Apr 29, 2022
3 Minutes

Most Brits believe they would re-pass their practical driving test

There’s a common school of thought that says drivers get better with age and our latest piece of research has confirmed this to be the case!

We recently surveyed the nation to find out how confident people would feel retaking their driving test and the results highlighted an underlying self-assurance among most motorists.

The data showed that a massive 70% of the population believe they’d pass their practical driving test if they retook it tomorrow... and confidence seemingly increases with age, as 81% of over 65s feel they would re-pass the test.

Are we producing better drivers?

Official figures from the DVSA showed there were 692,684 practical tests taken in the 2021/22 reporting period, with a pass rate of 50.5%.

Whilst the number of practical tests taken has fallen 60% since 2016/17, the pass rate has climbed from 47.1%.

Our study also found that more than half of respondents (59%) think they would pass a re-sit of their theory test.

However, confidence in this aspect of the test decreases with age, with 53% of over 45s believing they would pass, compared to 76% of millennials.

A considerable 46% of the population are confident that they would pass both parts of their driving test, whilst 17% of the population don’t feel confident they’d pass either.

One in five women feel they wouldn’t pass either element of the test, which is a significantly greater proportion than men (15%).

This is reflective of official DVSA figures which highlight a practical test pass rate of 53% among males in 2021/22 versus a pass rate of 48% for females.

What’s the regional picture?

People living in the Midlands were found to be most confident about passing their practical test (72%) with drivers in Scotland the least confident (65%). The same trend appears when looking at attitudes to theory test re-sits, with drivers in the Midlands most confident (67%) and Scottish motorists least confident (42%).

It’s official: British drivers hate being snubbed when they give way

It’s the ultimate snub for any driver and our data insights team has revealed that Brits can’t stand it when they don’t receive a thank you wave.

The study found that an incredible 89% of drivers are bothered in some way when they aren’t acknowledged for giving way to another motorist.

However, most motorists understand the importance of the unwritten etiquette, with 76% of drivers almost always acknowledging a motorist who has given way to them.

And nearly a quarter (23%) of drivers take ‘dibs’ rules (claiming the front passenger seat of a vehicle for yourself) seriously, with 63% of millennials taking it seriously versus just 2% of over 65s.

What do the experts say?

Our Head of Marketing, Charlotte Cheeseman, explained that the survey results reflects the nation’s great love of driving.

She said: “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!

“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.”

For more information, visit https://customer.vwfs.co.uk/