Driving Test Tips

  • Learn to Drive
  • Driving Theory Test
  • Driving Test Tutorials
  • Tips for Passing the Driving Test
  • Driving Schools
  • Car Tips
  • Driving Tips
Home Tips for Passing the Driving Test Top 10 Driving Test Failure Reasons

Top 10 Driving Test Failure Reasons

This page details the official Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) top 10 practical driving test failures.

The statistics below are a combination of all UK practical driving test centres and typically is comprised of data obtained from year beginning April through to March the following year.

Data is taken back from 2006 through to the most current statistics in 2019. Other information provided is the overall pass rate of all test centres based on each year and the the total amount of tests passed with zero faults occurring.

As can be seen from the statistics, junctions (observation) represents the top number 1 test failure throughout the years, plus very similar failures are repeated year on year.

Hopefully if you’re taking your driving test soon, you’ll be one of the successful statistics for the driving test pass rates.

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2018 / 2019

Top 10 driving test failures

  • Pass rate 45.8%
  • Tests passed with 0 faults: 18,922

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

  1. Junctions (observation)
  2. Mirrors (change direction)
  3. Control (steering)
  4. Junctions (turning right)
  5. Move off (safely)
  6. Response to signals (traffic lights)
  7. Move off (control)
  8. Positioning (normal driving)
  9. Response to signals (road markings)
  10. Reverse park (control)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2017 / 2018

  • Pass rate 46.3%
  • Tests passed with 0 faults: 18,410

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

  1. Junctions (observation)
  2. Mirrors (change direction)
  3. Control (steering)
  4. Junctions (turning right)
  5. Move off (safely)
  6. Move off (control)
  7. Response to signals (traffic lights)
  8. Positioning (normal driving)
  9. Reverse park (control)
  10. Response to signals (road markings)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2016 / 2017

  • Pass rate 47.1%
  • Tests passed with 0 faults: 17,950

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

  1. Junctions (observation)
  2. Mirrors (change direction)
  3. Control (steering)
  4. Junctions (turning right)
  5. Move off (safely)
  6. Positioning (normal driving)
  7. Move off (control)
  8. Response to signals (traffic lights)
  9. Reverse park (control)
  10. Response to signals (Traffic Signs)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2015 / 2016

  • Pass rate: 47%
  • Tests passed with 0 faults: 14,634

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

  1. Junctions (observation)
  2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
  3. Control (steering)
  4. Junctions (turning right)
  5. Positioning (normal driving)
  6. Move off (safely)
  7. Move off (control)
  8. Response to signals (traffic lights)
  9. Reverse park (control)
  10. Response to signals (road markings)



Top 10 Test Failures Year 2014 / 2015

  • Pass rate: 46.9%
  • Tests passed with 0 faults: 13,852

Top ten reasons for failing

  1. Junctions (observation)
  2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
  3. Control (steering)
  4. Junctions (turning right)
  5. Response to signals (traffic lights)
  6. Move off (control)
  7. Positioning (normal driving)
  8. Move off (safety)
  9. Reverse park (control)
  10. Response to signals (road markings)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2013 / 2014

  • Pass rate: 47.1%
  • Tests passed with 0 faults: 11,984

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

  1. Junctions (observation)
  2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
  3. Control (steering)
  4. Junctions (turning right)
  5. Response to signals (traffic lights)
  6. Move off (safety)
  7. Move off (control)
  8. Positioning (normal driving)
  9. Reverse park (control)
  10. Response to signals (road markings)



TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2012 / 2013

  • Pass rate: 47.1%
  • Tests passed with 0 faults: 10,380

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

  1. Junctions (observation)
  2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
  3. Junctions (turning right)
  4. Control (steering)
  5. Response to signals (traffic lights)
  6. Move off (safety)
  7. Positioning (normal driving)
  8. Move off (control)
  9. Reverse park (control)
  10. Response to signals (road markings)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2011 / 2012

  • Pass rate: 46.9%
  • Tests passed with 0 faults: 10,328

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

  1. Junctions (observation)
  2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
  3. Junctions (turning right)
  4. Control (steering)
  5. Move off (safety)
  6. Response to signals (traffic lights)
  7. Positioning (normal driving)
  8. Move off (control)
  9. Reverse park (control)
  10. Response to signals (road markings)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2010 / 2011

  • Pass rate: 46.3%
  • Tests passed with 0 faults: 8,189

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

  1. Junctions (observation)
  2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
  3. Junctions (turning right)
  4. Move off (safety)
  5. Control (steering)
  6. Reverse park (control)
  7. Reverse /left reverse (control)
  8. Positioning (normal driving)
  9. Response to signals (traffic lights)
  10. Move off (control)



TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2009 / 2010

  • Pass rate: 45.9%
  • Tests passed with 0 faults: 6,032

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

  1. Junctions (observation)
  2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
  3. Reverse /left reverse (control)
  4. Reverse park (control)
  5. Move off (safety)
  6. Control (steering)
  7. Junctions (turning right)
  8. Positioning (normal driving)
  9. Move off (control)
  10. Response to signals (traffic lights)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2008 / 2009

  • Pass rate: 45.3%
  • Tests passed with 0 faults: 5,294

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

  1. Junctions (observation)
  2. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
  3. Reverse /left reverse (control)
  4. Reverse park (control)
  5. Move off (safety)
  6. Control (steering)
  7. Junctions (turning right)
  8. Positioning (normal driving)
  9. Move off (control)
  10. Response to signals (traffic lights)



TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2007 / 2008

  • Pass rate: 44.2%
  • Tests passed with 0 faults: 4,107

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

  1. Junctions (observation)
  2. Reverse /left reverse (control)
  3. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
  4. Reverse park (control)
  5. Control (steering)
  6. Move off (safety)
  7. Junctions (turning right)
  8. Positioning (normal driving)
  9. Move off (control)
  10. Progress (appropriate speed)

TOP 10 TEST FAILURES YEAR 2006 / 2007

  • Pass rate: 43.3%
  • Tests passed with 0 faults: 3,329

TOP TEN REASONS FOR FAILING

  1. Junctions (observation)
  2. Reverse /left reverse (control)
  3. Reverse park (control)
  4. Use of mirrors – (change direction)
  5. Move off (safety)
  6. Control (steering)
  7. Junctions (turning right)
  8. Positioning (normal driving)
  9. Move off (control)
  10. Progress (appropriate speed)



Driving Test Tips
Comments: 1
  1. Cary Nunez
    at

    Super Useful, clear, well designed page.
    Really enjoyed reading it.

    ReplyCancel

Leave a Reply Cancel reply


Driving Test Tips
  • What to Expect on the New Driving Test
  • How to Pass the New Driving Test
  • Show Me Tell Me Questions 2019
  • Driving Test Centres
  • Driving Test Centre Contact Numbers
  • Driving Test Routes
  • Driving Test Routes for Sat Nav
  • Driving Test Centre Reviews
  • Driving Test Pass Rates
  • Will I Pass My Driving Test Quiz
  • Driving Test Eyesight Test
  • New Independent Driving Test Explained
  • Driving Test Report Explained
  • How to Fail the Driving Test
  • Beating Driving Test Nerves
  • Are Driving Tests Fixed?
  • Cars for the Driving Test Requirements Explained
  • Driving Tests in Snow, Fog, Rain or Ice
  • Can’t Pass Driving Test
  • Cheapest Car Insurance Quote
  • Driving Test Questions
  • Best and Worst Driving Test Times
  • Book a Driving Test
  • Mock Driving Test
  • Check Driving Test Date
  • Change Driving Test Date
  • Cancel Driving Test
  • Your Driving Examiner
  • How to Impress the Driving Examiner
  • Passed My Driving Test, Now What?
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • International Drivers Tips
  • Driving Instructor Training Advice
  • About Driving Test Tips
  • Contact Driving Test Tips
2021 © Driving Test Tips
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT