PassRates.uk
Car Test Centre, England

Atherton (Manchester) Driving Test Centre

Car, Cat BAthertonM46 0DUTougher than average

Atherton (Manchester) in Atherton, England has a current pass rate of 44.4%, 4.3 points below the UK average of 48.7%. This page breaks down the multi-year trend, the first-time and gender pass rates, the waiting time and how it compares with the rest of the UK, all from the DVSA quarterly data.

By Vikas DulgundeUpdated MethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
44.4%
vs 48.7% UK avg
Tests in period
7.7K
2024-25
National rank
#275
of 323 centres
1st-time pass
43.9%
below UK avg

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Atherton (Manchester) sits in the bottom quarter of car pass rates nationally (Bottom 15%, rank #275 of 323). The strongest car alternative nearby is Bolton (Manchester), about 3.8 miles away.

Bolton (Manchester)Best nearby
3.8 mi away
56.7%
+12.3 pp
All centres in Atherton→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

44.4%passed
failed55.6%

All-time 33.3K passed, 35.7K failed, 68.9K total

How Atherton (Manchester) compares

Atherton (Manchester)
44.4%
UK national average
48.7%
Difference
-4.3 pp

Atherton (Manchester) sits 4.3 points under the national average, ranked 275 of 323 in its category. Routes here are likely more demanding than at rural centres; extra time on the local roads pays back directly.

Where Atherton (Manchester) ranks among 323 centres

Bottom 15%
Atherton (Manchester) sits in the bottom quarter of car pass rates
Rank
#275
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Across the recorded years Atherton (Manchester) has drifted from 50.3% to 44.4%, down 5.9 points, with the best year at 50.3% in 2017-18.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 4.8 pp
Male50.7%
0%UK avg 52.0%100%
Female45.9%
0%UK avg 48.0%100%
Zero faults0.4%
391 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Waiting time at Atherton (Manchester)

Median wait, booking to test
10.6 weeks
What the typical learner who tested here had waited
Weeks to 10% availability
24 weeks
The older headline measure
Window appointments free
3.8%
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 Atherton (Manchester) in May 2026 had waited 10.6 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

Gibfield Park Avenue
Atherton
Manchester
M46 0SU
England

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

Tests offered at Atherton (Manchester)

  • car
  • motorcycle module 1 (off-road)
  • motorcycle module 2 (on-road)
  • lorry and bus
  • ADI part 2
  • 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 M46 0SU, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Atherton (Manchester) is one of the DVSA's car test sites in England, located in Atherton, Greater Manchester at M46 0DU. The choice of routes reflects the local mix of road types rather than any standard national template. By volume, Atherton (Manchester) is at the upper end of the DVSA's network. With 68.9K tests across 2017-18-2024-25, the figures on this page are about as statistically settled as DVSA data gets.

Atherton (Manchester) runs close to the national curve: 44.4% pass rate, 4.3 points below the UK average of 48.7%. The rank is #275 of 323 car centres. First-attempt pass rate at Atherton (Manchester): 43.9%, against 49% nationally. That's 5.1 points below the UK average. Many candidates need a second go, and local-road familiarity is one of the most consistent things that improves the second attempt.

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 Atherton (Manchester)

  • Centre difficulty is roughly average at Atherton (Manchester). The same fault categories that fail candidates nationally (junctions, mirrors, observation) are what fail candidates here, in similar proportions.
  • Atherton (Manchester) is a high-volume centre. Booking pressure is real, check the DVSA booking service daily for earlier slots rather than relying on the headline available date.
  • Practising the roads around the centre is the preparation that most reliably pays off. Most ADI instructors in Atherton will know the road types and junctions learners commonly meet near the centre.
  • If you missed the earlier slots at Atherton (Manchester), cancellations appear on the official DVSA booking service throughout the day. Check at off-peak times (early morning, late evening) for the best chance of catching one.

Other test centres nearby

Bolton (Manchester)Best nearby
3.8 mi, 104.4K tests, Rank #89
56.7%
+12.3 pp
Warrington
8.7 mi, 59.0K tests, Rank #99
55.3%
+10.9 pp
Blackburn with Darwen
12.1 mi, 104.2K tests, Rank #225
47.8%
+3.4 pp
Chorley
10.6 mi, 63.1K tests, Rank #209
48.3%
+3.9 pp
Sale (Manchester)
10.1 mi, 92.0K tests, Rank #197
49.1%
+4.7 pp
West Didsbury (Manchester)
11.8 mi, 142.4K tests, Rank #157
50.9%
+6.5 pp
See all centres in Atherton→Easiest UK centres→Hardest UK centres→Best for first-time pass→Busiest UK centres→

On the day at Atherton (Manchester)

Arrive at Atherton (Manchester) 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 (postcode M46 0DU) 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 Bolton (Manchester) is fully booked, Atherton (Manchester) is the next closest centre, roughly 4 miles away.

The test runs for around 40 minutes and follows the same DVSA format used at every centre. The examiner checks your eyesight at 20 metres, asks you a tell-me safety question, then sits in for the drive, with one show-me question while you are driving. About 20 minutes of it is independent driving, either following a sat nav the examiner sets up or following road signs to a named place. You will do one of four set manoeuvres, and roughly one in seven candidates is asked to perform 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.

You will know the result before you leave Atherton (Manchester). The examiner explains the faults marked on your DL25 feedback form and, if you have passed, takes the provisional licence so a full one can be posted out. The pass standard is fixed nationally, 15 driving faults maximum and zero serious or dangerous faults, and 44.4% of candidates here meet it under current DVSA marking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Atherton (Manchester)?
The current pass rate at Atherton (Manchester) driving test centre is 44.4%, calculated from 7.7K tests in 2024-25. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 43.9%. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 48.3% (from 68.9K tests).
Is Atherton (Manchester) an easy or hard test centre?
Atherton (Manchester) is ranked #275 of 323 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the bottom quarter of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 44.4% compares to a UK average of 48.7%. Higher pass rates often correlate with quieter rural or suburban routes; lower rates with dense urban centres featuring complex junctions and multi-lane roundabouts.
How does Atherton (Manchester) compare to the UK average?
Atherton (Manchester)'s pass rate is 4.3 percentage points below the UK national average of 48.7%. Atherton (Manchester) sits 4.3 points under the national average, ranked 275 of 323 in its category. Routes here are likely more demanding than at rural centres; extra time on the local roads pays back directly.
How many driving tests does Atherton (Manchester) record?
Atherton (Manchester) has recorded 68.9K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 33.3K passed and 35.7K 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 Atherton (Manchester)?
The closest DVSA test centres to Atherton (Manchester) are Bolton (Manchester) (56.7%), Warrington (55.3%), Blackburn with Darwen (47.8%) and Chorley (48.3%). Of these, Bolton (Manchester), Warrington, Blackburn with Darwen, Chorley have higher current pass rates than Atherton (Manchester)'s 44.4%. 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 Atherton (Manchester)?
Atherton (Manchester) 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. Where you can be flexible on dates, targeting one of the quieter months tends to bring a shorter wait and a wider choice of slots. Always confirm live availability on the DVSA booking service.
How do I book a test at Atherton (Manchester) and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Atherton (Manchester) 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 Atherton (Manchester)?
In the latest DVSA figures (May 2026), the median learner who took their test at Atherton (Manchester) had waited about 10.6 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 3.8% 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.