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Driving Test Centre Pass Rates in Great Britain

Search and compare DVSA car practical test pass rates for 315 test centres in Great Britain, April 2025 to March 2026. Find which centres have the highest pass rates and shortest waiting times, and find local instructors near you.

Centres shown

315

Avg pass rate

50.1%

Highest pass rate

73.8%

Isle of Mull

Lowest pass rate

34.3%

Wolverhampton

Showing 315 of 315 centres.

Driving test pass rates in Great Britain explained

Across the centres in this tool, the pass rate weighted by number of tests is 50.1%. DVSA’s national figure for April 2025 to March 2026, which also counts centres too small to list, is 50.0% (1,000,043 passes from 1,998,621 tests). That covers every attempt, not only first attempts. Among centres that ran at least 1,000 tests, pass rates ranged from 34.3% at Wolverhampton to 69.7% at Melton Mowbray.

DVSA’s tables record how many people passed at each centre, not why. Local roads, how ready candidates are when they book, and the number of tests a centre runs can all move the figure. At small centres a handful of results can shift the pass rate by several points, and DVSA warns that low numbers are not reliable for comparison.

A higher pass rate does not mean a centre is “easier”, and choosing a centre for its pass rate will not help if you are not ready for the test.

Test centres with the highest pass rates

The ten highest pass rates in DVSA’s 2025-26 data. Every one of these centres ran fewer than 300 tests in the year, so treat the rates with caution.

1.
Isle of MullArgyll and Bute
73.8%
2.
GairlochHighland
73.5%
3.
PitlochryPerth and Kinross
73.3%
4.
Benbecula IslandNa h-Eileanan Siar
72.9%
5.
GirvanSouth Ayrshire
72%
6.
CampbeltownArgyll and Bute
71.6%
7.
DunoonArgyll and Bute
71.5%
8.
StranraerDumfries and Galloway
71.2%
9.
GolspieHighland
71%
10.
DunsScottish Borders
70.2%

Tips for choosing a test centre

It can be tempting to book at the centre with the highest pass rate, but how well you know the roads around the centre counts for more. Some practical points:

  • Practise locally. Choose a centre where your instructor regularly teaches and where you have had plenty of practice. Familiarity with local roundabouts, junctions, and road layouts matters more than the headline pass rate.
  • Check waiting times. In July 2026 the median wait from booking to test was over 20 weeks at 41 centres in this tool. If your test is urgent, look at centres nearby with shorter waits, even if their pass rate is slightly lower.
  • Ask about timing. If heavy traffic makes you nervous, ask your instructor which test times are quieter at your centre.
  • Ask your instructor. Your driving instructor will know which local centres suit your ability level and can help you decide.

How to prepare for your practical test

Regardless of which test centre you choose, preparation matters most. On the car practical test you drive for around 35 minutes, including 20 to 35 minutes of independent driving, and do one reversing exercise: a parallel park, a bay park, or pulling up on the right and reversing around 2 car lengths.

There is no minimum number of lessons or practice hours, but DVSA says learners who combine professional lessons with private practice tend to do better in their test. If you are looking for an instructor near your chosen test centre, browse local driving instructors on Orbit. You can also explore typical driving lesson costs by area to help budget for your learning.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average driving test pass rate in Great Britain?
DVSA figures for April 2025 to March 2026 show a car practical test pass rate of 50.0% across Great Britain (1,000,043 passes from 1,998,621 tests). That covers every attempt. First attempts on their own passed at 50.5%. Among centres that ran at least 1,000 tests, pass rates ranged from 34.3% at Wolverhampton to 69.7% at Melton Mowbray.
Which driving test centre has the highest pass rate?
Among centres that ran at least 1,000 car tests in 2025-26, Melton Mowbray had the highest pass rate at 69.7%, followed by Barrow In Furness (69.6%) and Dorchester (69.0%). Some very small centres score higher, such as Pitlochry at 73.3% from 146 tests, but DVSA warns that results from centres with low numbers are not reliable for comparison.
How long is the driving test waiting list?
DVSA's median wait between booking and taking a car test was 11.1 weeks across Great Britain in August 2026. It varies by centre: in July 2026 the median was over 20 weeks at 41 centres in this tool and 7 weeks or less at 54. Of the centres in this tool, Bedford had the longest, at 27.1 weeks.
Does choosing a test centre with a higher pass rate help?
Not necessarily. DVSA's pass rate tables record how many people passed at each centre, not why, so they cannot show that a test is easier in one place. The roads you know best are the ones around the centre where you learned. Booking at an unfamiliar centre for its pass rate means driving on roads you have not practised on.
Do London test centres have the lowest pass rates?
No. The London region passed 48.8% of car tests in 2025-26, below the 50.0% national figure but above the West Midlands, which was lowest at 46.2%. The lowest centre was Wolverhampton at 34.3%. London centres ranged from 39.9% at Chingford to 58.7% at Sidcup, not counting Barking (Tanner Street), which DVSA lists as closed.
How many driving lessons do I need before my test?
There is no minimum number of lessons or practice hours. DVSA's Ready to Pass guidance says learners who combine professional lessons with private practice tend to do better in their test, and that you are ready when you consistently reach level 5 in all 27 driving skills and your instructor agrees you are ready.

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