There’s perseverance… and then there’s whatever is happening in the UK’s driving-test centers. According to new figures pried loose by a freedom-of-information request, a handful of Britain’s would-be motorists are turning the Theory Test into a marathon event—complete with staggering price tags and record-shattering attempt counts.
The standout stat? One determined (or doomed) learner has now taken the UK driving theory test 128 times without passing. Yes, 128. That’s more sequels than Fast & Furious will ever manage, and far more than the £23-a-pop exam was designed to withstand. The tab so far: at least £2,944 ($3,866). For that money, you could buy a mechanically questionable—but fully driveable—used Ford Ka and still have change for fuel.
And this isn’t an isolated case of pedal-to-the-metal persistence. Another candidate finally crossed the finish line in 2024… on their 75th attempt. That learner spent £1,725 ($2,265) just to pass the written test—and more than 90 hours inside an exam room. Most people don’t spend that long in a classroom unless they’re getting a degree.
But the theoretical portion is only half the saga. The FOI findings also reveal that some learners struggle just as dramatically with the practical exam. Two hopeful drivers have taken the on-road test 37 times and still haven’t passed, while another finally earned their license after 43 attempts.
For context, practical tests run £60 ($79) on weekdays and £75 ($98) during weekends and evenings. At 43 tries, that’s a bill somewhere between £2,580 ($3,388) and £3,225 ($4,235)—roughly the cost of a well-used 2000s Honda Jazz, which, in a sense, is a perfectly ironic reward for completing your driving quest.
A Tough Test, Not a Broken System
Emma Bush, managing director of the AA Driving School, urges compassion for serial test-takers. “There are lots of reasons why someone might find the theory test challenging,” she says, reminding the public that these high attempt numbers aren’t typical.
She’s not wrong. The UK’s theory exam may look simple on paper, but it covers everything from obscure road signs to stopping distances to split-second hazard recognition. Candidates must nail 43 out of 50 Highway Code questions and score 44 out of 75 on the hazard-perception clips. Only then can they book the practical test, which is its own rite of passage involving roundabouts, parallel parking, and the sort of polite aggression needed to merge into British traffic.
The Long Road to a License
The theory test has existed since 1996, and in that time, it has built a reputation as both a sensible knowledge check and a rite of humiliation for those who underestimate it. The FOI results confirm what every British driving instructor already knows: yes, most people pass eventually—but no, not everyone does it quickly.
And just in case the AA’s findings didn’t already steer learners toward extra prep, the organization used the opportunity to plug its AA Driving School Theory Test app. At £4.99 ($6.55) to unlock, it’s undeniably cheaper than taking the test dozens of times. Even the 128-attempt outlier could have bought the app 589 times and still spent less.
Practice Makes Perfect—But Practice Tests Are Cheaper
While these epic test-taking sagas are easy to laugh about, they underline a more serious reality: driving isn’t just about steering and pedals. The UK system demands situational awareness, judgement, and rule knowledge—skills you want drivers to have before they’re unleashed on public roads.
Still, if you ever feel like you’re having a rough day behind the wheel, remember the anonymous hero on attempt 128. Somewhere out there, they’re sharpening their No. 2 pencil—or, more accurately, charging their smartphone—in preparation for attempt 129.
And honestly? We’re rooting for them.
Source: BBC News
