SHIRLEY Driving Test Centre is the easiest centre in Birmingham to pass a driving test – according to the latest Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) data.
Analysis of the data, which was analysed by car leasing comparison site LeaseLoco, saw an 52.7 per cent pass rate for tests carried out at the Stratford Road centre during 2023.
It revealed the hardest centre in Birmingham to pass a driving test based on 2023 test results was Garretts Green with a pass rate of just 40.2 per cent.
LeaseLoco also looked at the average pass rates across all test centres in England, Scotland and Wales, which revealed that pass rates are still above pre-pandemic levels.
The car leasing company said the average pass rates across all test centres have been above 48 per cent since the pandemic struck in 2020 and the country went into lockdown for the first time and before the pandemic, the pass rate never exceeded 48 per cent.
During the pandemic, the pass rate peaked at 49.8 per cent (for the 2020-2021 financial year) when test centres were closed across the country, and only 436,044 tests were conducted, compared to 1.6million tests taken in the previous financial year (2019-2020).
LeaseLoco research shows that although average pass rates across the UK have remained above pre-pandemic levels, they have actually fallen for the third financial year running.
John Wilmot, chief executive at LeaseLoco, said: “The driving test backlog post-pandemic has contributed to pass rates remaining high four years after the country went into lockdown for the first time.
“There are a number of reasons why this might be the case. The challenges of the pandemic, including frequent test postponements and cancellations, have spurred many learners to be more determined than ever to pass on their first attempt rather than face prolonged waits for rescheduled exams.
“Additionally, learners who scheduled tests after the lockdown had more time to prepare, especially those who could practise driving in their personal vehicles outside of formal instructor sessions. This extended preparation likely resulted in fewer individuals taking their tests prematurely, before feeling fully prepared.
“Furthermore, quieter road conditions during the pandemic provided learners with more opportunities to build confidence behind the wheel.”
