Theory test – 1 in 3 qualified drivers fail
Last updated Auguest 21, 2018
More than 20,000 qualified motorists completed an online driving theory test and 1 in 3 qualified drivers failed.
Webuyanycar, the national online car buyer, asked drivers all over the UK to test their knowledge of common road signs and driving rules.
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Results
The interactive test was designed along the same lines as the official theory questions set for learner drivers by the DVSA.
The webuyanycar driving theory test results varied by age, sex and location.
Given that there are more newly qualified drivers in the 17-21 age group, it was surprising that they had the lowest pass mark of any age group. Drivers in the 46 to 65-year-old group had the highest pass rate.
| Age | Fail | Pass |
|---|---|---|
| 17-21 | 48% | 52% |
| 22-30 | 34% | 66% |
| 31-45 | 31% | 69% |
| 46-65 | 25% | 75% |
| 65+ | 30% | 70% |
The online test showed pictures of various road signs all in use today and simple motoring questions similar to the official theory test. The webuyanycar test results showed a slightly lower pass rate for women.
| Sex | Fail | Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Female | 36% | 64% |
| Male | 23% | 77% |
The webuyanycar test results are at odds with the latest DVSA statistics showing 53.6% of women pass the official theory test whereas men have a 48.7% pass rate.
The pass rate for the webuyanycar driving theory test also depended on where a driver lives with more rural counties like Somerset, Denbighshire and Derbyshire coming top of the tables for pass rates. Some of the lowest pass rates were found in London and Middlesex, where the test was passed by only 2 out of 3 qualified drivers.
Webuyanycar supports Brake, the road safety charity.
Pass rates by County
| County | Fail | Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 20% | 80% |
| Denbighshire | 21% | 79% |
| Derbyshire | 23% | 77% |
| Devon | 23% | 77% |
| Lincolnshire | 23% | 77% |
| Pembrokeshire | 23% | 77% |
| Herefordshire | 24% | 76% |
| Berkshire | 24% | 76% |
| Glamorgan, Vale of | 24% | 76% |
| West Lothian / Linlithgowshire | 24% | 76% |
| Oxfordshire | 24% | 76% |
| Hampshire | 25% | 75% |
| Fife | 25% | 75% |
| Cumberland | 25% | 75% |
| Aberdeenshire | 26% | 74% |
| Sussex | 26% | 74% |
| Inverness-shire | 26% | 74% |
| Gloucestershire | 26% | 74% |
| Shropshire | 26% | 74% |
| Northumberland | 26% | 74% |
| Wiltshire | 26% | 74% |
| Midlothian / Edinburghshire | 27% | 73% |
| Norfolk | 27% | 73% |
| Ayrshire | 27% | 73% |
| Cheshire | 27% | 73% |
| Yorkshire | 27% | 73% |
| Carmarthenshire | 27% | 73% |
| Rhondda Cynon Taff | 28% | 72% |
| Essex | 28% | 72% |
| Newport, City of | 28% | 72% |
| Worcestershire | 28% | 72% |
| Surrey | 28% | 72% |
| Durham | 29% | 71% |
| Cambridgeshire | 29% | 71% |
| Warwickshire | 29% | 71% |
| Leicestershire | 29% | 71% |
| Monmouthshire | 29% | 71% |
| Swansea | 29% | 71% |
| Cardiff, City of | 29% | 71% |
| Stirlingshire | 29% | 71% |
| Kent | 30% | 70% |
| Bedfordshire | 30% | 70% |
| Nottinghamshire | 30% | 70% |
| East Lothian / Haddingtonshire | 30% | 70% |
| Perthshire | 30% | 70% |
| Buckinghamshire | 30% | 70% |
| Torfaen | 31% | 69% |
| Down, County of | 31% | 69% |
| Cornwall | 31% | 69% |
| Dorset | 31% | 69% |
| Renfrewshire | 31% | 69% |
| Flintshire | 32% | 68% |
| Antrim, County of | 32% | 68% |
| Ceredigion | 32% | 68% |
| Gwynedd | 32% | 68% |
| Hertfordshire | 32% | 68% |
| Northamptonshire | 32% | 68% |
| Staffordshire | 32% | 68% |
| Armagh, County of | 32% | 68% |
| Angus / Forfarshire | 32% | 68% |
| Merseyside | 32% | 68% |
| Lancashire | 33% | 67% |
| Powys | 33% | 67% |
| Lanarkshire | 34% | 66% |
| Wrexham | 34% | 66% |
| Greater London | 34% | 66% |
| London | 35% | 65% |
| Middlesex | 35% | 65% |
About the webuyanycar driving theory test
Questions were taken from the actual DVSA test. People taking the test were asked to opt for one of four possible answers.
Over 20,000 took the test in May, June and July. The test is available online only.
96% of motorists taking the webuyanycar driving theory test were not webuyanycar customers, statistically they were representative of the UK qualified driving population.
Some counties are excluded from the above results where there was less than 100 test results.
About webuyanycar:
webuyanycar offers people a third way to sell their car, without the pressure of going to a dealer or the hassle of selling it privately.
Webuyanycar operates a simple three-step process:
- The UK business offers to buy any car from £50 to over £100K, with payment within four working days. Same day payment is available at a cost of £24.75.
- An easy-to-book appointment service at a local branch, providing times that are convenient and work to customers’ schedules.
- A safe sale completed at a local branch manned by a friendly, approachable car-buying expert.
webuyanycar only sells through commercial channels.
webuyanycar is an official supporter of the charity Brake.