25 Countries with the World's Strictest Driving Tests (+ Infographic)
How many questions can be answered incorrectly on a driving theory test and still pass? In Greece, the answer is just one question.
With 97%, Greece has the highest score required to pass the driving test. That is, candidates are only allowed one wrong answer in the 30-question test.
According to Rosiato, European countries make up 64% of the 25 strict countries in this ranking, and six of them have an acceptance score of 90%.
How many questions can be answered wrongly in the driving test and still pass? In Greece the answer is only one question.
This chart ranks countries based on the minimum percentage of correct answers required to pass the general theory test for a Class B driver's license. Data is taken from AutoviaTest and countries using non-comparable scoring systems are excluded from the rankings.
The hardest driving theory tests in the world
According to AutoviaTest data, the 25 countries that have the highest score required to pass the driving test are as follows:
Greece and Japan have a significant gap with other countries in this ranking and need a score of 97 and 95%, respectively. After them, the competition becomes much closer and 15 countries with the required score of 90-91% are in a tight range. Europe makes up a total of 64% of the top 25 countries.
In Greece, only one wrong answer is allowed
The driving test in Greece consists of 30 multiple-choice questions that must be answered within 35 minutes, and candidates must have at least 29 correct answers to pass. This test covers topics such as traffic signs, right of way, speed limit, car safety and other road rules.
This strict standard exists as Greece continues to face road safety challenges. According to the AutoviaTest report, the country will have about 6.1 road deaths per 100,000 people in 2023, which is still higher than the EU average despite significant progress since 2000.
Passing the driving test is only one of the road safety factors. Car reliability is also important, with some car brands reporting far fewer problems than others.
The Japanese driving test is getting tougher
Japan requires a score of 95% for the general driving theory test and combines this rigor with difficult practical requirements. The process of obtaining a license in this country can also be challenging for some foreign residents who intend to convert their home country's license, as they may have to take written and practical tests.
Japan is now making it tougher on another group of drivers: those over 75 with a history of driving offences. The new practical tests will also include a lane change exercise to check the correct use of the gas and brake pedals. According to the National Police Agency of Japan, drivers over 75 years of age accounted for 18% of fatal accidents last year.
A tougher test doesn't necessarily mean safer roads
A high passing score in the theory test does not necessarily mean that the entire process of obtaining a country's certificate is more difficult; Because the difficulty of questions, practice tests and evaluation rules are also different. Also, stricter quotas don't always lead to safer roads.
The rankings, based on World Health Organization data and published by Atlas & Boots, put countries such as Guinea, Libya and Haiti among the countries with the highest road death rates, while Japan is considered one of the safest.
For passengers, unfamiliarity with driving conditions creates another risk. A survey of 2,000 drivers by Scrap Car Comparison showed that driving on the opposite side of the road is the most common concern of people. About a third of the world's countries drive on the left side of the road, while most of the world's countries use the right side.