Driving test failure rates exposed: where learners struggle most in Australia

Across Australia, new research from EzLicence shows learner drivers face vastly different hurdles, with fewer than half passing their first test in the ACT and failure rates in Queensland increasing with repeat attempts, driven largely by poor judgement, observation to signalling, and right-of-way errors.

The booking platform, EzLicence, helps learning drivers find instructors nationwide and collected FOI data from each state.

In a most recent investigation, the platform revealed details including pass and fail rates, the number of attempts, and, in some cases, the most common reasons learners fail can be determined.

The ACT and Queensland were found to have high rates of first-time fails, with judgment and observation, not technical handling, being the main reasons.

“A lot of first-time failures come down to decision-making under pressure, such as anticipating what another driver might do, choosing safe gaps, correctly giving way, or responding early enough to developing hazards,” EzLicence’s sales manager Ross Rivelland said.

“When an examiner has to intervene, it’s usually because a situation has escalated quickly.”

Rivelland said that in many cases learners are technically capable, but they’re booking the test before those higher-level driving instincts are fully developed.

“Experience, not just hours, is what makes the difference,” he said.

While experience can sharpen driving instincts, it doesn’t always translate to better test results, with Queensland data showing error rates actually increase with each additional driving test attempt.

First-attempt pass rates in the Sunshine State are 60.9 per cent, with fail rates rising on subsequent attempts – 36.2 per cent fail on their second attempt, and for those on their fifth attempt or more, 44.1 per cent fail.

“[Repeat attempts] don’t necessarily mean learners are getting worse; it often indicates that those who re-sit multiple times may be repeating the same underlying issues without properly addressing them.” Rivelland said.

Other states that have also reported high levels of driving test failures include Tasmania and NSW.

In Tasmania, nearly half of all driving tests are sat by learners re-taking the exam, with a notable “long-tail” of repeat attempts – 2.6 per cent are sitting their fifth test or more.

That rate is 26 times higher than in South Australia, where almost 80 per cent of candidates are first-time test-takers, pointing to a far stronger initial pass rate.

In NSW, four in ten learners fail their driving test, with only 58.5 per cent passing first time, repeat attempts making up 41 per cent of all tests and about four per cent of candidates sitting the exam five times or more.

Rivelland said one of the biggest mistakes learners make is “focusing on manoeuvres instead of mindset”, urging drivers to practise in complex traffic environments rather than quiet streets and to focus on scanning, hazard anticipation and decision-making.

He also recommends regular lessons with a qualified driving instructor instead of relying solely on parents or supervisors and treating a failed test as a diagnostic tool rather than a setback.

“Most importantly, they shouldn’t rush to rebook. Spending time addressing the areas that caused the failure, with professional lessons and guidance, can make a big difference,” Rivelland said.

“Driving confidence comes from exposure, reflection, and structured practice, not just clocking up hours.”

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