Newport revealed to have lowest driving test pass rates in Wales at 47.4%

Best and worst driving test centres in Wales revealed as new rules to tackle poor pass rates to be introduced

• Newport driving test failures at highest rate since 2018, at 47.4%[1], falling below the UK national average of 48.4%
• Concern around stagnating pass rates across the UK set to be addressed with changes to driving test rules
• Learner driver insurer Veygo reveals the top tips for passing your driving test first time, as it reveals that more than half (51.6%) of UK learners fail their driving test each year.
• Concerns around the cost of learning to drive could be a factor, with Veygo revealing the cost has hit £1,575[2].

Learner driver insurer Veygo has crunched the latest figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to reveal that Newport Driving Test Centre is the worst place in Wales to take your driving test, with only 47.4% passing their driving test at the centre. The news comes ahead of changes to driving test rules that aim to improve driving test pass rates across the UK.

Failure rates at Newport Driving Test Centre hit 52.6% this year, with the 47.4% pass rate now 1 percentage point below the UK national average of 48.4%.  52.3% passing their test in the previous year, showing an increase of 3.9 percentage points in test failures at the centre.

While pass rates remain only 1 percentage point below the national average, pass rates at the centre have dropped since last year, with a 3.9 percentage point increase in test failures at the centre. 52.3% of learners passed their test at the centre in the previous year, raising concerns of learners taking tests quickly and before they are ready, amid the rising cost of learning to drive.

Veygo can reveal the top and bottom test centres in Wales are:  

  

Highest pass rates[3] (%) in Wales   

1.     Aberystwyth – 65%  

2.     Abergavenny – 61.7%  

3.     Barry – 61.4%    

4.     Newtown – 58.9% 

5.     Llanishen, Cardiff – 58.6%  

  

Lowest pass rates (%) in Wales   

1.     Newport – 47.4%  

2.     Bala – 49.2%  

3.     Cardigan – 50.4%    

4.     Llanelli – 51.2%    

5.     Bridgend – 51.3%  

Welsh pass rates are revealed by Veygo following news that rule changes to tackle poor pass rates are set to be introduced, making it more difficult for ‘unprepared’ learners to take a test before they are ready.  With the changes, if learner drivers need to retake their test, they will have to wait 28 days rather than 10 to book their new test date[4]. The rule change is designed to encourage learners to feel ready before taking a driving test, as they won’t be able to repeat it soon after failing, and to give them adequate time to prepare before retaking their test.

The rule change does not yet have the green light but highlights ongoing concerns around pass rates across the UK. Across the UK, an average of 48.4% of learners passed their driving test in the 22/3 period, down from 48.9% in the previous year. UK pass rates have remained stagnant over the past 10 years, with an average pass rate of 47.3%, with more than half of all learners failing their driving test each year.

Stalling pass rates will be particularly concerning for learner drivers amid the cost-of-living crisis, as the cost of learning to drive increases. James Armstrong, CEO of Veygo says:    

“Veygo recently revealed the average cost of learning to drive hit £1,575 in 2023, with the average driving lesson now costing £35 per hour[5], and learner drivers needing around 45 hours of professional instruction to pass their tests[6]. The pressure to pass is higher than ever, and these results show that many learners are still failing their tests each year, suggesting that many learners are under-prepared. We’re all feeling the pinch, so it’s understandable that learners might be rushing into their tests.

“We’re hopeful that the changes to driving tests will give learner drivers more time to prepare for retakes, reducing the likelihood of repeated failures and easing pressure on test centres across the country.  For learners who are nervous about their test, Veygo has created a driving test guide, which has lots of useful tips to help learners to pass their test first time – or second.”