The easiest place to pass your practical driving test is Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, with areas of London considered the hardest, according to a new report by Privilege Car Insurance.
The cover provider analysed Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) data from 2011 to 2015 to reveal that just one in three learners fails in Barrow – much better than the national failure rate of 53 per cent.
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Other hotspots for drivers successfully ditching the L-plates are Whitby, North Yorks and Llandrindod Wells in Powys. In general, rural areas are much easier locations to pass a test.
In contrast, cities are much tougher and London accounts for four out of the top five areas where you’re most likely to fail the test. Wanstead is statistically the trickiest test centre, with the route including four major roundabouts. One of those is the Redbridge roundabout which has multiple lanes and heavy traffic.
This can cause particular issue for learners getting in the right lane and make it easy to rack up a number of minors. That's why just a third of people pass when taking the test from the Wanstead centre.
The number one reason for someone to fail a driving test is lack of observation at junctions followed by failure to check mirrors, steering control and turning right at junctions.
Neil Beeson, Privilege driving consultant and driving test expert, explained: “The data reveals that it is easier to pass in a rural setting than in a city one and this can be put down to a number of factors including; heavier congestion, higher volume of vehicles, both parked and moving, and an increased number of roundabouts in city areas.
"The downside to learning to drive in quieter areas is that it can put you at a disadvantage when you have to drive in heavy traffic, or in complicated multi-lane situations.”
Top 10 toughest places to take your driving test
| Town or City | Av. % Failure Rate (2011-2015) | |
| 1 | Wanstead (London) | 67.2 |
| 2 | Belvedere (London) | 66.9 |
| 3 | Wood Green (London) | 64.8 |
| 4 | South Yardley (Birmingham) | 64.7 |
| 5 | Barking (London) | 64.6 |
| 6 | Leeds (West Yorkshire) | 64.5 |
| 7 | Kingstanding (Birmingham) | 63.3 |
| 8 | Heaton (Bradford) | 63 |
| 9 | Thornbury (Bradford) | 62.7 |
| 10 | Salford (Greater Manchester) | 61.9 |
Top 10 easiest places to take your driving test
| Town or City | Av. % Failure Rate (2011-2015) | |
| 1 | Barrow-in-Furness (Cumbria) | 33.9 |
| 2 | Whitby (North Yorkshire) | 34.5 |
| 3 | Llandrindod Wells (Powys, Wales) | 34.9 |
| 4 | Lerwick (Shetland, Scotland) | 35.5 |
| 5 | Fort William (Highland, Scotland) | 35.5 |
| 6 | Kyle of Lochalsh (Scotland) | 35.6 |
| 7 | Kelso (Argyll and Bute, Scotland) | 36 |
| 8 | Lampeter (Ceredigion, Wales) | 36.6 |
| 9 | Pwllheli (Gwynedd, Wales) | 37. |
| 10 | Malton (North Yorkshire) | 37.1 |
Source: Privilege Car Insurance
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