Pavia and Milano: driving test pass rates compared
In 2025 the patente B theory test was passed in 59.8% of tests sat in Pavia and 59.0% in Milano. The gap is 0.85 points in favour of Pavia. Pavia sat 8,186 tests, Milano sat 68,410. Source: Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti (MIT).
Two neighbouring Lombard provinces with heavy commuting towards Milan.
Which passes more often, Pavia or Milano?
| Measure | Pavia | Milano | Italy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theory pass rate | 59.8% | 59.0% | 60.3% |
| Theory tests sat | 8,186 | 68,410 | 919,868 |
| National theory ranking | 55 | 62 | of 102 |
| Change on 2024, theory | +0.05 pt | -0.21 pt | n/a |
| Practical pass rate | 88.1% | 76.7% | 83.8% |
| Practical tests sat | 5,974 | 54,649 | n/a |
The unit is the test sat, not the person: a candidate who resits is counted again. The percentage answers "how many sittings end in a pass", not "how many candidates pass first time".
Is the difference between Pavia and Milano meaningful?
The gap stays under one percentage point, so it separates the two provinces by less than chance moves either of them from one year to the next.
The number of tests matters as much as the percentage. In 2025 the smaller of the two samples held 8,186 tests, and the smaller the sample the more the percentage moves from year to year without anything real having changed. The year on year change is in the table above.
Both provinces sit in the same region, Lombardia, so they share the structure of the driving school network and much of the same pool of candidates. The causes are discussed in the guide on why pass rates differ.
Where is the full figure for each province?
Other comparisons with these provinces
Frequently asked questions
Where is the theory test passed more often, Pavia or Milano?
In 2025 the patente B theory test was passed in 59.8% of tests sat in Pavia and 59.0% in Milano. The gap is 0.85 points in favour of Pavia. Pavia sat 8,186 tests, Milano sat 68,410. Source: Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti (MIT).
How much is the gap between Pavia and Milano worth?
The gap stays under one percentage point, so it separates the two provinces by less than chance moves either of them from one year to the next. The percentages are calculated on tests sat, 8,186 in Pavia and 68,410 in Milano in 2025, and a resit counts again.
Is the test easier in one of the two provinces?
No. The test is identical across Italy: 30 true or false statements in 20 minutes, at most 3 errors, drawn from the same ministerial bank. What changes is who sits it.
Is it worth sitting the test in the other province?
No, and for the theory test there is no choice: it is sat at the Motorizzazione office of the candidate's province of residence, an adjoining province is allowed without formality, and anywhere else needs a reasoned request. Convenience is not valid grounds. The practical test carries no such constraint.
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Either way, a difference between two provinces reflects who sits the test, not an advantage that travels.
Data as of . Source: Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti (MIT).