PassRates.uk
Motorcycle Module 1 Test Centre, England

Atherton (Manchester) Driving Test Centre

Moto, Mod 1AthertonM46 0DUHigh pass rate

At Atherton (Manchester), 67% of candidates pass, one of the 72 test centres we rank from the DVSA data. Below you will find the full pass-rate history, the demographic split, the estimated waiting time and a comparison with the nearest centres.

By Vikas DulgundeUpdated MethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
67%
vs 73% UK avg
Tests in period
2.4K
2022-23 to 2024-25 (3yr avg)
National rank
#59
of 72 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 motorcycle module 1 pass rates nationally (Bottom 19%, rank #59 of 72). The strongest motorcycle module 1 alternative nearby is Blackburn with Darwen, about 11.8 miles away.

Blackburn with DarwenBest nearby
11.8 mi away
78.3%
+11.3 pp
All centres in Atherton→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

67%passed
failed33%

All-time 6.3K passed, 3.2K failed, 9.5K total

How Atherton (Manchester) compares

Atherton (Manchester)
67%
UK national average
73%
Difference
-6 pp

Atherton (Manchester) sits 6 points under the national average, ranked 59 of 72 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 72 centres

Bottom 19%
Atherton (Manchester) sits in the bottom quarter of motorcycle module 1 pass rates
Rank
#59
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Atherton (Manchester) has climbed 3.2 points across the series, 64.6% in 2017-18 to 67.8% now; the weakest year on record was 63.1% in 2020-21.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 27.5 pp
Male69.7%
0%100%
Female42.2%
0%100%
Zero faults0%
0 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait
12 to 16 weeks
High demand
Weekly capacity
~25
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 12 to 16 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 motorcycle module 1 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. Atherton (Manchester) sees moderate volume: 9.5K practical tests through 2017-18-2024-25. Year-on-year percentages here are meaningful, but watch the trend line rather than fixating on any single period.

The bottom quarter of the UK by pass rate: Atherton (Manchester) ranks #59 of 72 motorcycle module 1 centres at 67%, 6 points below the national figure of 73%. For Atherton (Manchester) the DVSA suppresses first-attempt figures in DRT122C. Smaller centres get rolled up; this is one of them. The overall pass rate above is the only published figure.

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
Motorcycle Module 1

What learners should know about Atherton (Manchester)

  • A lower pass rate at Atherton (Manchester) usually means specific local junctions or road types that catch out candidates trained elsewhere. Book local-area familiarisation lessons with an instructor who works this centre, not one who covers a different patch.
  • If you can, take at least one lesson with an instructor who specifically works the Atherton (Manchester) 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

Blackburn with DarwenBest nearby
11.8 mi, 16.6K tests, Rank #13
78.3%
+11.3 pp
St Helens (Liverpool)
10.2 mi, 16.0K tests, Rank #60
66.2%
-0.8 pp
Bredbury (Manchester)
17.2 mi, 12.8K tests, Rank #49
70.4%
+3.4 pp
Kirkham LGV
23.0 mi, 6.8K tests, Rank #69
58.5%
-8.5 pp
Macclesfield (RUFC)
24.4 mi, 5.4K tests, Rank #53
69.8%
+2.8 pp
Chester
28.3 mi, 6.8K tests, Rank #45
71.4%
+4.4 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 67%, calculated from 2.4K tests in 2022-23 to 2024-25 (3yr avg). DVSA does not publish first-attempt figures for this centre. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 66.4% (from 9.5K tests).
Is Atherton (Manchester) an easy or hard test centre?
Atherton (Manchester) is ranked #59 of 72 UK motorcycle module 1 test centres by pass rate, placing it in the bottom quarter of motorcycle module 1 pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 67% compares to a UK average of 73%. Much of the spread comes down to route geography: lighter traffic and simpler junctions lift a centre, dense city driving and complex roundabouts pull it down.
How does Atherton (Manchester) compare to the UK average?
Atherton (Manchester)'s pass rate is 6 percentage points below the UK national average of 73%. Atherton (Manchester) sits 6 points under the national average, ranked 59 of 72 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 9.5K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 6.3K passed and 3.2K 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 Atherton (Manchester)?
The closest DVSA test centres to Atherton (Manchester) are Blackburn with Darwen (78.3%), St Helens (Liverpool) (66.2%), Bredbury (Manchester) (70.4%) and Kirkham LGV (58.5%). Of these, Blackburn with Darwen, Bredbury (Manchester) have higher current pass rates than Atherton (Manchester)'s 67%. St Helens (Liverpool), Kirkham 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 Atherton (Manchester)?
Atherton (Manchester) currently sees high demand with an estimated wait of about 12 to 16 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. 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 12 to 16 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 9.5K 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.