When is The Best Time for Your Driving Test?

15 July 2024 | Phil Evans

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Learning to drive can be an arduous process, but it’s all worth it when you finally get to upgrade from your provisional licence. After investing so much time in driving lessons and practice sessions (we have temporary learner insurance perfect for covering you for those), you want to have the best chance possible at actually passing your test.

It turns out that choosing the best time of day and time of year to take your driving test can help you get an advantage on the day. Whether you’re learning to drive automatic or manual these might just be the best times for a driving test…

**How Long to Practise Before Your Driving Test?**

Before booking your test, you need to learn to drive! It’s no good booking a test and hoping you’ll be ready. It’s recommended that learners need around 45 hours of driving lessons with an instructor, alongside 22 hours of practice outside of lessons.

For learners looking to practise outside of lessons, practice insurance provides an easy, flexible means of getting coverage for this period, and can be one of the best ways to insure a learner.

After you’ve had enough hours of learning, you should be ready for your driving test, but your instructor will be able to advise.

**How Long is the Wait for a Driving Test?**

Government data tells us that the average wait time in the UK for a driving test was at 18.8 weeks at the end of 2023. Since then work has been done to bring waiting times down to around 15 weeks, however, in some areas like London, the wait time for a driving test may still be over 20 weeks.

With waiting times being so long, it’s good to book ahead if you and your instructor agree you’ll be ready in four months time – start looking for a test sooner rather than later.

Knowing this will allow you to plan accordingly, and allow you to pick the best day and time for you.

**Best Time of Year to Take a Test**

DVSA data reveals April (50.12%), August (49.28%) and July (49.28%) to be the months with the highest pass rates in the UK. May, September and June all follow these months too, telling us that colder winter months are the worst times to take your test.

Due to better weather, the warmer months of the year are the best time to book your test. Learning to drive in winter can be difficult due to the bad weather, which could either make roads more dangerous or get your test and lessons postponed altogether. To avoid your test getting cancelled or having to take a test in harsh conditions, aim to book your test in the warmer months of the year. The last thing you want is to wait over four months to get a test and it be cancelled on the morning due to winter fog!

Things to Consider if Your Test is in Summer

Driving in hot weather still presents its hazards. Although pass rates are higher during summer or spring, there are a few things you should know before you head to the test centre. Being aware of these hot weather driving tips could be the difference between you failing or passing your test!

Wear The Correct Footwear

You should wear non-restrictive footwear when driving, meaning flip-flops are not a good choice when getting behind the wheel. Even if the weather is hot, you should wear a pair of shoes or trainers. Flip-flops could get caught under the pedals and make you lose control of the vehicle. Not only could this cause you to fail your test, but you could land yourself with a hefty fine if caught not in control of the vehicle.

Don’t Drink While Driving

We all know we shouldn’t drink alcohol and drive, but you also shouldn’t take a sip from your bottle of water while operating a vehicle. You should stay hydrated when driving on a hot day, but do not do this when your vehicle is moving. Doing this can take your concentration away from the road, potentially leading to you losing control of the vehicle. Again, this could cause you to fail your test.

Be Wary of Hay Fever Medication

Hay fever can be an impairing ailment. While you can drive with hay fever, it’s important you know when you’re not fit to drive. If your symptoms are bad enough to impair your driving ability, don’t risk taking your test on that day.

Also, ensure you don’t take drowsy antihistamines before your test, or any time you’re getting behind the wheel. Drowsiness can lead to you losing concentration and control of the vehicle. This is dangerous to yourself and other drivers, and would ultimately cause you to fail your test.

The Best Time of Day to Take a Test

Now we know warmer months are the best time of year to aim for, what time of day is best for your test?

You should aim to avoid rush hour periods, usually 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm, these are the hours when roads will be the busiest. Busy roads leave less room for you on the road, creating a tighter, more stressful situation for you on test day. You might want to take your test first thing to get it out of the way, but it’s worth remembering the roads could be busy.

So there you have it the best times for your driving test. It can’t always be possible to pick the perfect time though, as long as you have had enough lessons and are ready for your test, any time of year should be good for you. If it helps your confidence, try to avoid rush hour periods too. If you find yourself having to take your test in your own car to get your ideal slot, then our driving test insurance will cover you.

During your test, make sure you are in control of the vehicle at all times, wear the correct footwear, stay focused and don’t get distracted.

Learner drivers should take advantage of temporary learner insurance before taking their test. Secure insurance from one hour up to one month, so you can get all the practice you need before heading to the test centre. Get a quote now in under two minutes so you can see just how easy it is to get insured with GoShorty.

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When is The Best Time for Your Driving Test?

**How Long to Practise Before Your Driving Test?**

**How Long is the Wait for a Driving Test?**

**Best Time of Year to Take a Test**