Number of practical driving tests taken and passed in the United Kingdom 2007-2020

In 2019/20, there were about 1.6 million practical driving tests taken in the United Kingdom. Of these less than fifty percent were successful. This was the second year in a row that the number of tests taken had decreased, with the share of passed tests staying relatively constant in respect to overall number.
Driving is still an inherent part of life for many people in the UK and still the most common mode of transport.

Gender disparity

Pass rates for practical driving tests were consistently higher for men than women. In 2019/20, 49.6 percent of male participants passed the test, compared with 42.6 percent of female participants. Pass rates declined from 2016/17 onwards after having stayed relatively consistent between 2012/13 and 2016/17.

Share of license holders

Of adults living in England, 75 percent held a driving license. The increase in driver’s has been steady since the beginning of the reporting period in 1975/76, when a little under half of all adults in the country were license holders.