PassRates.uk
Car Test Centre, England

Bury (Manchester) Driving Test Centre

Car, Cat BBury St EdmundsTougher than average

The Bury (Manchester) driving test centre is located in Bury St Edmunds, 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.

By VikasReviewed by VikasMethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
40.3%
vs 48.7% UK avg
Tests in period
8.1K
2024-25
National rank
#305
of 323 centres
1st-time pass
38.8%
below UK avg

Pass vs fail at a glance

40.3%passed
failed61.1%

26.4K passed, 41.4K failed, 67.8K total

How Bury (Manchester) compares

Bury (Manchester)
40.3%
UK national average
48.7%
Difference
-8.4 pp

Bury (Manchester) has a slightly tougher pass rate than the UK average. Routes here may be more demanding than rural centres.

Where Bury (Manchester) ranks among 323 centres

Top 7%
Bury (Manchester) sits in the bottom quarter of car pass rates
Rank
#305
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

The most common driving test faults nationally

These are the fault types DVSA examiners record most often across all car tests in Great Britain, ranked most to least common. They are a national pattern, not a measurement taken at this centre, but they are the faults worth targeting in practice wherever you sit your test.

  1. 1
    Junctions - observationNot looking properly before pulling out at junctions.
  2. 2
    Mirrors - change directionNot checking mirrors before signalling, changing speed or direction.
  3. 3
    Move off - safelyPulling away without safe control or proper observation.
  4. 4
    Junctions - turning rightPoor positioning or judgement when turning right at junctions.
  5. 5
    Response to signs - traffic lightsMissing or misreading traffic signs, signals or road markings.

This ranking is DVSA national fault data, shown here for context. DVSA does not publish a separate fault breakdown for individual test centres.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 7.2 pp
Male42.6%
0%UK avg 49.7%100%
Female35.4%
0%UK avg 44.0%100%
Zero faults0%
30 candidates passed without a single recorded fault

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait
18 to 22 weeks
Very high demand
Weekly capacity
~177
estimated test slots per week
Demand
Very high
among the busiest centres

Booking requires patience: on this estimate, learners booking at Bury (Manchester) would typically wait around 18 to 22 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

Smith Street
Bury
BL9 6HH
England

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

Tests offered at Bury (Manchester)

  • car
  • 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 BL9 6HH, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Drivers booked at Bury (Manchester) report to a DVSA centre in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. 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. Volume is not the issue at Bury (Manchester). 67.8K tests sit on the record across 2017-18-2024-25, so the trend line below reflects real movement, not sample noise.

By raw pass rate Bury (Manchester) sits at 40.3%, with the DVSA's national car average over the same window running at 48.7%. The gap (8.4 points below the UK figure) places the centre at rank #305 of 323, inside the bottom quarter of the country's car test centres. 38.8% of first-timers pass at Bury (Manchester), 10.2 points below the UK figure of 49%. If your booking is your first attempt, factor that into how many lessons you take on local routes specifically.

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
Car
DVSA centre ID
bury-manchester

What learners should know about Bury (Manchester)

  • Bury (Manchester) is in the lower tier of pass rates nationally. That isn't an indictment of the examiners, it reflects road layout, traffic density, and route mix. Prepare specifically for the centre, not generically.
  • First-time pass rate at Bury (Manchester) is 38.8%, low enough that a meaningful share of candidates retake. If this is your first booking, take a mock on the actual test routes before the date.
  • 67.8K tests through this centre over the published window. At that throughput, competition for short-notice slots is constant, set up a cancellation alert and check often.
  • Ask any instructor working Bury (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 DVSA's own cancellation feed is free.

Other test centres nearby

Bury St Edmunds
97.6K tests, Rank #260
45.7%
Bury St Edmunds
3.0K tests, Rank #102
77.6%
West Wickham (London)
110.7K tests, Rank #156
50.9%
Colchester
124.3K tests, Rank #220
48%
Ipswich
130.1K tests, Rank #32
63.1%
Ipswich
15.5K tests, Rank #11
77.8%
See all centres in Bury St Edmunds→Easiest UK centres→Hardest UK centres→Best for first-time pass→Busiest UK centres→

On the day at Bury (Manchester)

Ten minutes early is the right target at Bury (Manchester). Parking differs between DVSA centres, so it pays to scout the route on the DVSA centre finder the day before. This centre sees very high demand, modelled at roughly 18 to 22 weeks to a slot; booking well ahead and watching for cancellations both help. Bring the provisional photocard licence, the examiner checks for it first, and make sure your car is roadworthy with L plates and a working interior mirror.

The practical lasts about 40 minutes and uses the standard DVSA format nationwide. After an eyesight check at 20 metres and one show-me and one tell-me question, the examiner sits in for the drive. Roughly 20 minutes of that is independent driving, either following a sat nav set by the examiner or following road signs, and you will complete one of four set manoeuvres; about one in three tests includes 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.

You will know the result before you leave Bury (Manchester). The examiner explains the faults marked on your DL25 feedback form and, if you have passed, takes the provisional licence so a full one can be posted out. The pass standard is fixed nationally, 15 driving faults maximum and zero serious or dangerous faults, and 40.3% of candidates here meet it under current DVSA marking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Bury (Manchester)?
The current pass rate at Bury (Manchester) driving test centre is 40.3%, calculated from 8.1K tests in 2024-25. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 38.8%. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 38.9% (from 67.8K tests).
Is Bury (Manchester) an easy or hard test centre?
Bury (Manchester) is ranked #305 of 323 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the bottom quarter of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 40.3% compares to a UK average of 48.7%. 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 Bury (Manchester) compare to the UK average?
Bury (Manchester)'s pass rate is 8.4 percentage points below the UK national average of 48.7%. Bury (Manchester) has a slightly tougher pass rate than the UK average. Routes here may be more demanding than rural centres.
How many tests are taken at Bury (Manchester) each year?
Bury (Manchester) has recorded 67.8K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 26.4K passed and 41.4K 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 Bury (Manchester)?
The closest DVSA test centres to Bury (Manchester) are Bury St Edmunds (45.7%), Bury St Edmunds (77.6%), West Wickham (London) (50.9%) and Colchester (48%). Of these, Bury St Edmunds, Bury St Edmunds, West Wickham (London), Colchester have higher current pass rates than Bury (Manchester)'s 40.3%. 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 Bury (Manchester)?
Bury (Manchester) currently sees very high demand with an estimated wait of about 18 to 22 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 Bury (Manchester) and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Bury (Manchester) 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 Bury (Manchester)?
The estimated wait at Bury (Manchester) is about 18 to 22 weeks (very 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 67.8K 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.