Car Test Centre, Wales

Bridgend Driving Test Centre

Car, Cat BBridgendCF31 1DBModerate

Bridgend in Bridgend currently passes 53.1% of tests, 4.4 points above the UK average of 48.7%. The sections below cover the year-by-year trend, who passes most often, how long learners wait, and how it stacks up against neighbouring centres.

Pass rate (2024-25)
53.1%
vs 48.7% UK avg
Tests in period
6.9K
2024-25
National rank
#124
of 323 centres
1st-time pass
53.3%
above UK avg

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Bridgend sits in the top half of car pass rates nationally (Top 38%, rank #124 of 323). The strongest car alternative nearby is Barry, about 14.9 miles away.

BarryBest nearby
14.9 mi away
61.8%
+8.7 pp

Pass vs fail at a glance

53.1%passed
failed46.9%

All-time 40.8K passed, 35.8K failed, 76.6K total

How Bridgend compares

Bridgend
53.1%
UK national average
48.7%
Difference
+4.4 pp

The 4.4-point advantage at Bridgend (ranked 124 of 323 in its category) is worth having but not decisive; a well-prepared candidate passes at either kind of centre.

Where Bridgend ranks among 323 centres

Top 38%
Bridgend ranks higher than 62% of UK car test centres
Rank
#124
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Stability is the story at Bridgend: 51% in 2017-18, 53.1% now, and every year in between inside a 5.4-point band.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 5.9 pp
Male56.2%
0%UK avg 52.0%100%
Female50.3%
0%UK avg 48.0%100%
Zero faults0.8%
351 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Waiting time at Bridgend

Median wait, booking to test
5.9 weeks
What the typical learner who tested here had waited
Weeks to 10% availability
9 weeks
The older headline measure
Window appointments free
58.1%
Share of the 24-week window still open

The headline figure for reaching 10% availability is 9 weeks, but the typical (median) learner who took their test at Bridgend in May 2026 had waited 5.9 weeks from booking to test day.

Official DVSA data, May 2026. The median is the time between booking and taking the test; for live availability use the DVSA booking service.

Centre details

Address

Crown Building
Angel Street
Bridgend
CF31 4AD
Wales

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

Tests offered at Bridgend

  • car
  • motorcycle module 2 (on-road)
  • 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 CF31 4AD, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Drivers booked at Bridgend report to a DVSA centre in Bridgend, postcode CF31 1DB. The car 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. Bridgend runs at high volume: 76.6K tests across 2017-18-2024-25 put it among the busier DVSA centres in the country. The headline numbers carry weight because the sample carries weight.

By raw pass rate Bridgend sits at 53.1%, with the DVSA's national car average over the same window running at 48.7%. The gap (4.4 points above the UK figure) places the centre at rank #124 of 323, inside the upper half of the country's car test centres. Across 3.3K first-attempt tests, Bridgend passes 53.3% of candidates, against 49% nationally. The centre is a relatively forgiving venue for a first booking, by the DVSA's own data.

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
Wales
Test category
Car

What learners should know about Bridgend

  • Pass rate at Bridgend sits close to the UK average. Prepare for an ordinary level of difficulty: examiners apply the standard DVSA marking sheet, and the routes are a representative mix of local conditions.
  • 76.6K tests through this centre over the published window. At that throughput, competition for short-notice slots is constant, so make a habit of checking the official booking page often.
  • Practising the roads around the centre is the preparation that most reliably pays off. Most ADI instructors in Bridgend will know the road types and junctions learners commonly meet near the centre.
  • 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

On the day at Bridgend

Plan to arrive at Bridgend about ten minutes before your slot. Parking varies between DVSA centres, so check the route and the surrounding streets on the DVSA centre finder (postcode CF31 1DB) a day or two ahead. With demand running high here and waits near 13 to 17 weeks, it is worth holding any earlier cancellation slot you are offered. Bring your provisional photocard licence; the examiner will not start without it, and you will need a roadworthy car with L plates and a working interior mirror. If Llantrisant is fully booked, Bridgend is the next closest centre, roughly 9 miles away.

Plan for a drive of roughly 40 minutes, identical in structure to every other DVSA centre. First comes the 20-metre eyesight check and a tell-me vehicle-safety question, then the examiner joins you for the road section, with one show-me question while you drive. About 20 minutes is independent driving by sat nav or by following signs to a named target, you tackle one of four set manoeuvres, and around one in seven candidates get an emergency stop. The drive works through whatever mix of urban and outlying roads sits within about a twenty-minute radius, and at a centre this busy that usually means heavier traffic to read. Across DVSA marking nationally, the fault recorded most often on car tests is junctions - observation, worth drilling on the local routes before your date.

There is no wait for the verdict, the examiner delivers it at the centre. They go over each fault recorded, hand you the DL25 feedback form, and on a pass retain your provisional licence so the full version arrives by post. To pass you need no more than 15 driving faults and not a single serious or dangerous one; 53.1% of candidates at Bridgend currently clear that.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Bridgend?
The current pass rate at Bridgend driving test centre is 53.1%, calculated from 6.9K tests in 2024-25. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 53.3%. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 53.2% (from 76.6K tests).
Is Bridgend an easy or hard test centre?
Bridgend is ranked #124 of 323 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the top half of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 53.1% compares to a UK average of 48.7%. 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 Bridgend compare to the UK average?
Bridgend's pass rate is 4.4 percentage points above the UK national average of 48.7%. The 4.4-point advantage at Bridgend (ranked 124 of 323 in its category) is worth having but not decisive; a well-prepared candidate passes at either kind of centre.
How many driving tests does Bridgend record?
Bridgend has recorded 76.6K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 40.8K passed and 35.8K 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 Bridgend?
The closest DVSA test centres to Bridgend are Llantrisant (50.6%), Merthyr Tydfil (53.5%), Barry (61.8%) and Swansea (52.1%). Of these, Merthyr Tydfil, Barry have higher current pass rates than Bridgend's 53.1%. Llantrisant, Swansea 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 Bridgend?
Bridgend currently sees high demand with an estimated wait of about 13 to 17 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 Bridgend and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Bridgend as your centre. You will need your provisional licence number and your theory test pass certificate number. To pass, you must finish with no more than 15 driving (minor) faults and zero serious or dangerous faults. Our guides cover how to book step by step and how faults are marked.
How long is the wait for a driving test at Bridgend?
In the latest DVSA figures (May 2026), the median learner who took their test at Bridgend had waited about 5.9 weeks between booking and test day. DVSA's older measure, the number of weeks until at least 10% of slots are free, was 9 weeks. About 58.1% of appointments in the 24-week booking window were still available. 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.