What is the UK driving test pass rate?

The UK average pass rate for the Category B (car) practical driving test is around 48%, though it varies significantly between test centres, from roughly 35% at the hardest urban centres to over 65% at the easiest rural ones.

Which UK driving test centre has the highest pass rate?

Small rural test centres (particularly in Scotland and the Scottish Islands) consistently show the highest pass rates, often above 65%. Lerwick in Shetland leads the UK at around 68.5%.

Where does the data come from?

All statistics come from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) quarterly statistical release on GOV.UK. The dataset is released under the Open Government Licence and is updated automatically each quarter.

Does PassRates.uk show motorcycle and HGV pass rates?

Yes. The data covers the Category B (car) practical test, motorcycle Module 1 and Module 2 tests, and heavy-vehicle (LGV/HGV) tests for every UK test centre.

Car Test Centre, England

Birmingham (Shirley)

Car, Cat BBirminghamModerate

The Birmingham (Shirley) driving test centre is located in Birmingham, England. Below are the official pass-rate statistics, multi-year trend, demographic breakdown, and how this centre compares against the UK average and its neighbours, all drawn from the DVSA quarterly statistical release.

Pass rate

54%

vs 48% UK avg

Total tests

15.8K

8.5K passed

National rank

#106

of 326 centres

1st-time pass

49.3%

above UK avg

About this test centre

Birmingham (Shirley) is a DVSA-operated car test centre located in Birmingham, West Midlands (England). It serves learners from across its catchment area, with test routes radiating out from the centre into surrounding residential and arterial roads. Over the available DVSA reporting periods (2017-18-2024-25), Birmingham (Shirley) has hosted 15.8K practical tests, a meaningful sample for percentage comparisons.

Ranking #106 of 326 by pass rate sits Birmingham (Shirley) in the upper half of UK car test centres, meaningfully above the UK national average of 48%. The first-time pass rate of 49.3% is above the UK figure (47.2%), well-prepared candidates have a reasonable shot at clearing it on their first 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.

Pass vs fail at a glance

54%passed

failed46%

8.5K passed, 7.3K failed, 15.8K total

How Birmingham (Shirley) compares

Birmingham (Shirley)

54%

UK national average

48%

Difference

+6 pp

Birmingham (Shirley) performs notably better than the UK average. This often correlates with rural or suburban routes that have fewer multi-lane roundabouts and complex urban scenarios.

Where Birmingham (Shirley) ranks among 326 centres

Top 33%

Birmingham (Shirley) ranks higher than 67% of UK car test centres

Rank

#106

BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Birmingham (Shirley) pass rate vs UK average

UK avg 48.0%

Most common faults at this centre

The fault categories most frequently recorded against learners on test. Knowing them lets you target practice on the things examiners are most likely to penalise.

1Junctions - observation10
2Mirrors - change direction9
3Move off - safely8
4Junctions - turning right7
5Response to signs - traffic lights6

Per-centre fault breakdowns are derived from the DVSA national fault distribution applied to centre-level test outcomes.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rategap 6.0 pp

Male56.6%

0%UK avg 50.0%100%

Female50.6%

0%UK avg 45.8%100%

Zero faults7.4%

633 candidates passed without a single recorded fault

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait

14 weeks

High demand

Weekly capacity

~41

estimated test slots per week

Trend

stable

availability direction

Wait times at Birmingham (Shirley) have remained broadly stable through recent reporting periods. Booking is achievable but not immediate: learners booking at Birmingham (Shirley) typically wait around 14 weeks from booking to test day.

Peak months

June, July, August, September

longest waits in Birmingham

Best to book

November, December, January, February

shortest expected waits

Wait time is estimated from regional demand patterns reported in the National Audit Office investigation into car driving test waiting times (Dec 2025) and the DVSA Despatch blog updates, combined with this centre's test volume. Real availability fluctuates with examiner staffing and cancellations, always check the official DVSA booking service for live slots.

Centre details

Address

Birmingham, West Midlands

West Midlands, West Midlands

Country

England

Test category

Car

DVSA centre ID

birmingham-shirley

City coverage

All centres in Birmingham →

Open in maps

View on Google Maps →

What learners should know about Birmingham (Shirley)

Pass rates at Birmingham (Shirley) run ahead of the UK average, but don't take that as licence to under-prepare. Centres with higher pass rates often still fail learners on the same fundamentals (observation, signalling, junctions).
Always book your test through the official DVSA booking service (gov.uk). Be wary of third-party sites charging premium fees for the same booking.

Other test centres nearby

Birmingham (Kings Heath)

17.5K tests, Rank #280

44.2%

Birmingham (Sutton Coldfield)

8.3K tests, Rank #289

43.6%

Birmingham (Kingstanding)

30.5K tests, Rank #298

42.2%

Birmingham (Garretts Green)

33.1K tests, Rank #305

41.5%

Birmingham (South Yardley)

23.0K tests, Rank #315

39.5%

Birmingham (Garretts Green)

18.5K tests, Rank #54

69%

See all centres in Birmingham→Compare with the easiest UK centres→Compare with the hardest→

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Birmingham (Shirley)?

The current overall pass rate at Birmingham (Shirley) driving test centre is 54%, calculated from 15.8K recorded tests. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 49.3%.

Is Birmingham (Shirley) an easy or hard test centre?

Birmingham (Shirley) is ranked #106 of 326 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the top half of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 54% compares to a UK average of 48%. 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 Birmingham (Shirley) compare to the UK average?

Birmingham (Shirley)'s pass rate is 6 percentage points above the UK national average of 48%. Birmingham (Shirley) performs notably better than the UK average. This often correlates with rural or suburban routes that have fewer multi-lane roundabouts and complex urban scenarios.

How many tests are taken at Birmingham (Shirley) each year?

Birmingham (Shirley) has recorded 15.8K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 8.5K passed and 7.3K failed. The yearly trend chart on this page shows how volume and pass rate have moved across recent reporting periods.

How do I book a driving test at Birmingham (Shirley)?

All practical driving tests in the UK are booked through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test. You'll need your provisional licence number, theory test pass certificate number, and a payment card (£62 weekday / £75 weekend evening). Avoid third-party booking sites that charge premium fees for the same slot.

Can I reschedule or cancel my test?

Yes, you can reschedule or cancel free of charge as long as you give at least 3 clear working days' notice (excluding the test day and the day you change it). Manage your booking via gov.uk/change-driving-test. Last-minute changes inside that window forfeit the test fee.

What documents do I need to bring on the day?

Bring your provisional UK photocard driving licence and your theory test pass certificate (or its number). The examiner will verify both before the test starts. Without your licence the test cannot proceed and the fee is forfeited. Glasses or contacts must match your eyesight declaration, you'll be asked to read a number plate from 20 metres.

What is the practical test pass mark?

A practical driving test is a pass with no more than 15 minor (driving) faults and zero serious or dangerous faults. A single serious or dangerous fault is an automatic fail regardless of how few minors you accumulate. The independent driving section, manoeuvres, and show-me/tell-me questions all factor into the examiner's assessment.

Where can I see Birmingham (Shirley) on a map?

Open the interactive PassRates map to see Birmingham (Shirley) alongside every other UK driving test centre, colour-coded by pass-rate tier, or view it on Google Maps for navigation.

How long is the wait for a driving test at Birmingham (Shirley)?

The estimated wait at Birmingham (Shirley) is around 14 weeks (high demand). That figure 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 15.8K lifetime tests. Wait times peak in June and July and ease in November and December. For live availability, check the official DVSA booking service.

How accurate is this pass rate data?

The figures on this page come directly from the DVSA quarterly statistical release, the same dataset cited by government bodies and journalists. PassRates.uk aggregates multi-year totals so smaller centres with seasonal variance show a stable representative figure rather than a single noisy quarter. Data is released under the Open Government Licence and refreshed each quarter.

Source

Data: DVSA quarterly statistical release, released under the Open Government Licence v3.0. PassRates.uk aggregates DVSA centre-level totals across reporting periods. Last refreshed 2026-05-01.