PassRates.uk
Motorcycle Module 2 Test Centre, England

Barnstaple Driving Test Centre

Moto, Mod 2BarnstapleHigh pass rate

At Barnstaple, 83.3% of candidates pass, one of the 135 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 (2023-24)
83.3%
vs 72.2% UK avg
Tests in period
892
2009-10 to 2023-24 (lifetime, low volume)
National rank
#12
of 135 centres
1st-time pass
N/A
DVSA omits this centre from DRT122C

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Barnstaple sits in the top 10% of UK motorcycle module 2 pass rates nationally (Top 9%, rank #12 of 135). No nearby motorcycle module 2 centre currently posts a higher pass rate.

BridgendNearest alternative
36.0 mi away
78.8%
-4.5 pp
All centres in Barnstaple→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

83.3%passed
failed16.7%

All-time 743 passed, 149 failed, 892 total

How Barnstaple compares

Barnstaple
83.3%
UK national average
72.2%
Difference
+11.1 pp

A 11.1-point lead over the national figure puts Barnstaple ranked 12 of 135 in its category. Gaps this large usually come from the roads, not the examiners: fewer complex junctions and lighter traffic on the local routes.

Where Barnstaple ranks among 135 centres

Top 9%
Barnstaple ranks higher than 91% of UK motorcycle module 2 test centres
Rank
#12
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

The longer arc at Barnstaple points down: 88.5% in 2012-13 against 75.4% now, a 13.1-point slide, though 2015-16 showed what the routes allow at 88.9%.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 6.9 pp
Male86.2%
0%100%
Female79.3%
0%100%
Zero faults0%
0 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait
7 to 11 weeks
Moderate demand
Weekly capacity
~10
estimated test slots per week
Demand
Moderate
around the middle of the range

Booking is comparatively quick: on this estimate, learners booking at Barnstaple would typically wait around 7 to 11 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

Unit 1A
Benning Court (off Riverside Road)
Pottington Industrial Estate
Barnstaple
EX31 1AB
England

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

Tests offered at Barnstaple

  • Motorcycle Module 2

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 EX31 1AB, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Drivers booked at Barnstaple report to a DVSA centre in Barnstaple, Devon and Torbay. The motorcycle module 2 routes used here are drawn from the streets the centre's examiners drive every week, so the test reflects local conditions rather than a generic syllabus. Only 892 tests sit on the record at Barnstaple for 2012-13-2023-24. That puts the centre in the tail of the volume distribution; treat any single-period rate as indicative, not definitive.

By raw pass rate Barnstaple sits at 83.3%, with the DVSA's national motorcycle module 2 average over the same window running at 72.2%. The gap (11.1 points clear of the UK figure) places the centre at rank #12 of 135, inside the top ten percent of the country's motorcycle module 2 test centres. DVSA doesn't break out first-attempt figures for Barnstaple 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
Motorcycle Module 2

What learners should know about Barnstaple

  • Above-average pass rate at Barnstaple doesn't mean above-average ease. The fundamentals examiners mark are the same nationally: junctions, mirrors, observation, signal timing. A 65%+ pass rate means more candidates clear those, not that the bar is lower.
  • With 892 tests on record at Barnstaple, the per-quarter pass rates are noisy. The trend chart on this page is more informative than any specific number from a specific period.
  • Ask any instructor working Barnstaple 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

Launceston
33.4 mi, 369 tests, Rank #89
71%
-12.3 pp
Swansea
37.5 mi, 11.4K tests, Rank #88
71.1%
-12.2 pp
Exeter
33.8 mi, 11.1K tests, Rank #81
72.2%
-11.1 pp
BridgendBest nearby
36.0 mi, 3.1K tests, Rank #37
78.8%
-4.5 pp
Plymouth
49.2 mi, 7.7K tests, Rank #51
77.3%
-6.0 pp
Bodmin
51.2 mi, 3.2K tests, Rank #63
75.1%
-8.2 pp
See all centres in Barnstaple→Easiest UK centres→Hardest UK centres→Best for first-time pass→Busiest UK centres→

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Barnstaple?
The current pass rate at Barnstaple driving test centre is 83.3%, calculated from 892 tests in 2009-10 to 2023-24 (lifetime, low volume). DVSA does not publish first-attempt figures for this centre. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 83.3% (from 892 tests).
Is Barnstaple an easy or hard test centre?
Barnstaple is ranked #12 of 135 UK motorcycle module 2 test centres by pass rate, placing it in the top 10% of UK motorcycle module 2 pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 83.3% 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 Barnstaple compare to the UK average?
Barnstaple's pass rate is 11.1 percentage points above the UK national average of 72.2%. A 11.1-point lead over the national figure puts Barnstaple ranked 12 of 135 in its category. Gaps this large usually come from the roads, not the examiners: fewer complex junctions and lighter traffic on the local routes.
How many driving tests does Barnstaple record?
Barnstaple has recorded 892 tests in the available DVSA data, of which 743 passed and 149 failed. See the yearly trend chart above to track how test volume and pass rate have shifted over recent reporting periods.
Which driving test centres are near Barnstaple?
The closest DVSA test centres to Barnstaple are Launceston (71%), Swansea (71.1%), Exeter (72.2%) and Bridgend (78.8%). Barnstaple's 83.3% is the highest current pass rate among them. Launceston, Swansea, Exeter, Bridgend 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 Barnstaple?
Barnstaple currently sees moderate demand with an estimated wait of about 7 to 11 weeks. Across the UK, waits tend to ease in November, December, January, when fewer learners are booking, and peak in June, July, August. If your test date is flexible, aiming for a quieter month can mean a shorter wait and more slot choice. Always confirm live availability on the DVSA booking service.
How do I book a test at Barnstaple and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Barnstaple 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 Barnstaple?
The estimated wait at Barnstaple is about 7 to 11 weeks (moderate 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 892 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: 2023-24.