Driving Test Centre Pass Rates with Latest DVSA Data

The UK’s driving test centres, regulated by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), are an essential part of the journey for learner drivers. With varying pass rates across the country, it’s important to know what these numbers mean for your chances of success. Whether you’re planning your driving test or simply curious about how different test centres perform, we’ve got you covered with the latest pass rate data and expert tips to help you succeed.

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Understanding Driving Test Pass Rates: What the Numbers Really Mean

Before diving into the statistics, it’s important to understand how pass rates work. Test centre pass rates reflect the percentage of people who pass their driving test at each location. But pass rates alone don’t tell the full story:

Location matters: Some test centres, particularly those in rural areas, may have higher pass rates due to the nature of the routes and less traffic.
Test difficulty: Test routes in busy cities like London might feel more challenging, leading to a slightly lower pass rate.
Seasonal variations: Pass rates can fluctuate throughout the year, with some months showing more favourable outcomes for learners.

While pass rates can be a good indicator, they should be used alongside other factors when choosing your test centre.

Easiest Test Centres to Pass Your Test

Reading: With less traffic and quieter routes, Reading test centre shows one of the highest pass rates in the country. It’s a popular choice for those looking to increase their chances of passing first time.
Bristol: Another centre with a higher pass rate due to less congestion and a variety of test routes.

Hardest Test Centres

Hendon (London): Known for its high volume of traffic and complicated test routes, Hendon sees a much lower pass rate.
Manchester: Although less busy than central Manchester can still pose challenges with its mix of rural and urban roads.

Top 10 Highest Driving Test Centre Pass Rates (UK)

Based on the latest available DVSA driving test statistics, pass rates vary significantly across the UK depending on traffic conditions, route complexity, and test centre demand. Rural and less congested centres consistently show higher success rates compared to major cities.

Here are the top 10 highest performing test centres in the UK (latest DVSA-aligned data period 2025/2026):

Rank	Test Centre	Pass Rate (%)
1	Isles of Scilly	88.0%
2	Arbroath	79.0%
3	Benbecula Island	78.0%
4	Duns	78.0%
5	Ullapool	78.0%
6	Golspie	77.0%
7	Ballater	76.0%
8	Crieff	74.0%
9	Lerwick	70.0%
10	Campbeltown	69.0%

Source: DVSA driving test statistics (latest available dataset, aggregated from published centre-level pass rate.

What this means for learners

Higher pass rates are often linked to:

Lower traffic density
Simpler junction layouts
Fewer multi-lane roundabouts
Less congested urban driving conditions

However, a higher pass rate does not guarantee an easier test — it often reflects the type of driving environment rather than examiner leniency.

Pass rates vary a lot between test centres — but the biggest difference isn’t the centre itself, it’s how familiar you are with the actual routes used there.

That’s where RouteBuddy helps.

Latest UK Driving Test Centre Pass Rates

Practical car pass rates by first driving attempt, including zero faults recorded by Alphabetical order.

Time Period Captured: 2024/25

	Totals (Male and Female Combined)
Driving Test Centre Name	1st attempts	1st attempt passes	pass %	1st test with zero faults
Aberdeen North	868	380	43.8	22
Aberdeen North LGV	1059	492	46.5	25
Aberdeen South (Cove)	2440	1274	52.2	106
Aberfeldy	82	43	52.4	0
Abergavenny	2706	1704	63.0	159
Aberystwyth (Park Avenue)	702	344	49.0	7
Airdrie	2847	1170	41.1	54
Alness	495	322	65.1	29
Alnwick	544	316	58.1	12
Arbroath	219	178	81.3	14
Ashfield	4895	2547	52.0	181
Ashford (Kent)	1862	986	53.0	50
Atherton (Manchester)	3568	1568	43.9	29
Aylesbury	2836	1344	47.4	34
Ayr	1095	616	56.3	25
Bala	318	195	61.3	7
Ballater	107	87	81.3	6
Banbury	3621	1451	40.1	85
Banff	136	65	47.8	4
Bangor	2009	1273	63.4	36
Barking (Tanner Street)	3273	1126	34.4	30
Barnet (London)	4858	2416	49.7	119
Barnsley	3672	1917	52.2	92
Barnstaple	1848	988	53.5	60
Barra	..	..	60.0	..
Barrow In Furness	1098	697	63.5	116
Barry	987	608	61.6	47
Basildon	2246	1018	45.3	50
Basingstoke	2742	1532	55.9	154
Bedford	4708	2349	49.9	170
Belvedere (London)	1869	664	35.5	12
Benbecula Island	83	65	78.3	1
Berwick-On-Tweed	360	196	54.4	10
Beverley LGV	266	151	56.8	8
Birmingham (Garretts Green)	8651	3455	39.9	63
Birmingham (Kings Heath)	4004	1854	46.3	67
Birmingham (Kingstanding)	8313	3652	43.9	126
Birmingham (Shirley)	4680	2802	59.9	264
Birmingham (South Yardley)	5275	2078	39.4	67
Bishopbriggs	2675	1440	53.8	63
Bishops Stortford	3505	1732	49.4	48
Blackburn with Darwen	4092	1888	46.1	65
Blackpool	3040	1441	47.4	60
Bletchley	4885	2200	45.0	23
Blyth	3207	1664	51.9	94
Bodmin	2454	1053	42.9	40
Bolton (Manchester)	6598	3748	56.8	288
Borehamwood (London)	3708	1694	45.7	36
Boston	2202	1136	51.6	29
Bradford (Heaton)	3800	1799	47.3	35
Bradford (Thornbury)	3473	1580	45.5	46
Brecon	841	482	57.3	22
Bredbury (Manchester)	5102	2853	55.9	173
Brentwood (London)	2743	1319	48.1	48
Bridgend	3318	1767	53.3	57
Bridlington	1473	818	55.5	44
Bristol (Avonmouth)	5396	2951	54.7	139
Bristol (Kingswood)	5961	3154	52.9	229
Brodick (Isle of Arran)	42	21	50.0	4
Bromley (London)	5490	2844	51.8	159
Buckie	134	64	47.8	3
Burgess Hill	5108	2177	42.6	55
Burton on Trent	3543	1936	54.6	66
Bury (Manchester)	3397	1319	38.8	3
Bury St Edmunds	3887	1758	45.2	76
Buxton	1788	1037	58.0	24
Callander	57	27	47.4	2
Camborne	2421	964	39.8	14
Cambridge (Brookmount Court)	6982	3557	50.9	122
Campbeltown	68	37	54.4	0
Canterbury	1710	914	53.5	26
Cardiff (Llanishen)	7169	3824	53.3	284
Cardigan	648	330	50.9	8
Carlisle	1999	1068	53.4	72
Carlisle LGV (Cars)	29	17	58.6	1
Carmarthen	1060	569	53.7	35
Castle Douglas	256	135	52.7	6
Chadderton	5741	2553	44.5	34
Cheetham Hill (Manchester)	5009	2141	42.7	26
Chelmsford (Hanbury Road)	5331	2386	44.8	171
Cheltenham	3216	1507	46.9	29
Chertsey (London)	4546	2262	49.8	109
Chester	3660	1650	45.1	67
Chesterfield	2459	1385	56.3	185
Chichester	3170	2048	64.6	214
Chingford (London)	5458	1890	34.6	44
Chippenham	3720	1820	48.9	92
Chorley	2498	1232	49.3	60
Clacton-on-Sea	1325	634	47.8	21
Colchester	4811	2264	47.1	200
Coventry	4197	1751	41.7	49
Crawley	3527	1368	38.8	34
Crewe	2329	1015	43.6	14
Crieff	59	37	62.7	4
Culham LGV	..	..	71.4	..
Cumnock	506	320	63.2	17
Darlington	3213	1544	48.1	110
Derby (Alvaston)	4999	2546	50.9	161
Doncaster	3528	1461	41.4	71
Dorchester	2759	1842	66.8	141
Dudley	5279	2424	45.9	23
Dumbarton	918	493	53.7	10
Dumfries	1274	649	50.9	60
Dundee	3354	2018	60.2	182
Dunfermline (Vine)	2159	948	43.9	84
Dunoon	115	76	66.1	3
Duns	67	50	74.6	1
Durham	4112	2051	49.9	111
East Kilbride	1184	566	47.8	22
Eastbourne	2941	1494	50.8	37
Edinburgh (Currie)	3515	1577	44.9	83
Edinburgh (Musselburgh)	3695	1780	48.2	41
Elgin	962	422	43.9	27
Enfield (Brancroft Way)	171	77	45.0	4
Enfield (Innova Business Park)	4191	2261	53.9	183
Erith (London)	2363	1129	47.8	85
Exeter	4143	1936	46.7	70
Exeter LGV	98	29	29.6	0
Farnborough	4818	2829	58.7	199
Featherstone	5198	1694	32.6	45
Folkestone	1933	872	45.1	34
Forfar	241	164	68.0	14
Fort William	187	122	65.2	2
Fraserburgh	287	173	60.3	21
Gairloch	31	21	67.7	4
Galashiels	982	503	51.2	19
Gateshead	3476	1303	37.5	70
Gillingham	7888	4527	57.4	264
Girvan	156	101	64.7	5
Glasgow (Anniesland)	3888	1564	40.2	47
Glasgow (Baillieston)	4223	1869	44.3	77
Glasgow (Shieldhall)	2950	1042	35.3	18
Gloucester	3373	1649	48.9	43
Golspie	66	48	72.7	5
Goodmayes (London)	10778	4439	41.2	197
Gosforth	4906	2387	48.7	181
Grangemouth	2177	1026	47.1	54
Grantham (Somerby)	3384	2023	59.8	174
Grantown-On-Spey	90	51	56.7	8
Greenford (Horsenden Lane)	3407	1345	39.5	31
Greenham	1798	931	51.8	16
Greenock	941	385	40.9	12
Grimsby Coldwater	2356	980	41.6	46
Guildford	2470	1282	51.9	78
Haddington	1094	695	63.5	18
Halifax	2230	953	42.7	32
Hamilton	2339	896	38.3	33
Hartlepool	3104	1588	51.2	119
Hastings (Ore)	1526	767	50.3	21
Hawick	266	161	60.5	10
Heckmondwike	2642	1252	47.4	35
Hendon (London)	5948	2897	48.7	58
Hereford	1873	1135	60.6	81
Herne Bay	4098	2226	54.3	224
Hexham	665	378	56.8	19
Heysham	1889	1072	56.7	97
High Wycombe	1906	950	49.8	59
Hinckley	1622	764	47.1	26
Hornchurch (London)	2989	1435	48.0	68
Horsforth	6137	3162	51.5	122
Huddersfield	4428	2160	48.8	35
Hull	4542	2042	45.0	130
Huntly	132	82	62.1	13
Inveraray	41	36	87.8	8
Inverness (Longman Drive)	1343	616	45.9	37
Inverurie	610	340	55.7	10
Ipswich	6007	3847	64.0	572
Irvine	2675	1319	49.3	21
Islay Island	..	..	75.0	..
Isle of Mull	..	..	84.2	..
Isle of Skye (Portree)	79	58	73.4	3
Isle of Tiree	..	..	85.7	..
Isles of Scilly	..	..	80.0	..
Isleworth (Fleming Way)	6353	3193	50.3	52
Kelso	192	115	59.9	2
Kendal (Oxenholme Road)	1230	842	68.5	101
Kettering	4169	1926	46.2	80
Kings Lynn	3352	1550	46.2	13
Kingussie	79	50	63.3	4
Kirkcaldy	2449	1150	47.0	81
Knaresborough	2715	1628	60.0	93
Kyle of Lochalsh	78	41	52.6	2
Lanark	969	533	55.0	27
Launceston	1050	475	45.2	7
Lee On The Solent	5963	3612	60.6	371
Leeds	3648	1856	50.9	68
Leicester (Cannock Street)	5054	1815	35.9	70
Leicester (Wigston)	7577	3231	42.6	81
Leighton Buzzard (Stanbridge Road)	3693	1835	49.7	115
Lerwick	272	192	70.6	16
Letchworth	2705	1575	58.2	40
Lichfield	4074	1964	48.2	40
Lincoln	3192	1632	51.1	113
Livingston	2431	1238	50.9	82
Llanelli	1721	849	49.3	9
Llantrisant	4223	2200	52.1	120
Lochgilphead	101	63	62.4	3
Loughborough	2622	1143	43.6	48
Loughton (London)	2693	1296	48.1	79
Louth	447	258	57.7	15
Lowestoft(Mobbs Way)	2339	1054	45.1	40
Ludlow	1850	1114	60.2	74
Luton	3811	1419	37.2	49
Macclesfield	2471	1250	50.6	14
Maidstone	3499	2030	58.0	95
Mallaig	26	20	76.9	0
Malton	361	237	65.7	10
Melton Mowbray	1342	862	64.2	97
Merthyr Tydfil	1973	1023	51.8	24
Middlesbrough	4662	2249	48.2	133
Mill Hill (London)	4427	2227	50.3	85
Mitcham (London)	6489	3144	48.5	137
Monmouth	827	516	62.4	43
Montrose	435	285	65.5	35
Morden (London)	8658	4094	47.3	99
Nelson	3026	1414	46.7	48
Newport (Gwent)	3579	1854	51.8	132
Newport (Isle of Wight)	1997	1060	53.1	33
Newton Abbot	3115	1600	51.4	57
Newton Stewart	108	56	51.9	1
Newtown	957	617	64.5	37
Norris Green (Liverpool)	5297	2043	38.6	36
Northallerton	1269	752	59.3	39
Northampton	6143	3123	50.8	230
Northwich	1792	947	52.8	28
Norwich (Jupiter Road)	1424	600	42.1	21
Norwich (Peachman Way)	6027	3501	58.1	323
Nottingham (Chilwell)	4937	2180	44.2	61
Nottingham (Colwick)	5261	2472	47.0	72
Nuneaton	3233	1734	53.6	138
Oban	183	113	61.7	2
Orkney	194	134	69.1	11
Oswestry	871	501	57.5	27
Oxford (Cowley)	3093	1464	47.3	50
Paisley	2647	1216	45.9	15
Peebles	329	219	66.6	11
Pembroke Dock	1115	633	56.8	67
Penzance	346	165	47.7	4
Perth (Arran Road)	1234	559	45.3	18
Peterborough	5587	2771	49.6	146
Peterhead	765	449	58.7	47
Pinner (London)	7528	3648	48.5	151
Pitlochry	72	39	54.2	0
Plymouth	3979	1546	38.9	42
Plymouth LGV	..	..	9.1	..
Pontefract	2322	1089	46.9	39
Poole	5231	2499	47.8	118
Portsmouth	6030	3114	51.6	202
Preston	5922	3184	53.8	185
Pwllheli	455	297	65.3	17
Reading	3442	1705	49.5	53
Redditch	2383	1066	44.7	34
Redhill Aerodrome	2221	1087	48.9	64
Rhyl	1689	939	55.6	30
Rochdale (Manchester)	4031	1582	39.2	7
Rotherham	3101	1575	50.8	106
Rothesay	64	51	79.7	2
Rugby	3158	1509	47.8	112
Sale (Manchester)	4918	2386	48.5	177
Salisbury	3055	1639	53.6	177
Scarborough	1254	645	51.4	14
Scunthorpe	2659	1192	44.8	33
Sevenoaks	3167	1739	54.9	58
Sheffield (Handsworth)	4346	1991	45.8	81
Sheffield (Middlewood Road)	4628	2272	49.1	93
Shrewsbury	2605	1258	48.3	53
Sidcup (London)	6972	4168	59.8	390
Skegness	937	554	59.1	24
Skipton	1552	837	53.9	13
Slough (London)	4657	2026	43.5	79
Southall (London)	3075	1327	43.2	39
Southampton (Maybush)	4806	2268	47.2	83
Southend-on-Sea	2341	1129	48.2	21
Southport (Liverpool)	3728	2200	59.0	61
Speke (Liverpool)	2773	1033	37.3	15
St Albans	3471	1648	47.5	88
St Helens (Liverpool)	4079	1604	39.3	28
Stafford	1794	805	44.9	20
Steeton	1859	931	50.1	35
Stevenage	2171	1009	46.5	25
Stirling	1829	691	37.8	49
Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge)	2797	1104	39.5	14
Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)	3173	1268	40.0	28
Stornoway	220	118	53.6	11
Stranraer	156	113	72.4	5
Sunderland	4522	2219	49.1	174
Swansea	5450	2931	53.8	144
Swindon	4752	2322	48.9	168
Swindon LGV	..	..	21.4	..
Taunton	3659	2055	56.2	244
Telford	2615	1118	42.8	27
Thurso	93	51	54.8	7
Tilbury	2140	1071	50.0	17
Tolworth (London)	5242	2783	53.1	75
Tottenham	5654	2667	47.2	69
Trowbridge	1344	689	51.3	32
Tunbridge Wells	2535	1481	58.4	163
Ullapool	34	26	76.5	6
Upton	4834	2481	51.3	103
Uxbridge (London)	3654	1773	48.5	48
Wakefield	3627	1714	47.3	86
Wallasey	603	332	55.1	7
Walton LGV	1062	658	62.0	39
Wanstead (London)	3986	1568	39.3	57
Warrington	3278	1793	54.7	104
Warwick (Wedgenock House)	4999	2424	48.5	53
Watford	5451	2548	46.7	118
Watnall	306	152	49.7	3
Wednesbury	3783	1256	33.2	20
Wellingborough	799	443	55.4	28
West Didsbury (Manchester)	8758	4498	51.4	305
West Wickham (London)	5587	2869	51.4	78
Weston-super-Mare	3156	1790	56.7	148
Whitby	314	197	62.7	7
Wick	121	62	51.2	8
Widnes	2244	889	39.6	7
Winchester	2086	979	46.9	69
Wolverhampton	4544	1402	30.9	57
Wood Green (London)	5154	2385	46.3	88
Worcester	5259	2653	50.4	64
Workington	1460	699	47.9	8
Worksop	3151	1729	54.9	124
Worthing	4410	2598	58.9	317
Wrexham	2071	1181	57.0	39
Yeading (London)	3175	1428	45.0	64
Yeovil	3380	1996	59.1	87
York	3614	1812	50.1	118
Hither Green (London)	1407	730	51.9	62
National Totals	900260	440408	48.9	21874

Tips to Improve Your Chances of Passing the UK Driving Test

Regardless of the pass rate at your local test centre, there are a number of things you can do to improve your chances of passing your driving test. Here are a few tips:

Take regular lessons: Practising with a qualified instructor ensures you’re ready for both the theory and practical parts of the test.
Understand your test route: Every test centre has a specific set of routes. Familiarising yourself with these routes can help reduce test anxiety and increase your chances of success.
Stay calm and focused: Nervousness can impact your performance, so learning stress-management techniques can help.

With RouteBuddy, you’ll be fully prepared for your retest. Don’t wait—start practising now and make your next attempt your best one! Available on iOS and Android.

What Are the Best Times to Book Your Driving Test?

Timing your test can play a key role in your chances of success. Research shows that certain months offer better odds, largely due to less congestion and better weather conditions. The months of February, May, and November tend to see higher pass rates due to less traffic and more favourable test conditions.

How to Book & Change Your Driving Test

Book your test: Visit gov.uk/book-driving-test, select a test centre, and pick a date.
Change your test: Log in to your DVSA account, select “Change Your Test,” and choose a new date.

(Note: Changing your test is free if done more than 3 days in advance.)

Conclusion:

While pass rates vary across UK driving test centres, one thing is certain: the more prepared you are, the better your chances of success. By using the latest DVSA data and leveraging tools like RouteBuddy, you can gain a competitive edge, ensuring you’re well-prepared and confident on test day.

Other Helpful Resources: What to Do If You Lose Your Driving Licence in the UK and How To Pass Your Driving Test

FAQ's

What is the pass rate for my local driving test centre?

Pass rates vary by centre and change regularly. You can check your local centre for the latest figures above.

Which test centre has the highest pass rate in the UK?

Pass rates differ year to year, but some centres consistently perform higher than others depending on location and test volume.

Does the driving test centre affect your chance of passing?

Yes, slightly. Different centres have different routes, traffic conditions, and layouts which can affect difficulty.

How do I choose the best driving test centre for me?

Choose a centre you know well, ideally where you’ve practised local routes and feel confident driving.

Can I change the date of my driving test?

Yes, you can change it through the official booking system, usually with enough notice.

How soon can I retake the test if I fail?

Usually after 10 working days, depending on availability.

How long does the driving test last?

Around 40 minutes in total.

How many minor faults are allowed in a driving test?

Up to 15 minor faults, as long as none are serious or dangerous.

What are the most common reasons people fail their driving test?

Common reasons include poor observation, hesitation, lack of mirror checks, and incorrect positioning.