06 Jun Ford the First Time: Auto Trader Reveals Which Cars Set You Up for Driving Test Success
Passing your driving test can be both a nerve-wracking and expensive pursuit. The average learner will spend over £1,000(1) trying to get their full licence, and this cost continues to creep up every time you take another test. However, according to a new Auto Trader study, the make of car you learn and take your test in can have a significant impact on your chances of success. The automotive experts at Auto Trader commissioned a survey of drivers to find out which, if any, car brands have a higher pass rate for learners – saving valuable time and money in the endeavour to obtain that pink licence.
The ever-trusty Ford outperformed all other popular car makes in the UK; almost a quarter (22.04%) of those who passed their test the first-time learned to drive in a Ford. Out of those surveyed, the Ford Fiesta was revealed as the most common car model for people to learn to drive in.
In second place for first-time test success is Vauxhall, another popular choice for beginner drivers, with 8.06% of first-time passers learning in one. Rounding out the top three is BMW, a less common choice for learner drivers, but a very successful one – with 5.92% of those passing first time having learned in a BMW motor.
Ford remains the most effective learning car choice, even for those who don’t necessarily pass the first time. Out of those who passed within their first three tries, 19.29% had learnt in a Ford. Again, this was followed by Vauxhall and then BMW, where 7.94% and 5.64% of those passing in their first three tries had also learned in vehicles manufactured by said brands.
Top 10 Car Brands Where People Pass the First Time
The top ten car makes for driving test success include several brands that are great options for learner drivers to navigate their driving test in. Toyota featured in fourth place, offering models like the Aygo – a no-frills, simple car that’s easy to manage as a new driver; while Peugeot landed in eighth place, offering models like the 108 – another easy-going car for anyone learning to drive for the first time.
Other notable brands include Volkswagen and Renault, both of which offer fantastic eco-friendly options (like the Volkswagen Up! and Renault Zoe) for environmentally conscious learners.
Rank Car Brand Passed First Time
1 Ford 22.04%
2 Vauxhall 8.06%
3 BMW 5.92%
4 Toyota 5.59%
5 Nissan 5.59%
6 Audi 5.10%
7 MINI 4.28%
8 Peugeot 4.11%
9 Volkswagen 4.11%
10 Renault 3.13%
