PassRates.uk
Motorcycle Module 2 Test Centre, England

Atherton (Manchester) Driving Test Centre

Moto, Mod 2AthertonM46 0DUHigh pass rate

Atherton (Manchester) in Atherton records a 60.8% pass rate against a UK average of 72.2%. This page covers the multi-year trend, the first-time and gender pass rates, and a like-for-like comparison with other centres.

By Vikas DulgundeUpdated MethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
60.8%
vs 72.2% UK avg
Tests in period
2.4K
2022-23 to 2024-25 (3yr avg)
National rank
#131
of 135 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 2 pass rates nationally (Bottom 4%, rank #131 of 135). The strongest motorcycle module 2 alternative nearby is Failsworth (Manchester), about 14.2 miles away.

Failsworth (Manchester)Best nearby
14.2 mi away
79.3%
+18.5 pp
All centres in Atherton→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

60.8%passed
failed39.2%

All-time 5.8K passed, 2.9K failed, 8.8K total

How Atherton (Manchester) compares

Atherton (Manchester)
60.8%
UK national average
72.2%
Difference
-11.4 pp

The gap at Atherton (Manchester) is 11.4 points below the national average (ranked 131 of 135 in its category), one of the tougher spreads in the network; candidates who train on the actual local roads close most of it.

Where Atherton (Manchester) ranks among 135 centres

Bottom 4%
Atherton (Manchester) sits in the bottom quarter of motorcycle module 2 pass rates
Rank
#131
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

The longer arc at Atherton (Manchester) points down: 70.7% in 2017-18 against 58.1% now, a 12.6-point slide, though 2017-18 showed what the routes allow at 70.7%.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 1.4 pp
Male66.9%
0%100%
Female65.5%
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
~23
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

The range above is an estimate, not a real-time slot count. We model it from National Audit Office demand data and this centre's volume; the methodology page sets out the workings. 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

Where do you actually take your motorcycle module 2 test if you book Atherton (Manchester)? You start in Atherton, Greater Manchester (M46 0DU), and the examiner takes you through whatever mix of urban and outlying roads sits within a roughly twenty-minute drive of the centre. 8.8K tests across 2017-18-2024-25. That's a working sample, enough to take the pass rate at face value but not so large that a single quiet quarter passes unnoticed.

How does Atherton (Manchester) compare nationally? 60.8% pass rate, #131 of 135 motorcycle module 2 centres in the DVSA network, 11.4 points below the UK average of 72.2%. The bottom quarter of the country, in other words. First-attempt data for Atherton (Manchester) 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
Motorcycle Module 2

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.
  • Ask any instructor working Atherton (Manchester) about the centre's "usual fails", they'll have two or three specific junctions or manoeuvres in mind. Practise those until they're automatic before your date.
  • Book through the official DVSA service (gov.uk/book-driving-test). Third-party "fast-track" sites charge a premium for the same booking; the official DVSA booking service is free.

Other test centres nearby

Blackburn with Darwen
11.8 mi, 13.7K tests, Rank #78
72.7%
+11.9 pp
St Helens (Liverpool)
10.2 mi, 10.1K tests, Rank #129
61.3%
+0.5 pp
Failsworth (Manchester)Best nearby
14.2 mi, 933 tests, Rank #30
79.3%
+18.5 pp
Bredbury (Manchester)
17.2 mi, 8.2K tests, Rank #100
68.9%
+8.1 pp
Hyde
18.4 mi, 799 tests, Rank #34
79.1%
+18.3 pp
Kirkham LGV
23.0 mi, 1.3K tests, Rank #105
67.9%
+7.1 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 60.8%, 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 66.7% (from 8.8K tests).
Is Atherton (Manchester) an easy or hard test centre?
Atherton (Manchester) is ranked #131 of 135 UK motorcycle module 2 test centres by pass rate, placing it in the bottom quarter of motorcycle module 2 pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 60.8% compares to a UK average of 72.2%. 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 Atherton (Manchester) compare to the UK average?
Atherton (Manchester)'s pass rate is 11.4 percentage points below the UK national average of 72.2%. The gap at Atherton (Manchester) is 11.4 points below the national average (ranked 131 of 135 in its category), one of the tougher spreads in the network; candidates who train on the actual local roads close most of it.
How many driving tests does Atherton (Manchester) record?
Atherton (Manchester) has recorded 8.8K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 5.8K passed and 2.9K 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 Blackburn with Darwen (72.7%), St Helens (Liverpool) (61.3%), Failsworth (Manchester) (79.3%) and Bredbury (Manchester) (68.9%). Of these, Blackburn with Darwen, St Helens (Liverpool), Failsworth (Manchester), Bredbury (Manchester) have higher current pass rates than Atherton (Manchester)'s 60.8%. 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. 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 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 8.8K 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.