Car Test Centre, England

Ashford (Kent) Driving Test Centre

Car, Cat BAshfordModerate

At Ashford (Kent), 52% of candidates pass, one of the 323 test centres we rank from the DVSA data. Below you will find the full pass-rate history, the demographic split, the official DVSA waiting time and a comparison with the nearest centres.

Pass rate (2024-25)
52%
vs 48.7% UK avg
Tests in period
3.5K
2024-25
National rank
#134
of 323 centres
1st-time pass
53%
above UK avg

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Ashford (Kent) sits in the top half of car pass rates nationally (Top 41%, rank #134 of 323). The strongest car alternative nearby is Maidstone, about 17.4 miles away.

MaidstoneBest nearby
17.4 mi away
58%
+6.0 pp

Pass vs fail at a glance

52%passed
failed48%

All-time 31.4K passed, 31.8K failed, 63.1K total

How Ashford (Kent) compares

Ashford (Kent)
52%
UK national average
48.7%
Difference
+3.3 pp

Ashford (Kent) runs 3.3 points ahead of the national average, ranked 134 of 323 in its category. Margins in this range usually track route difficulty: fewer multi-lane roundabouts and less dense traffic.

Where Ashford (Kent) ranks among 323 centres

Top 41%
Ashford (Kent) ranks higher than 59% of UK car test centres
Rank
#134
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Ashford (Kent) has climbed 7.4 points across the series, 44.6% in 2017-18 to 52% now; the weakest year on record was 44.2% in 2019-20.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 4.0 pp
Male51.7%
0%UK avg 52.0%100%
Female47.7%
0%UK avg 48.0%100%
Zero faults1.4%
398 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Waiting time at Ashford (Kent)

Median wait, booking to test
4.3 weeks
What the typical learner who tested here had waited
Weeks to 10% availability
24 weeks
The older headline measure
Window appointments free
4.9%
Share of the 24-week window still open

The headline figure for reaching 10% availability is 24 weeks, but the typical (median) learner who took their test at Ashford (Kent) in May 2026 had waited 4.3 weeks from booking to test day.

Official DVSA data, May 2026. The median is the time between booking and taking the test; for live availability use the DVSA booking service.

Centre details

Address

18/19 Fir Tree Place
Church Road
Ashford
TW15 2PJ
England

Source: DVSA find a driving test centre (Open Government Licence v3.0), captured 2026-05-12.

Tests offered at Ashford (Kent)

  • car
  • ADI part 3

Accessibility & facilities

Wheelchair accessible per DVSA

Parking and toilet details aren't included in DVSA's published feed. For the current on-site facilities, check the DVSA find a driving test centre tool with postcode TW15 2PJ, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Ashford (Kent) sits in Ashford, Kent. It's a DVSA-run car test centre, and the routes from here work outward into the streets and arterial roads that learners from Ashford tend to know already. By volume, Ashford (Kent) is at the upper end of the DVSA's network. With 63.1K tests across 2017-18-2024-25, the figures on this page are about as statistically settled as DVSA data gets.

52% at Ashford (Kent), against a UK car average of 48.7%. That puts the centre 3.3 points above the national figure and ranks it #134 of 323 car centres in the DVSA's network. 53% of first-timers pass at Ashford (Kent), 4 points above the UK figure of 49%. A prepared first attempt has a real shot here in a way it doesn't at every centre.

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
Car

What learners should know about Ashford (Kent)

  • Pass rate at Ashford (Kent) sits close to the UK average. Prepare for an ordinary level of difficulty: examiners apply the standard DVSA marking sheet, and the routes are a representative mix of local conditions.
  • 63.1K tests through this centre over the published window. At that throughput, competition for short-notice slots is constant, so make a habit of checking the official booking page often.
  • If you can, take at least one lesson with an instructor who specifically works the Ashford (Kent) area. Local instructors know which nearby junctions are demanding and will drill them.
  • The only legitimate booking route is gov.uk. Anything calling itself a "test booking concierge" is reselling the same slots at a markup, the slots aren't theirs to control.

Other test centres nearby

On the day at Ashford (Kent)

Arrive at Ashford (Kent) with about ten minutes to spare and know your parking options in advance, they vary site to site across the DVSA network. The DVSA centre finder maps the centre and its surroundings. With very high demand and waits near 18 to 22 weeks, take any earlier slot the booking service offers rather than holding out. Don't set off without your provisional photocard licence; the test cannot start without it, and your car needs L plates and a working interior mirror. If Canterbury is fully booked, Ashford (Kent) is the next closest centre, roughly 13 miles away.

Expect about 40 minutes once you set off, to the same national DVSA script. It opens with an eyesight check at 20 metres and one tell-me question, after which the examiner rides along for the drive and asks one show-me question on the move. Around 20 minutes of that is independent driving, guided either by a sat nav the examiner provides or by road signs to a named destination, with one of four set manoeuvres and a one-in-seven chance of an emergency stop. The drive works through whatever mix of urban and outlying roads sits within about a twenty-minute radius, and at a centre this busy that usually means heavier traffic to read. Across DVSA marking nationally, the fault recorded most often on car tests is junctions - observation, worth drilling on the local routes before your date.

Results come immediately on return to the centre. The examiner talks you through any faults marked, prints the DL25 feedback form, and (if you passed) takes your provisional licence so the full one can be issued by post. A pass needs no more than 15 driving faults and zero serious or dangerous faults, the standard 52% of candidates at Ashford (Kent) meet under current DVSA marking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Ashford (Kent)?
The current pass rate at Ashford (Kent) driving test centre is 52%, calculated from 3.5K tests in 2024-25. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 53%. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 49.7% (from 63.1K tests).
Is Ashford (Kent) an easy or hard test centre?
Ashford (Kent) is ranked #134 of 323 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the top half of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 52% 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 Ashford (Kent) compare to the UK average?
Ashford (Kent)'s pass rate is 3.3 percentage points above the UK national average of 48.7%. Ashford (Kent) runs 3.3 points ahead of the national average, ranked 134 of 323 in its category. Margins in this range usually track route difficulty: fewer multi-lane roundabouts and less dense traffic.
How many driving tests does Ashford (Kent) record?
Ashford (Kent) has recorded 63.1K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 31.4K passed and 31.8K failed. The yearly trend chart on this page shows how volume and pass rate have moved across recent reporting periods.
Which driving test centres are near Ashford (Kent)?
The closest DVSA test centres to Ashford (Kent) are Canterbury (50.3%), Folkestone (45.4%), Herne Bay (55.4%) and Maidstone (58%). Of these, Herne Bay, Maidstone have higher current pass rates than Ashford (Kent)'s 52%. Canterbury, Folkestone 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 Ashford (Kent)?
Ashford (Kent) currently sees very high demand with an estimated wait of about 18 to 22 weeks. Across the UK, waits tend to ease in November, December, January, when fewer learners are booking, and peak in June, July, August. A flexible test date helps: booking into a quieter month often shortens the wait and opens up more available slots. Always confirm live availability on the DVSA booking service.
How do I book a test at Ashford (Kent) and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Ashford (Kent) 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 Ashford (Kent)?
In the latest DVSA figures (May 2026), the median learner who took their test at Ashford (Kent) had waited about 4.3 weeks between booking and test day. DVSA's older measure, the number of weeks until at least 10% of slots are free, was 24 weeks. About 4.9% of appointments in the 24-week booking window were still available. 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.