PassRates.uk
Motorcycle Module 1 Test Centre, England

Darlington Driving Test Centre

Moto, Mod 1Morton PalmsDL1 4BSHigh pass rate

Darlington posts a 70.1% pass rate, with Gateshead the nearest alternative about 31 miles away. Read on for its full DVSA history, first-time pass rate, waiting time and demographic breakdown.

By Vikas DulgundeUpdated MethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
70.1%
vs 73% UK avg
Tests in period
2.9K
2022-23 to 2024-25 (3yr avg)
National rank
#51
of 72 centres
1st-time pass
N/A
DVSA omits this centre from DRT122C

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Darlington sits in the bottom half of motorcycle module 1 pass rates nationally (Bottom 31%, rank #51 of 72). The strongest motorcycle module 1 alternative nearby is Blackburn with Darwen, about 68.6 miles away.

Blackburn with DarwenBest nearby
68.6 mi away
78.3%
+8.2 pp
All centres in Morton Palms→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

70.1%passed
failed29.9%

All-time 9.5K passed, 4.2K failed, 13.7K total

How Darlington compares

Darlington
70.1%
UK national average
73%
Difference
-2.9 pp

Darlington is 2.9 points behind the national figure and ranked 51 of 72 in its category, a difference most candidates will not feel on the day.

Where Darlington ranks among 72 centres

Bottom 31%
Darlington sits in the bottom half of motorcycle module 1 pass rates
Rank
#51
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Darlington has climbed 9.1 points across the series, 62.6% in 2017-18 to 71.7% now; the weakest year on record was 62.6% in 2017-18.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 22.5 pp
Male71.6%
0%100%
Female49.1%
0%100%
Zero faults0%
0 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait
8 to 12 weeks
Moderate demand
Weekly capacity
~36
estimated test slots per week
Demand
Moderate
around the middle of the range

Booking is achievable but not immediate: on this estimate, learners booking at Darlington would typically wait around 8 to 12 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

Treat this as a modelled estimate rather than a booking quote. It is built from regional demand patterns and test volume, explained in full on our methodology page. Always confirm real slots on the DVSA booking service.

Centre details

Address

DVSA
High Point Business Park
Yarm Road
Darlington
DL1 4PW
England

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

Tests offered at Darlington

  • 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 DL1 4PW, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Darlington sits in Morton Palms, Tees Valley, just inside the DL1 4BS postcode. It's a DVSA-run motorcycle module 1 test centre, and the routes from here work outward into the streets and arterial roads that learners from Morton Palms tend to know already. Sample size: 13.7K tests over 2017-18-2024-25. Enough that comparisons hold up; small enough that a quiet month or a route being temporarily diverted can show in the data.

70.1% at Darlington, against a UK motorcycle module 1 average of 73%. That puts the centre 2.9 points below the national figure and ranks it #51 of 72 motorcycle module 1 centres in the DVSA's network. DVSA doesn't break out first-attempt figures for Darlington 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 1

What learners should know about Darlington

  • Darlington doesn't deviate much from the national curve, so generic preparation advice (mock tests, mirror discipline, junction observation) applies here in the same shape it would anywhere.
  • Practising the roads around the centre is the preparation that most reliably pays off. Most ADI instructors in Morton Palms will know the road types and junctions learners commonly meet near the centre.
  • The only legitimate booking route is gov.uk. Anything calling itself a "test booking concierge" is reselling the same slots at a markup, the slots aren't theirs to control.

Other test centres nearby

Gateshead
31.1 mi, 21.6K tests, Rank #47
70.9%
+0.8 pp
Steeton
46.4 mi, 1.0K tests, Rank #71
56.3%
-13.8 pp
Wakefield
57.6 mi, 20.5K tests, Rank #55
68.8%
-1.3 pp
Rotherham
75.2 mi, 19.2K tests, Rank #39
72.6%
+2.5 pp
Bredbury (Manchester)
79.2 mi, 12.8K tests, Rank #49
70.4%
+0.3 pp
Blackburn with DarwenBest nearby
68.6 mi, 16.6K tests, Rank #13
78.3%
+8.2 pp
See all centres in Morton Palms→Easiest UK centres→Hardest UK centres→Best for first-time pass→Busiest UK centres→

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Darlington?
The current pass rate at Darlington driving test centre is 70.1%, calculated from 2.9K 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 69.1% (from 13.7K tests).
Is Darlington an easy or hard test centre?
Darlington is ranked #51 of 72 UK motorcycle module 1 test centres by pass rate, placing it in the bottom half of motorcycle module 1 pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 70.1% compares to a UK average of 73%. Much of the spread comes down to route geography: lighter traffic and simpler junctions lift a centre, dense city driving and complex roundabouts pull it down.
How does Darlington compare to the UK average?
Darlington's pass rate is 2.9 percentage points below the UK national average of 73%. Darlington is 2.9 points behind the national figure and ranked 51 of 72 in its category, a difference most candidates will not feel on the day.
How many driving tests does Darlington record?
Darlington has recorded 13.7K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 9.5K passed and 4.2K 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 Darlington?
The closest DVSA test centres to Darlington are Gateshead (70.9%), Steeton (56.3%), Wakefield (68.8%) and Rotherham (72.6%). Of these, Gateshead, Rotherham have higher current pass rates than Darlington's 70.1%. Steeton, Wakefield 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 Darlington?
Darlington currently sees moderate demand with an estimated wait of about 8 to 12 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 Darlington and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Darlington 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 Darlington?
The estimated wait at Darlington is about 8 to 12 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 13.7K 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.