PassRates.uk
HGV/LGV Test Centre, England

Atherton (Manchester) Driving Test Centre

HGV, Cat CAthertonM46 0DUModerate

Atherton (Manchester) posts a 52.5% pass rate, with Apex (Peterborough) the nearest alternative about 3 miles away. Read on for its full DVSA history, first-time pass rate, waiting time and demographic breakdown.

By Vikas DulgundeUpdated MethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
52.5%
vs 60.2% UK avg
Tests in period
2.2K
2024-25
National rank
#103
of 124 centres
1st-time pass
N/A
DVSA omits this centre from DRT122C

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Atherton (Manchester) sits in the bottom quarter of hgv/lgv pass rates nationally (Bottom 18%, rank #103 of 124). The strongest hgv/lgv alternative nearby is Roadtrain (Essex), about 15.2 miles away.

Roadtrain (Essex)Best nearby
15.2 mi away
69%
+16.5 pp
All centres in Atherton→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

52.5%passed
failed47.5%

All-time 15.8K passed, 16.1K failed, 31.9K total

How Atherton (Manchester) compares

Atherton (Manchester)
52.5%
UK national average
60.2%
Difference
-7.7 pp

Atherton (Manchester) sits 7.7 points under the national average, ranked 103 of 124 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 124 centres

Bottom 18%
Atherton (Manchester) sits in the bottom quarter of hgv/lgv pass rates
Rank
#103
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Since 2017-18 the rate at Atherton (Manchester) has risen from 49.1% to 52.5%, a 3.4-point gain, peaking at 52.5% in 2024-25.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 8.3 pp
Male49.0%
0%100%
Female57.3%
0%100%
Zero faults0%
0 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait
14 to 18 weeks
High demand
Weekly capacity
~83
estimated test slots per week
Demand
High
busier than average

Booking is achievable but not immediate: on this estimate, learners booking at Atherton (Manchester) would typically wait around 14 to 18 weeks from booking to test day.

Peak months
June, July, August, September
when UK waits tend to be longest
Best to book
November, December, January, February
when UK waits tend to be shortest

Treat this as a modelled estimate rather than a booking quote. It is built from regional demand patterns and test volume, explained in full on our methodology page. Always confirm real slots on 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): a DVSA hgv/lgv test centre in Atherton, Greater Manchester. Local routes, local traffic patterns, no national standard for what "harder" or "easier" looks like beyond what the numbers below show. Across 2017-18-2024-25 the DVSA recorded 31.9K tests at Atherton (Manchester). A solid mid-range sample, the data is reliable enough that the rank position below isn't an artefact of small numbers.

The bottom quarter of the UK by pass rate: Atherton (Manchester) ranks #103 of 124 hgv/lgv centres at 52.5%, 7.7 points below the national figure of 60.2%. DVSA doesn't break out first-attempt figures for Atherton (Manchester) in DRT122C, so the split between first-time and retake pass rates isn't published for this 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
HGV/LGV

What learners should know about Atherton (Manchester)

  • Atherton (Manchester) runs a tougher-than-average pass rate. If you've trained somewhere quieter, take at least 2-3 lessons on Atherton test-area roads before your date. The difficulty is in the road mix, not the marking sheet.
  • 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.
  • 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

Apex (Peterborough)
2.9 mi, 3.3K tests, Rank #66
61.5%
+9.0 pp
Roadtrain (Essex)Best nearby
15.2 mi, 5.6K tests, Rank #37
69%
+16.5 pp
Simonswood LGV
14.5 mi, 6.8K tests, Rank #119
42.5%
-10.0 pp
Bredbury (Manchester)
17.2 mi, 25.5K tests, Rank #107
51.5%
-1.0 pp
Bredbury LGV
17.9 mi, 1.4K tests, Rank #117
44.8%
-7.7 pp
Liverpool LGV (System)
19.4 mi, 887 tests, Rank #92
55%
+2.5 pp
See all centres in Atherton→Easiest UK centres→Hardest UK centres→Best for first-time pass→Busiest UK centres→

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Atherton (Manchester)?
The current pass rate at Atherton (Manchester) driving test centre is 52.5%, calculated from 2.2K tests in 2024-25. DVSA does not publish first-attempt figures for this centre. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 49.6% (from 31.9K tests).
Is Atherton (Manchester) an easy or hard test centre?
Atherton (Manchester) is ranked #103 of 124 UK hgv/lgv test centres by pass rate, placing it in the bottom quarter of hgv/lgv pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 52.5% compares to a UK average of 60.2%. 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 7.7 percentage points below the UK national average of 60.2%. Atherton (Manchester) sits 7.7 points under the national average, ranked 103 of 124 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 31.9K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 15.8K passed and 16.1K 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 Apex (Peterborough) (61.5%), Roadtrain (Essex) (69%), Simonswood LGV (42.5%) and Bredbury (Manchester) (51.5%). Of these, Apex (Peterborough), Roadtrain (Essex) have higher current pass rates than Atherton (Manchester)'s 52.5%. Simonswood LGV, Bredbury (Manchester) 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 Atherton (Manchester)?
Atherton (Manchester) currently sees high demand with an estimated wait of about 14 to 18 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 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. 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)?
The estimated wait at Atherton (Manchester) is about 14 to 18 weeks (high demand). That range 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 31.9K lifetime tests, so treat it as an estimate rather than a live figure. Across the UK, waits 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.