	3.2%
2	Overtaking on a dual carriageway	3.6%
3	Precautions when other cars are overtaking you	4.7%
4	Appropriate use of the horn	6.4%

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The driving scenario participants felt most confident, involved overtaking a slow-moving vehicle, such as a tractor, on a single-lane rural road. Almost three quarters of drivers (74%) correctly said they would only overtake when it was safe to do so, ensuring they left plenty of room and could complete the manoeuvre without causing oncoming traffic to react. On the other hand, just 3.2% would have failed if this happened to them during their test by overtaking dangerously. 

Drivers also performed strongly when tested on overtaking safely on a dual carriageway. Participants were asked what they would do if they were travelling at 60mph in the left-hand lane and wanted to overtake a slower vehicle, but another car in the right-hand lane was travelling alongside them and blocking the manoeuvre. More than four in five respondents (82%) correctly said they would maintain a safe following distance and wait until the right-hand lane became clear before overtaking.

Despite this, official data suggests that causing a vehicle to slow when changing lanes on a dual carriageway is one of the main reasons people fail their driving test. [10] 

Similarly, only 4.7% of participants answered incorrectly when asked how they would respond if another vehicle began overtaking them on a straight road with good visibility and no hazards ahead. While 1.3% admitted they would speed up to stop the other driver overtaking, the majority demonstrated safe driving habits. More than half (55.7%) said they would maintain their speed and road position, while a further 35.2% said they would slow down slightly to help the other driver pass safely.

Methodology

The survey was conducted on behalf of Quotezone in April 2026 and asked 1,028 UK adults questions about driving in the UK. Only those with a valid driving licence were selected for the analysis.

Respondents were recruited online and screened to ensure a broad mix of demographic backgrounds. The survey provider is ISO-certified and carries out 11 trust verifications.

Sources

[1] Gov.uk, ‘End of the road for unofficial driving test booking services’, 2026

[2] National Numbers, ‘DVLA Revokes 140,000 Driving Licences: What It Means for Drivers and What You Can Do About It’, 2025

[3] FleetNews, ‘Number of drivers having licence revoked on medical grounds revealed’, 2024

[4] M.A.J Law, ‘Driving Licence revoked by the DVLA?’, 

[5] Gov.uk, ‘Penalty points (endorsements)’, 

[6] QMS, ‘Your Guide To UK Road Markings & What They Mean’, 2024

[7] South East Coast Ambulance Service, ‘Be Blue Light Aware’

[8] Thames Valley Police, ‘Penalties for using a mobile while driving have doubled’

[9] LookupAPlate, ‘Male Vs Female Driving Statistics [2026]: Who’s Safer?’, 2026

[10] Gov.uk, ‘Top 10 reasons for failing the driving test in Great Britain’, 2025

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.