The place where you take your driving test could be key to how soon you're getting on the roads - with some places ranking far lower on the pass rate scale than others.
And it's bad news for learner drivers in Leeds - because our Harehills test centre is hard to get a green tick at.
The national average per test centre is a 46 per cent pass rate, with drivers who take their tests on a Sunday afternoon more likely to succeed.
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Researchers examined Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency data for 2019-2020 and found that Leeds had just a 36 per cent pass rate.
Rochdale was the worst, with just 31 per cent - but Kendal, Cumbria, had more than double that rate with a 63 per cent pass mark.
The data showed that learners in rural areas have a higher pass rate than in cities and large towns.
Learners in Erith, South East London, were second-worst with 32 per cent passing, South Yardley in Birmingham was on 33% and Speke, Liverpool, on 34%.
So far as timing was concerned, learners did best on Sunday afternoon – scoring a 56% pass rate.
Next best was between 4pm and 5pm on either Tuesday or Friday – when 53 per cent of learners passed.
Insurance company Tempcover analysed the figures. Spokesman Alan Inskip said: “Where and when you take your test plays a big part.
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“Choosing the right day and time can improve your chances. The most important aspect is to thoroughly prepare.”
Cheating during the theory test was also found to be on the increase – up from 454 cases six years ago to 1,167.
Hiring an impersonator for both theory and practical tests was the most common scam – with stand-ins charging as much as £1,600.
You can check out the best and worst centres for passing below.
Centres with the lowest pass rate %
- Rochdale, Gtr Man 31
- Erith, London 32
- Sth Yardley, B’ham 33
- Speke, Liverpool 34
- Kingstanding, B’ham 35
- Belvedere, London 35
- Leeds (Harehills), W Yorks 36
- Wanstead, London 36
- Wolverhampton 37
- S’n Coldfield, B’ham 38
- Bury, Manchester 39
- Luton, Beds 40
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Centres with the highest pass rate %
- Kendal, Cumbria 63
- Peterhead, Aberdeen 63
- Wellingborough 61
- Yeovil, Somerset 60
- Dorchester, Dorset 59
- Melton Mowbray 58
- Northallerton, N Yorks 57
- Ipswich, Suffolk 57
- Chorley, Manchester 56
- Durham 56
- Aberdeen 56
- Bridlington, E Yorks 56
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