Napoli and Palermo: driving test pass rates compared
In 2025 the patente B theory test was passed in 60.2% of tests sat in Napoli and 65.0% in Palermo. The gap is 4.79 points in favour of Palermo. Napoli sat 48,383 tests, Palermo sat 17,251. Source: Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti (MIT).
The two largest cities in the south.
Which passes more often, Napoli or Palermo?
| Measure | Napoli | Palermo | Italy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theory pass rate | 60.2% | 65.0% | 60.3% |
| Theory tests sat | 48,383 | 17,251 | 919,868 |
| National theory ranking | 53 | 12 | of 102 |
| Change on 2024, theory | -0.83 pt | +1.35 pt | n/a |
| Practical pass rate | 94.7% | 91.5% | 83.8% |
| Practical tests sat | 35,342 | 14,028 | 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 Napoli and Palermo meaningful?
A gap of 4.79 points is wide for two provinces, and is worth more than three tests in every hundred.
The number of tests matters as much as the percentage. In 2025 the smaller of the two samples held 17,251 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.
The two provinces sit in different regions, Campania and Sicilia, so they also differ in driving school network and candidate mix. 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, Napoli or Palermo?
In 2025 the patente B theory test was passed in 60.2% of tests sat in Napoli and 65.0% in Palermo. The gap is 4.79 points in favour of Palermo. Napoli sat 48,383 tests, Palermo sat 17,251. Source: Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti (MIT).
How much is the gap between Napoli and Palermo worth?
A gap of 4.79 points is wide for two provinces, and is worth more than three tests in every hundred. The percentages are calculated on tests sat, 48,383 in Napoli and 17,251 in Palermo 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.
Show the rest of the answer
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).