What is The Best Month to Take Your Driving Test in the UK?

For many people across the UK, the practical driving test is one of the most significant milestones in life. Passing first time is what everyone will aim for, however it is important to consider what the actual pass rate is for the practical driving test and when is the best time of year to take it.

To help answer this, we’ve analysed DVSA driving test data between January 2019 and August 2025, covering over ten million driving tests across the country. This allows us to identify seasonal trends and highlight when most people take their test, along with which month gives you the best chance of passing.

Are you considering when to book your driving test? In this blog, we will explore which months see the most tests, and when you have the best chance of passing according to the average driving test pass rate.

Which time of year is the most popular to take your driving test?

You may assume that summer would be the peak season for driving test, because of the better weather and longer daylight hours. However, DVSA data on the number of driving tests conducted indicate otherwise, making some findings quite surprising.

When analysing the data, we can see that the number of driving tests conducted varies significantly by month. Looking at the DVSA data across the years 2019–2025, we calculated the average number of driving tests per month.

On average, the months with the most tests taken included:

• October – the highest average number of driving tests conducted: ~147,812 per year, making up 10% of the overall average amount.
• November is next with ~140,797 making up 9% of the overall average amount.
• September comes third with ~134,428, making up just below 9% of the overall average amount.

Lower down the list, April is the clear outlier with the lowest average of ~102,780, making up just below 7% of the overall average amount. It is important to point out that this was mainly due to the impact of COVID-19 cancellations in April 2020 and 2021 dragging the average down.

From this data, we can see a clear seasonal pattern. October, November and September are all in autumn, showing this is a popular time for people to take their driving tests. This is likely due to people learning to drive in summer and then taking their test in autumn.  Summer is a popular time for people to learn how to drive, either through driving lessons or private practice. Some learners choose to build their skills over spring and summer, helped by favourable weather, and are ready to take their test in the autumn. Another reason why the autumn is a popular time for driving tests, is that some learner drivers may want to take their test before it gets too dark in the winter months and before the festive period begins.

Which Month Has the Highest Driving Test Pass Rate?

We then combined the DVSA data to calculate the average UK driving test pass rate per month from 2019 to 2025.

Here is what the data shows:

• April has the highest average pass rate at ~51.7%.
• February follows with ~51.4%, then March at ~50.7%.
• The lowest pass rates are in November (~47.7%), October (~47.9%), and December (~48.1%).
  

April stands out as the strongest month, with an average pass rate of 51.7%. This is partly explained by the disruption caused by COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, when tests were delayed and only certain candidates were eventually able to sit them. Since less people were taking their test during the COVID-19 pandemic, this impacted the overall pass rate. February also performs strongly, averaging 51.4%.

At the other end of the scale, November and December see the lowest pass rates, averaging 47.7% and 48.1%, respectively. Shorter daylight hours mean more tests are taken in low-light or poor visibility, while wet and icy conditions add an extra challenge for learners. The run-up to the Christmas holidays can also create additional pressure, with test centre closures and potentially fewer appointment slots contributing to a more stressful experience.

Forward Bookings and Demand Pressures

Another useful measure in the DVSA dataset is forward bookings which essentially means the number of tests already scheduled at the end of each month. This gives a clear picture of demand and how it has changed over time.

The averages show a distinct seasonal trend:

• October records the highest average forward bookings, at close to 490,000. November and December follow closely behind, also averaging well above 480,000. This makes the end of autumn and the start of winter the busiest time of year for scheduled driving tests.
• At the other end of the scale, February and March are the quietest months, with averages closer to 430,000. April is slightly higher but still below summer and autumn levels. A reason for this is that people may be less likely to learn how to drive over the winter period, or may only be starting by the new year, so fewer people will be test ready by February and March time.
• Before COVID-19, forward bookings typically sat around 200,000–250,000 per month. After 2020, the backlog of cancelled tests pushed demand sharply higher, and the monthly averages have since stabilised at nearly double those pre-pandemic levels.

The number of forward bookings and the driving test backlog has hugely significant implications for learner drivers:

• Learners may face long waits in the autumn months, when forward bookings are at their peak. In many cases, this can stretch to six months or more.
• Autumn clustering explains test volume patterns – many learners spend the spring and summer preparing, then book their tests for October–December, adding pressure to already busy test centres.
• Pass rates may reflect demand pressures, not just ability – sometimes candidates may feel forced to book whatever slot becomes available, even if it means testing sooner (or later) than they would ideally like.

To summarise, while demand is high year-round, the data makes clear that the end of autumn is the peak season for forward bookings, while late winter and early spring are comparatively quieter.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Pass Rates

It is impossible to analyse this dataset without considering the pandemic’s effect. In 2020–2021, when fewer tests were being conducted, the pass rate spiked above 50%, far higher than the long-term average.

For example:

• February 2021 recorded a pass rate of 79.4% (though only 68 tests were taken).
• Between May and December 2020, pass rates hovered between 50–56%.

This happened because:

• Only essential workers or highly prepared candidates took their test during restrictions.
• Cancellations reduced the number of weaker or less-ready candidates attempting.

Post-pandemic, the pass rate has stabilised back to the long-term UK average of around 48%, showing that the brief increase was an anomaly rather than a lasting trend.

 Conclusion

So, when is the best time to take your driving test in the UK?

Based on DVSA data (2019–2025):

• April and February deliver the highest pass rates, both averaging just above 51%.
• March also performs strongly, slightly above 50%.
• Summer months (May–August) hover around the average (49–50%), making them steady.
• Autumn and early winter (September–December) are the toughest, with November and December recording the lowest averages, closer to 47–48%.

While these seasonal swings are consistent, the gap between the best and worst months is only 3-4%. In practice, being well-prepared, confident, and consistent in your driving can have a far bigger impact on your result than the month you book.