Driving test celebrates 90 years – but most not confident they’d pass again

Richard Aucock, Contributor
Tue, 03 Jun 2025

The driving test has now been compulsory for 90 years but only a third of drivers are confident they would pass a retest.

The number of drivers confident of passing the theory test was even lower, at just 17%.

The research was carried out by the AA Driving School. It discovered 40% of younger drivers felt very confident about passing a retest, compared to 30% of those over 65.

When asked why they thought they would fail, ‘bad habits’ topped the practical test list, with ‘Highway Code’ knowledge top of the theory test list.

Other top reasons motorists thought they’d fail the practical test included nerves, reversing manoeuvres, following a sat nav and, in equal fifth, mirrors, attitude to other road users or ‘other’.

The driving test became compulsory on 1 June 1935. Prior to this, all testing had been voluntary.

In 1935, the pass rate was 63%, compared to 49% today. It involved 30 minutes of driving, compared to 40 minutes today – and modern motorists also have an 80-minute theory test.

Remarkably, despite so many fewer cars on the road, there were 7343 annual road deaths in 1935. Today, there are 1607.

While today’s learner drivers take practical tests from around 320 centres, no such facilities existed back in 1935. Instead, candidates met examiners at somewhere like a post office or railway station.

The 1935 test cost 7s 6D. The practical driving test today costs £63 at weekdays, or £75 on evenings, weekends or Bank Holidays.

The theory test is an extra £23.

"The driving test was introduced to help stem the tide of rising road deaths. It’s a robust test, so it’s no wonder so many qualified drivers think they would struggle with a retest," says AA Driving School MD Emma Bush.

"Safety has remained at its core and, over time, many more features have been added to help ensure new drivers are as prepared as possible.

Learners today can take lessons with a qualified instructor on the motorway, and must show they can follow directions from a sat nav or road signs."

Ask HJ

What's the best way to insure a learner driver?

My partner is learning to drive and wanted a second-hand car to learn in. She is currently retraining and has no income, therefore I have paid for the car (a Kia Picanto). I drive a Skoda and have insurance that only covers myself on just this car (not insurance to drive any car). What is the best way to insure both of us on the Kia? Should I add the Kia to my insurance and then add learners' insurance to my policy? Or should I take out a separate policy for the Kia for myself and add learners' insurance?

There are a few options you could explore to see what is best for you and your partner, and what could be most cost effective. Your partner could take out their own provisional policy on the Kia, which will cover them for 12 months while they learn. They’ll then need to contact the insurer once they pass to update the policy. You can then be added as a named driver, as you will need to have cover in place for this vehicle too in case you need to take over while out with the learner. This can often be the cheapest option and can help to build their NCB while they learn. Alternatively, you could add the Kia to your policy under a multi-car policy, or take out a separate policy. In this case, your partner would need to either be added as a named driver. However, this should only be done if you are the main driver of that car. If the car is mostly used for your partner to learn in, then it could be considered as fronting, as the policy holder is not the main driver of the car. It’s also worth noting that if they are a named driver, any claims they make will affect your NCB. Another option is for them to take out a separate learner driver policy alongside your policy. This provides shorter term cover, and acts as a standalone policy, so won’t affect your NCB. Depending on how long the cover is needed for, this could work out more expensive. There is more information on options for learner drivers, including how much each policy option could cost here: https://www.confused.com/car-insurance/learner

Answered by Rhydian Jones

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