Getting behind the wheel and learning to drive is never easy but there are some spaces that are easier than others.

Car lease comparison site Moneyshake has ranked Scotland's top 10 best places to learn to drive according to the most recent data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

Its study has created a total driving test score for each test centre in Scotland based on four factors.

These factors assess everything from pass rate and first-time past rate percentage to the number of cancelled tests and the waiting time for a practical driving test.

Glasgow Times: A car with a Learner sticker. Credit: PAA car with a Learner sticker. Credit: PA

Best and worst places to learn to drive in Scotland revealed

Moneyshake also used the research to study the huge backlog of driving tests and found that the average test waiting time is still over 19 weeks.

45% of test centres have no tests available at the time of looking, according to Moneyshake's research.

Scotland's average pass rate for driving tests is 60.67%, with the study also revealing 60.95% passing first time on average.

On average, 10.71% of all tests taken were cancelled.

Eben Lovatt, CEO of Moneyshake commented: “Driving tests can be a daunting prospect, particularly if it’s your first time taking one. Our study shows that nearly half of all learners fail their driving test on their first attempt.

Mr Lovatt added:" With long delays for driving tests across Scotland, it is important to be as well prepared as possible to avoid having to wait potentially months for a second attempt. Ensure you have had enough lessons to feel confident driving, as well as practising the mock test routes at your test centre.”

Glasgow Times: Learners signs and the highway code. Credit: PALearners signs and the highway code. Credit: PA

Top 10 best places to learn to drive in Scotland

  1. Isle of Skye (Portree)
  2. Alness
  3. Peterhead
  4. Lerwick
  5. Campbeltown
  6. Hawick
  7. Glasgow (Baillieston)
  8. Forfar
  9. Galashiels
  10. Dunoon

 

Portree test centre on the Isle of Skye takes the top spot with 115 tests carried out across the nine-month period analysed.

It also had a 68.70% pass rate with 70.59% passing the first time and there was also cancellation and a two-week waiting time during this period.

Alness test centre comes in second with 804 tests conducted and a 62.56% pass rate.

It also had a 66.18% first-time pass score, 72 cancelled tests and just a one-week waiting time during the period analysed.

Top 10 worst places to learn to drive in Scotland revealed

  1. Glasgow (Shieldhall)
  2. East Kilbride
  3. Bishopbriggs
  4. Fraserburgh
  5. Airdrie
  6. Huntly
  7. Wick
  8. Buckie
  9. Irvine
  10. Edinburgh (Musselburgh)

 

At the other end of the scale, Glasgow's Shieldhall test centre is the most difficult place to pass your test in Scotland. 

It has a 42.72% pass rate, with 38% passing first time from the 3,776 tests taken during the nine-month period.

The test centre also had 525 cancellations and a staggering 23-week wait for a driving test.

East Kilbride and Bishopbriggs test centres follow as the second and third worst places to learn to drive respectively.

Out of the 1,981 tests taken in East Kilbride, 46.44% passed and it has a first-time pass rate of 34.78%.

The test centre cancelled 151 tests during the nine months and there was a 23-week wait for a test.

Looking at Bishopbriggs, it has a pass rate of 49.77% out of the 2,560 tests taken with 45.37% passing the first time. 

The test centre also had 288 cancellations and there were no driving tests available at the time of looking.