HGV/LGV Test Centre, England

2 Start - Otterbourne Driving Test Centre

HGV, Cat CSilksteadSO21 2LFHigh pass rate

The 2 Start - Otterbourne driving test centre is located in Silkstead, England (SO21 2LF). Below are the official pass-rate statistics, multi-year trend, demographic breakdown, and how this centre compares against the UK average and its neighbours, all drawn from the DVSA quarterly statistical release.

By VikasReviewed by VikasMethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
65.2%
vs 48.7% UK avg
Tests in period
952
2022-23 to 2024-25 (3yr avg, low volume)
National rank
#55
of 152 centres
1st-time pass
N/A
DVSA omits this centre from DRT122C

Pass vs fail at a glance

65.2%passed
failed34.8%

621 passed, 331 failed, 952 total

How 2 Start - Otterbourne compares

2 Start - Otterbourne
65.2%
UK national average
48.7%
Difference
+16.5 pp

2 Start - Otterbourne performs well above the UK average. Learners passing here are more likely to pass than at most other UK centres, though this can also reflect quieter test routes and fewer challenging junctions.

Where 2 Start - Otterbourne ranks among 152 centres

Top 36%
2 Start - Otterbourne ranks higher than 64% of UK hgv/lgv test centres
Rank
#55
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Most common faults at this centre

The fault categories most frequently recorded against learners on test. Knowing them lets you target practice on the things examiners are most likely to penalise.

  1. 1Junctions - observation10
  2. 2Mirrors - change direction9
  3. 3Move off - safely8
  4. 4Junctions - turning right7
  5. 5Response to signs - traffic lights6

Per-centre fault breakdowns are derived from the DVSA national fault distribution applied to centre-level test outcomes.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 14.4 pp
Male64.0%
0%UK avg 49.7%100%
Female78.4%
0%UK avg 44.0%100%
Zero faults0%
0 candidates passed without a single recorded fault

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait
16 weeks
High demand
Weekly capacity
~10
estimated test slots per week
Trend
stable
availability direction

Wait times at 2 Start - Otterbourne have remained broadly stable through recent reporting periods. Booking is achievable but not immediate: learners booking at 2 Start - Otterbourne typically wait around 16 weeks from booking to test day.

Peak months
June, July, August, September
longest waits in Silkstead
Best to book
November, December, January, February
shortest expected waits

Wait time is estimated from regional demand patterns reported in the National Audit Office investigation into car driving test waiting times (Dec 2024) and the DVSA Despatch blog updates, combined with this centre's test volume. Real availability fluctuates with examiner staffing and cancellations, always check the official DVSA booking service for live slots.

Centre details

Address

2 Start - Otterbourne
Silkstead
Hampshire
SO21 2LF
England

Tests offered at 2 Start - Otterbourne

  • HGV/LGV

For other test types at this location, search the DVSA centre finder with postcode SO21 2LF.

Accessibility & facilities

Parking, toilets, and disabled-access details vary by centre. Check the official DVSA find a driving test centre tool with postcode SO21 2LF, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

2 Start - Otterbourne is in Silkstead, Hampshire (SO21 2LF) and runs DVSA hgv/lgv tests for learners across the local area. The routes are the same fixed set every day; your examiner picks one without telling you which. 2 Start - Otterbourne is a low-volume centre, 952 tests through 2022-23-2024-25. PassRates aggregates the multi-year total because the per-quarter figures are too noisy to draw conclusions from in isolation.

Out of 152 UK hgv/lgv test centres, 2 Start - Otterbourne ranks 55, which lands it in the upper half nationally. The 65.2% pass rate is 16.5 points clear of the UK figure of 48.7%. First-attempt data for 2 Start - Otterbourne is missing from the DVSA's DRT122C release. It's not a low number, it's no number, the centre is small enough that DVSA omits it from that particular table.

All figures shown are aggregated from the DVSA quarterly statistical release covering the most recent reporting periods available. Pass-rate calculations exclude tests cancelled by the candidate or examiner. Sample sizes and methodology are described in the source attribution at the foot of this page.

Country
England
Test category
HGV/LGV
DVSA centre ID
2-start-otterbourne-heavy

What learners should know about 2 Start - Otterbourne

  • Above-average pass rate at 2 Start - Otterbourne doesn't mean above-average ease. The fundamentals examiners mark are the same nationally: junctions, mirrors, observation, signal timing. A 65%+ pass rate means more candidates clear those, not that the bar is lower.
  • With 952 tests on record at 2 Start - Otterbourne, the per-quarter pass rates are noisy. The trend chart on this page is more informative than any specific number from a specific period.
  • If you can, take at least one lesson with an instructor who specifically works the 2 Start - Otterbourne routes. Local instructors know which junctions are the centre's hardest and will drill them.
  • Don't pay third-party sites for booking access at 2 Start - Otterbourne. Use gov.uk/book-driving-test directly; cancellations show up on the same booking flow.

Other test centres nearby

On the day at 2 Start - Otterbourne

Ten minutes early is the right target at 2 Start - Otterbourne. Parking differs between DVSA centres, so it pays to scout the route on the DVSA centre finder (postcode SO21 2LF) the day before. This centre sees high demand, modelled at roughly 16 weeks to a slot; booking well ahead and watching for cancellations both help. Bring the provisional photocard licence, the examiner checks for it first, and make sure your car is roadworthy with L plates and a working interior mirror. If Winchester is fully booked, 2 Start - Otterbourne is the next closest centre, roughly 4 miles away.

Plan for a drive of roughly 40 minutes, identical in structure to every other DVSA centre. First comes the 20-metre eyesight check and a pair of vehicle-safety questions, one show-me, one tell-me, then the examiner joins you for the road section. About 20 minutes is independent driving by sat nav or by following signs to a named target, you tackle one of four set manoeuvres, and around a third of candidates get an emergency stop. The drive covers the local mix of road types within roughly a twenty-minute radius of the centre. Across recent DVSA marking, the fault logged most often at this centre is junctions - observation, worth drilling on the local routes before your date.

There is no wait for the verdict, the examiner delivers it at the centre. They go over each fault recorded, hand you the DL25 feedback form, and on a pass retain your provisional licence so the full version arrives by post. To pass you need no more than 15 driving faults and not a single serious or dangerous one; 65.2% of candidates at 2 Start - Otterbourne currently clear that.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at 2 Start - Otterbourne?
The current pass rate at 2 Start - Otterbourne driving test centre is 65.2%, calculated from 952 tests in 2022-23 to 2024-25 (3yr avg, low volume). DVSA does not publish first-attempt figures for this centre. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 65.2% (from 952 tests).
Is 2 Start - Otterbourne an easy or hard test centre?
2 Start - Otterbourne is ranked #55 of 152 UK hgv/lgv test centres by pass rate, placing it in the top half of hgv/lgv pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 65.2% compares to a UK average of 48.7%. Centres with calmer suburban or rural routes tend to sit higher, while busy urban sites with tight junctions and multi-lane roundabouts usually sit lower.
How does 2 Start - Otterbourne compare to the UK average?
2 Start - Otterbourne's pass rate is 16.5 percentage points above the UK national average of 48.7%. 2 Start - Otterbourne performs well above the UK average. Learners passing here are more likely to pass than at most other UK centres, though this can also reflect quieter test routes and fewer challenging junctions.
How many tests are taken at 2 Start - Otterbourne each year?
2 Start - Otterbourne has recorded 952 tests in the available DVSA data, of which 621 passed and 331 failed. The trend chart on this page plots how both volume and pass rate have changed across the recent DVSA reporting periods.
Which driving test centres are near 2 Start - Otterbourne?
The closest DVSA test centres to 2 Start - Otterbourne are Winchester (47.9%), Southampton (Maybush) (47.1%), Southampton (Maybush) (78.9%) and Southampton LGV (64.8%). Of these, Southampton (Maybush) has a higher current pass rate than 2 Start - Otterbourne's 65.2%. Winchester, Southampton (Maybush), Southampton LGV sit lower. You can compare every nearby centre in the "Other test centres nearby" section above, or see them all on the interactive PassRates map.
When is the best time to book a test at 2 Start - Otterbourne?
2 Start - Otterbourne currently sees high demand with an estimated wait of around 16 weeks. Waits tend to ease in November, December, January, when fewer learners are booking, and peak in June, July, August. If your test date is flexible, aiming for a quieter month can mean a shorter wait and more slot choice. Always confirm live availability on the DVSA booking service.
How do I book a test at 2 Start - Otterbourne and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose 2 Start - Otterbourne as your centre. You will need your provisional licence number and your theory test pass certificate number. To pass, you must finish with no more than 15 driving (minor) faults and zero serious or dangerous faults. Our guides cover how to book step by step and how faults are marked.
How long is the wait for a driving test at 2 Start - Otterbourne?
The estimated wait at 2 Start - Otterbourne is around 16 weeks (high demand). That figure is modelled from regional demand patterns reported in the National Audit Office investigation into car driving test waiting times, the DVSA Despatch blog updates, and this centre's test volume of 952 lifetime tests. Wait times peak in June and July and ease in November and December. For live availability, check the official DVSA booking service.
Source

Data: DVSA quarterly statistical release, released under the Open Government Licence v3.0. PassRates.uk aggregates DVSA centre-level totals across reporting periods.

Edited by Vikas. DVSA data period: 2024-25.