This country makes passing a driving test in the USA look like a dream, with 85 hours of practice required

Published on Jun 18, 2025 at 4:37 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson

Last updated on Jun 18, 2025 at 9:11 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain

This country makes passing a driving test in the USA look like a dream by comparison, with 85 hours of practice required.

Learner drivers often dread their driving test, and with good reason – it’s nerve-wracking and often very expensive.

But those studying to pass in America should count themselves lucky, as the USA has been designated the fourth easiest place to get a license.

In other corners of the world, it’s a very different story.

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If there’s one thing every driver has in common, it’s the driving test.

We all have to do it if we want to be able to drive on the streets legally.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of passing the driving test, is there?

But the lead up to taking your test can be quite a nail-biter.

One driving instructor took to setting up a dash cam to film her students’ riskiest blunders.

The most common mistake this instructor noticed was students rushing to get to the end.

But your experience with driving tests can vary wildly depending on which country you take them in.

For example, did you know that in Sweden, you’re required to drive on a portion of slippery road?

Well, if you ever wondered which countries were the easiest to learn to drive, Zutobi has you covered.

The driver education platform has compiled a list, ranking countries on different metrics.

It based its assessment on the costs of a driving test, the amount of time required in a car before being eligible to sit a test, the age at which you can sit a test, and the overall difficulty of the test.

The country that came out as the easiest was Mexico.

It’s easy to see why, as there’s no requirement for a practical test in large parts of the country.

Qatar and Latvia round out the top three thanks to the price of the tests, costing just $40 and $34, respectively.

The United States comes in fourth, which may come as a surprise to many learner drivers who spent sleepless nights dreading parallel parking.

In terms of costs, a USA driving test is slightly below the worldwide average, with the average test costing $116.

This looks costly compared to Latvia, where a test would only set you back $34.

But in some countries, the test can be a real mountain to climb.

Zutobi ranked Croatia as the world’s toughest country to learn to drive.

For a start, there’s the minimum amount of hours required for a pass – 85 hours of lessons are required before you can even book a test.

By way of comparison, the USA isn’t nearly as strict.

It can vary by state, but the general requirement is somewhere between 30 and 70 supervised driving hours.

In New York for example, a minimum of 50 hours is required.

Croatians also need to produce multiple medical clearances to obtain their license.

And here’s the kicker – if you fail your test, an additional three hours of driving time is added onto your required minimum.

Tough but fair.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, the average learner spent around $1,248 obtaining a license.

So it’s time consuming, costly, and rigorous.

Other countries that rank most difficult include Brazil, Hungary, Bahrain, and Montenegro.

So next time you find yourself grumbling about practicing reverse parking, count yourself lucky.

At least you’re not learning to drive in Croatia.

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Ben Thompson is a Senior Content Writer at supercarblondie.com. Ben has more than four years experience as a qualified journalist, having graduated with a Multimedia Journalism degree from News Associates. Ben specializes in writing about Teslas, tech and celebrity car collections.