Experts at LeaseCar have crunched the latest DVSA figures to highlight the best and worst days to take driving tests across Great Britain.
With waiting lists still stuck at a painful 22-week average according to the National Audit Office, picking the right time of day could be the difference between tearing up your L-plates and going through another six months of lessons.
The data found that Mondays in August at 10:00 am represent the best chance for success.
The analysis, by LeaseCar, found that the day of the week you book your test matters just as much as the month. It might come as a surprise but Mondays are actually the best day to sit your exam. The numbers show that as the week goes on and the roads get busier with weekend drivers, your chances of a pass start to drop.
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are officially the hardest days to secure a pass. Experts believe that heavy traffic and people rushing for the weekend create more stress that could lead to test failures.
A postcode lottery of pass rates
The numbers also reveal a postcode lottery of passes, depending on where you live. Data shows if you live in a rural area, you are statistically twice as likely to pass as someone in a major city. According to the latest DVSA test centre data, remote spots in Scotland like Inveraray and Ballater boast incredible pass rates of 84.9% and 81.6%.
Across England, the picture is much bleaker for city dwellers. Urban centres are struggling with complex roundabouts and constant hazards. Speke in Liverpool remains one of the hardest places in Britain to pass with a success rate of just 33.4%, closely followed by Wolverhampton at 34.1%. In London, Sidcup is a relatively even chance, with a 57.2% pass rate, while nearby Chingford is nearly 23% lower.
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Pass Rate |
Easiest Test Centres |
Pass Rate |
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Speke (Liverpool) |
33.4% |
Inveraray (Scotland) |
84.9% |
|
Wolverhampton |
34.1% |
Ballater (Scotland) |
81.6% |
|
Chingford (London) |
34.5% |
Fraserburgh (Scotland) |
78.3% |
|
Belvedere (London) |
34.9% |
Pwllheli (Wales) |
76.4% |
|
Barking (London) |
35.9% |
Mallaig (Scotland) |
75.7% |
Banning the bots
In a major shift to clean up the booking system, the DVSA has confirmed a crackdown on black market bots that resell test slots at inflated prices. From 31 March 2026, learners will be limited to just two changes per booking. This includes changing the date, time, test centre or even swapping with another learner.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander also confirmed that later this spring, only learners will be able to manage their own bookings, effectively banning third-party instructors from hoarding slots.
Tim Alcock, Director at LeaseCar commented:
“We know how much pressure learners are under right now. These stats show you can actually tilt the odds in your favour. While many think an EV is a shortcut to a pass, the numbers suggest that manual learners are still more successful on the day. Snagging a mid-morning Monday slot in the summer remains the smartest move a learner can make to increase chances of success.”
