Passing your driving test is one of the most stressful and rewarding experiences in life.
But not everyone can ace it on their first try - and how much does your choice of test centre affect your chances of passing?
According to a new report from Dayinsure, a temporary car insurance company, there is a significant difference in pass rates among the seven test centres in Birmingham. The research combines DVSA and DVLA data with new insights from Freedom of Information requests to explore which UK postcodes have the highest and lowest test centre pass rates.
Nicholas Shaw, Director of Operations at Dayinsure, said: “By creating our new learner driver index, we wanted to find out which UK areas and postcodes have the best and worst conditions for learner drivers to practice for and successfully pass their tests.”
And it’s not just the practical test that you have to worry about. You also have to pass the theory test, which consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and a hazard perception video. You need to score at least 43 out of 50 on the questions and 44 out of 75 on the video to pass.
Here is the full ranking of the Birmingham driving test centres, from best to worst:
1. Shirley test centre has the highest pass rate in Birmingham at 48.6%, which is 0.6% higher than the national average.
2. The Kings Heath test centre has the second highest pass rate in Birmingham at 43.9%, but falls below the national average.
3. Sutton Coldfield test centre has a pass rate of 42.9%, which is slightly lower than the national average.
4. Garretts Green test centre has a pass rate of 42.5%, which is also lower than the national average. It is based on Granby Avenue, near the Garretts Green Industrial Estate.