At a glance
Pass rates for the best and worst months to take your driving test are marginal.
The day, time and month won’t make a massive difference to you passing or failing your test.
Learning to drive safely with a qualified instructor gives you the best chance of passing your test.
Weekend driving tests may be quieter, but you’ll need to pay extra.
What is the best time to take your driving test?
Before we look at how the time, day and month might affect pass rates, it’s worth putting it into perspective.
While the data is interesting, it’s not going to make a massive difference in the grand scheme of things. Don’t assume you’re heading for a fail just because you’re not booked in for your practical driving test at 10:14am on the first Monday in August.
The best preparation is to practise safely, with a qualified driving instructor, so you can have confidence in your own ability on the day of the test.
When is the best month to take your driving test?
We’ve taken a look at 2024 pass rate data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to find out whether the time of year you take your practical driving test can improve your chances of passing.
Best month to pass driving test in 2024: December
However, it’s marginal, and there’s only a slight difference between the best and worst-performing months.
Month | Pass rate |
|---|---|
January | 47.2% |
February | 46.8% |
March | 46.9% |
April | 48.3% |
May | 48% |
June | 47.9% |
July | 49.1% |
August | 49.2% |
September | 48.4% |
October | 48.6% |
November | 48.6% |
December | 49.3% |
How can learners best prepare themselves to take their test in the autumn and winter?
Practise when the weather conditions aren’t perfect.
Always allow plenty of space from the vehicles ahead of you.
Make sure you know how to switch on the headlights and wipers of the vehicle you’re driving while remaining in full control.
Never start driving with a misted-up front or rear windscreen. Learn how to operate the controls to clear them and wait until you have full visibility before setting off (this is also important in your test).
When is the best time of day for a driving test?
Early morning driving tests
Early driving test times between 7am and 9am will see you taking to the road during rush hour. There are pros and cons to this. The advantages are that you’ll get the test over with nice and early so you’re not worrying about it all day.
There might also be less driving to do if you get stuck in traffic, although the examiner will usually know the area well and will choose routes that are less likely to be congested.
The downside is that you’re more likely to encounter commuter traffic, the school run and extra hazards in the form of cyclists and pedestrians
Mid-morning driving tests
Between 9am and 11am is generally a decent time to take a driving test because it’s outside of rush hour and avoids the traffic increase in the run-up to lunchtime.
The examiner will be able to take you across a wide range of road types, including dual carriageways and narrow back streets lined with parked cars.
You may also be more alert during a driving test in the morning, compared with the ‘afternoon slump’.
Late afternoon and evening driving tests
A late-afternoon test might stretch into school home time and rush hour, so may not be ideal. One benefit of a later test is that during the winter months there’s less chance of test cancellation due to icy roads.
Evening tests in summer can be good, especially after 7pm, because of the quieter roads after rush hour. But not all test centres offer evening tests. If they do, they’re usually more expensive.
What is the best day to book your driving test?
The best day is one that’s convenient for you – when you’re not too busy and can concentrate on the task in hand.
It’s possible to arrange your driving test for the weekend instead of a weekday, if that’s better for you. Perhaps you work full-time or you’re at college or university during the week.
Also, if the area around the test centre is usually quieter on a Saturday or Sunday, it can be worth paying a bit extra to book a weekend driving test, although these aren’t always available. Weekend tests cost £75 compared with a weekday cost of £62 (correct as of October 2025).
Did you know?
It’s a myth that examiners only pass a set number of people each day, week or month. It’s also untrue that nobody ever passes on a Friday because examiners have already filled their quota for the week.
What are the most common reasons for failing your driving test in the UK?
According to the DVSA, these are the top 10 common reasons for failing your driving test in the UK:
Rank | Top 10 reasons for failing the driving test in the UK |
|---|---|
1 | Not making effective observations at junctions |
2 | Not using mirrors correctly when changing direction |
3 | Not moving off safely |
4 | Incorrect positioning when turning right at junctions |
5 | Not responding appropriately to traffic lights |
6 | Not having proper control of the steering |
7 | Not responding correctly to road markings |
8 | Not responding correctly to traffic signs |
9 | Poor positioning on the road during normal driving |
10 | Not driving at a safe and responsible speed |
Driving test waiting times
You’ll need to be patient when booking your practical driving test because you could be in for a long wait.
At some test centres in the UK, the driving test backlog is longer than four months. According to the DVSA at the end of 2024, the average waiting time for a car driving test was around:
21 weeks in England
15 weeks in Scotland
13 weeks in Wales.
It’s important you’re aware of the situation before you book your test so you don’t have unrealistic expectations.
How many times can I change my driving test?
You can change your appointment up to six times. If you need to make more changes after that, you’ll have to cancel your test and rebook it.
Ideally, you should give at least three full working days’ notice if you need to change your test, otherwise you’ll have to pay again.
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With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.
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