Where the Italian driving test is passed most
In 2025 the Italian province with the highest category B theory pass rate is Messina at 69.5%, and the lowest is Grosseto at 49.8%, against a national figure of 60.3%. The test itself is identical across Italy. Source: Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti (MIT).
A high pass rate does not mean an easier exam. Questions are drawn from the same ministry archive across Italy and marking is automatic. The comparison below measures how candidates in each area perform, not how strict the test is.
Can you take the test in another province?
In some cases, with limits. A higher pass rate on its own is not a good reason to move.
- An application can be made at any Motorizzazione office, but normally it is the office of the province where you live.
- An adjoining province is the simplest option. Other provinces need a written request giving work, study or logistical reasons, and the office director decides.
- The practical test is normally taken at the same office as the theory test. Moving the foglio rosa to another office is allowed only in limited cases.
- Residence must be genuine: declaring a residence only to choose an exam office is not allowed.
- No official source publishes waiting times by province. The only ministry figure is a 2022 national average: 40 days for theory and 68 for the practical test.
Sources: Portale dell'Automobilista note "Esami da parte di candidati fuori provincia"; circular prot. 209/DTT of 11 October 2004; Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport document on Motorizzazione changes, October 2022. Checked 15 September 2026.
Which province is the easiest place to pass?
The ranking counts theory test sittings, not people: a candidate who resits is counted each time. In 2025 the highest rate was in Messina, where 69.5% of sittings ended in a pass.
| # | Province | Region | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Messina | Sicilia | 69.5% | 6,507 |
| 2 | Vicenza | Veneto | 68.0% | 13,360 |
| 3 | Padova | Veneto | 67.6% | 12,847 |
| 4 | Taranto | Puglia | 67.3% | 6,799 |
| 5 | Sondrio | Lombardia | 67.0% | 2,711 |
| 6 | Pordenone | Friuli-Venezia Giulia | 67.0% | 4,713 |
| 7 | Ragusa | Sicilia | 66.6% | 4,431 |
| 8 | Trapani | Sicilia | 66.6% | 5,398 |
| 9 | Catania | Sicilia | 66.2% | 14,525 |
| 10 | Enna | Sicilia | 65.9% | 2,329 |
Which province has the most failures?
As a share of sittings, the province with the most theory test failures in 2025 was Grosseto, where 49.8% of sittings ended in a pass. Again, this counts sittings, not people.
| # | Province | Region | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 102 | Grosseto | Toscana | 49.8% | 3,415 |
| 101 | Savona | Liguria | 50.3% | 3,743 |
| 100 | Livorno | Toscana | 51.7% | 3,819 |
| 99 | Massa-Carrara | Toscana | 52.4% | 2,765 |
| 98 | Arezzo | Toscana | 53.1% | 5,811 |
| 97 | La Spezia | Liguria | 53.8% | 2,837 |
| 96 | Isernia | Molise | 54.1% | 1,349 |
| 95 | Bolzano | Trentino-Alto Adige | 54.6% | 9,432 |
| 94 | Rieti | Lazio | 55.1% | 2,346 |
| 93 | Piacenza | Emilia-Romagna | 55.2% | 5,166 |
And on the practical test?
The gap between provinces is far wider on the practical test than on the theory. Read it with care: only candidates who already passed the theory sit it, and driving conditions differ a great deal between areas.
And by region?
| # | Region | Theory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sicilia | 65.5% | 64,804 |
| 2 | Veneto | 63.3% | 75,937 |
| 3 | Puglia | 62.8% | 54,156 |
| 4 | Calabria | 62.0% | 27,178 |
| 5 | Emilia-Romagna | 61.9% | 69,126 |
| 16 | Toscana | 56.9% | 58,114 |
| 17 | Liguria | 56.6% | 18,828 |
| 18 | Molise | 56.6% | 4,394 |
| 19 | Lazio | 56.6% | 101,622 |
| 20 | Trentino-Alto Adige | 56.3% | 19,391 |
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Italian driving test passed most often?
In 2025 the highest theory pass rate is Messina at 69.5% across 6,507 tests sat. That does not mean the exam is easier there: the paper is the same everywhere.
And least often?
Grosseto, at 49.8% across 3,415 tests sat in 2025.
Is it worth sitting the exam in another province?
No. The questions are drawn from one ministry archive nationwide and marking is automatic, so changing province does not change the difficulty. The application is normally made in the province of residence; an adjoining province is the simplest alternative, and other provinces need a written request giving work, study or logistical reasons, which the office decides on.
What about the practical test?
The highest practical pass rate in 2025 is Enna at 99.4%, against a national 83.8%. Only candidates who already passed the theory sit it, so the rate is structurally higher.
Figures are for information, not official advice. The causes of the differences are discussed in the guide on why pass rates differ.
Data as of . Source: Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti (MIT).