Does passing first time make you a better driver?

It may be a humble brag, but does passing first time mean you’re a better driver?

TL;DR: Are drivers who pass first time better at driving?

Not necessarily. While passing first time earns you bragging rights, the data suggests it doesn't make you a safer driver long-term. 

Those who take longer often spend more time practising, and research shows black box users — many of whom needed multiple attempts — have 35% fewer collisions than those without telematics. 

A pass is a pass; what matters is how you drive once you're out on the road.

What do the pass rate statistics actually tell us? 

With an average pass rate of 48.1%, less than half of people pass their driving test the first time they take it, so naturally it gives anyone who does slight bragging rights.

Plenty of factors play a role in passing first time — though, let’s be honest, a bit of luck never hurts.

While failing your driving test is annoying and often disappointing, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

In fact, the pass rates are pretty similar for first attempt compared to sixth attempt:

For those of you who do happen to be lucky enough to pass first time, does it make you a better driver?

Let’s dive in and find out.

How long does it take to learn to drive?

The RAC claims that the average learner driver requires around 45 hours of lessons, plus an additional 20 hours of private practice with a parent or friend, before they're ready to pass. 

Unfortunately, there’s no ‘unlock driving skills’ button at 45 hours. Your instructor will know when you’re truly ready. And, at some point, you'll need a reliable and safe car, which isn’t too expensive to insure, as this cost will get bumped up when you pass.

One of the last city cars to survive the mass exodus, the Hyundai i10 is heralded as one of the cheapest cars for new drivers to insure. 

But if you need something bigger, you could try something like the Renault Clio or SEAT Arona.

Does age affect pass rates?

According to DVSA data, the age at which you're most likely to pass your driving test first time is 17, with a pass rate of 55.8%. 

After that, it drops. 18-year-olds are 7.6% less likely to pass than their younger counterparts, and rates decline steadily from the mid-twenties onwards. By 60, the first time pass rate sits at just 32.3%.

So, what does this tell us?

Younger drivers tend to be more confident behind the wheel, which can work in their favour during the test. 

But that confidence can tip into overconfidence once they're out on the road alone — which goes some way to explaining why younger drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents after passing.

Older learners, meanwhile, can struggle with the opposite problem. Caution is a quality any good driver needs, but too much of it can result in undue hesitation faults during the test itself.

Interestingly, for younger age groups, pass rates are actually higher on the second to fifth attempt than on the first.

This suggests they treat the initial test as a learning experience and settle into it better on later tries. For older learners, pass rates fall with every subsequent attempt, hinting that confidence plays a bigger role than we might think.

Which brings us to the bigger question: Does passing your driving test first time actually make you a better driver, or does it just mean you're good at tests?

Looking at the data

Take a look at telematics data, and it suggests that time spent practising and building experience behind the wheel has a measurable impact on safety outcomes. 

Analysis of Department for Transport data by LexisNexis found that 17 to 19 year olds using black box insurance had 35% fewer collisions than those without, pointing to the value of continued feedback and practice beyond the test itself.

The implication is clear: It's not how quickly you pass, but how much you learn along the way. 

Those who needed more attempts will have spent longer refining their techniques alongside an instructor, and that additional time on the road appears to translate into safer driving.

Who is more likely to have an accident?

Research from This Is Money suggests there may not be much of a difference between those who pass first time and those who need up to three attempts.

According to their study, drivers who passed first time are involved in 1.6 accidents following their test.

Meanwhile, for those who require three attempts, they’re involved in just 1.9 accidents – reflecting that there is not a huge difference in driving ability or risk based on the amount of times it took you to pass your driving test.

However, things start to shift when we look at those who required more attempts.

Drivers who took four attempts were involved in 2.8 accidents, those who took five tests averaged five accidents, and those who took six attempts saw that number jump to 6.6.

This seems to contradict the black box data, which suggested that drivers who took multiple attempts to pass became safer over time.

But here’s something to consider—could the age factor be skewing these results?

Since older learners are more likely to pass first time, and older drivers tend to be more cautious, could this be why first-time passers seem to have fewer accidents?

They’re less likely to speed, take risks, or show off behind the wheel.

So, is it really about how many times you took to pass, or is it more about how you drive once you’ve got that licence?

Who is more likely to have a road incident?

Research by MoneySuperMarket suggests there may not be much of a difference between those who pass first time and those who need up to three attempts when it comes to road incidents.

According to their study, drivers who passed first time are involved in 1.6 incidents over their lifetime. Meanwhile, those who required three attempts averaged 1.9 — reflecting that there isn’t a huge difference in driving ability or risk based on the number of attempts it took to pass.

However, things start to shift when we look at those who needed more attempts. 

Drivers who took four attempts were involved in 2.8 incidents on average, those who took five averaged five, and those who took six saw that number jump to 6.6.

This appears to contradict the idea that additional practice leads to safer driving outcomes. But here's something to consider: Could the age factor be skewing these results?

Since younger drivers are statistically more likely to need multiple attempts, and younger drivers are also more likely to be involved in incidents, the data may say more about age than it does about test attempts. 

They're more likely to speed, take risks, or show off behind the wheel.

So, is it really about how many times you took to pass, or is it more about how you drive once you've got that licence?

Finding the balance

Confidence behind the wheel is crucial for any driver, regardless of their age.

However, what these studies have shown is that finding the right balance between confidence and caution is key.

Ultimately, anyone who passes their driving test (whether on the first or fifth attempt) has demonstrated the skills needed to be on the road.

But passing a test is just the beginning.

Real-world experience shapes how we drive over time, and while some improve with practice, others may develop bad habits along the way.

Does passing first time make you a better driver?

In short — no, not really.

Passing first time might earn you some bragging rights, but it doesn't automatically make you a safer or more skilled driver in the long run. 

The stats show that while first-time passers may have fewer accidents on average, the picture is more complicated than it first appears. Age, experience, and attitude behind the wheel all play a role.

Meanwhile, age is actually a significant factor. 

Younger drivers are statistically more likely to need multiple attempts, but also more likely to be involved in accidents after passing. This makes it difficult to separate the impact of test attempts from the risks that come with youth and inexperience.

Ultimately, a pass is a pass.

Whether you sailed through on your first attempt or had to wrestle with the examiner multiple times, what really matters is how you drive once you're out there on your own. 

Because at the end of the day, the best drivers aren't just good at tests, they're the ones who keep themselves (and everyone else) safe on the road.