Could You Pass Your Driving Test Twice?

Thu 5th May 2022

Taking your driving test could be rated as one of the most stressful moments of our life, but those who passed believe they could pass again tomorrow, says a new poll.

The analysis from Volkswagen Financial Services was a measure of how confident British motorists are of their own driving skills, with 70 per cent saying that they would pass their practical again if they took it.

And while you might expect the exuberance of youth to be driving such belief, the stats show that it is actually older drivers who are most confident, with 81 per cent of over 65s feeling that they would pass another test.

That confidence from a group of drivers who passed more than half a century ago, is possibly not backed up by the official stats from the DVSA, which shows for the 2021-22 period, the national pass rate of the practical test was 50.5 per cent.

Older motorists are not so confident when it comes to the theory test, probably because many of them have never taken it, but 53 per cent of over 45s were confidence, compared to 76 per cent of millennials.

“Most of us learn to drive when we’re teenagers and, as the years go by, I’m sure most people pick up bad habits along the way. So it’s interesting to see that so many drivers believe they’d re-pass their practical test at the drop of a hat, especially when you consider that a significant number of the population are likely to have sat their original test more than 20 years ago!” said Charlotte Cheeseman of Volkswagen Financial Services.

“But I think this research relates to a wider point about the British public’s undeniable love of driving. For me, it speaks volumes about our collective confidence on the road and that we feel safe, relaxed and comfortable in our cars.”