Where Is It Hardest to Pass the Driver's License Exam in 2026: The Top 20 Countries

Greece has the most difficult theoretical driver’s license exam in 2026; to pass, test-takers must answer 29 out of 30 questions correctly—that is, score 97%. Poland ranks second with a passing score of 92%, while New Zealand, Vietnam, and Australia require 91%. The AutoviaTest ranking covers 65 countries and compares the minimum percentage of correct answers required to pass a Category B theory test.

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Top 20 Countries Where It’s Hardest to Pass the Driver’s License Theory Test

The AutoviaTest ranking shows how high the minimum score must be to pass the Category B driver’s license theory test. The higher the passing score, the fewer mistakes a candidate can make. As of September 2026, the database covers 65 countries.

Top 20 countries with the strictest passing thresholds:

1. Greece – 97%: 29 correct answers out of 30

2. Poland – 92%: 68 points out of 74

3. New Zealand – 91%: 32 correct answers out of 35

4. Vietnam – 91%: 32 out of 35

5. Australia, New South Wales – 91%: 41 out of 45

6. Colombia – 90%: 36 out of 40

7. Croatia – 90%: 108 points out of 120

8. Iceland – 90%: 45 out of 50

9. Italy – 90%: 27 out of 30

10. Japan – 90%: 90 points out of 100

11. Kuwait – 90%: 18 out of 20

12. Latvia – 90%: 27 out of 30

13. Liechtenstein – 90%: 45 out of 50

14. Luxembourg – 90%: 18 out of 20

15. Portugal – 90%: 27 out of 30

16. Qatar – 90%: 36 out of 40

17. Singapore – 90%: 45 out of 50

18. Slovakia – 90%: 90 points out of 100

19. Spain – 90%: 27 out of 30

20. Switzerland – 90%: 135 out of 150

The difference between most countries in the top 20 is small: 15 countries share the same 90% threshold. Greece stands out particularly against this backdrop. There, a candidate can get only one question wrong out of 30. Poland also has a very high threshold of 92%, while in New Zealand, Vietnam, and the Australian state of New South Wales, candidates must score 91%.

At the same time, the percentage alone does not reflect the full difficulty of the test. For example, 90% in Luxembourg means 18 correct answers out of 20, while in Switzerland, the system requires a score of 135 out of 150. Therefore, the same passing threshold can conceal very different test formats and durations.

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Why do Greece, Poland, and other countries have such strict requirements?

A high passing score means that a candidate must have a very thorough knowledge of traffic rules even before the practical portion. In countries with a threshold of 90% or higher, the system effectively leaves minimal room for error. This is particularly evident in Greece, where one incorrect answer is still allowed, but a second one results in failing the test.

In Poland, the test is structured differently: candidates answer questions with varying point values, and a score of at least 68 out of 74 is required to pass. Under this system, even a single mistake on a high-stakes question can significantly affect the result. That is why, technically, the Polish passing threshold is about 92%.

In New Zealand, candidates must answer at least 32 out of 35 questions correctly, and in the Australian state of New South Wales, 41 out of 45. In both cases, candidates can afford to make only a few mistakes. A similar approach is used in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and a number of other countries, where the passing score is 90%.

However, a strict passing score does not necessarily mean that the test itself is more difficult in terms of content. Different countries vary in the number of questions, the wording of the tasks, the scoring system, the time allotted for answers, and the proportion of scenario-based questions. Therefore, the ranking primarily shows how few mistakes the system allows, rather than how difficult it is to prepare for the exam in general.

We previously reported that Europe is introducing mandatory driver surveillance cameras.

Does a high passing score really mean it’s harder to get a driver’s license?

Not always. The AutoviaTest ranking compares countries based on only one metric—the percentage of correct answers required to pass the Category B written exam. It does not take into account the difficulty of the practical test, the number of mandatory lessons, the cost of training, medical requirements, or the actual percentage of candidates who pass the exam on their first attempt.

As a result, a country with a lower formal threshold may still have a system for obtaining a license that is just as difficult. For example, the practical exam assesses entirely different skills: vehicle control, staying in the lane, speed, awareness of traffic conditions, signaling, and performing required maneuvers in real traffic.

There are also systems that are difficult to compare directly in terms of percentages. For example, in Germany, the theory test is graded using penalty points for errors, and different questions carry different weights. That is precisely why AutoviaTest excludes such countries from this ranking, as it is impossible to accurately determine a single passing percentage for them.

Therefore, the ranking should be viewed specifically as an indicator of the difficulty of the written test, rather than as a universal list of countries where it is generally the hardest to obtain a driver’s license. For a comprehensive assessment, the entire process must be taken into account: from training and theory to the practical exam and the requirements for prospective drivers.

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