PassRates.uk
Motorcycle Module 2 Test Centre, England

Darlington Driving Test Centre

Moto, Mod 2Morton PalmsDL1 4BSHigh pass rate

Darlington in Morton Palms currently passes 74.7% of tests, 2.5 points above the UK average of 72.2%. 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.

By Vikas DulgundeUpdated MethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
74.7%
vs 72.2% UK avg
Tests in period
2.4K
2022-23 to 2024-25 (3yr avg)
National rank
#66
of 135 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 top half of motorcycle module 2 pass rates nationally (Top 49%, rank #66 of 135). The strongest motorcycle module 2 alternative nearby is Steeton, about 46.4 miles away.

SteetonBest nearby
46.4 mi away
82.4%
+7.7 pp
All centres in Morton Palms→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

74.7%passed
failed25.3%

All-time 8.2K passed, 3.7K failed, 11.9K total

How Darlington compares

Darlington
74.7%
UK national average
72.2%
Difference
+2.5 pp

Darlington sits 2.5 points above the UK average, ranked 66 of 135 in its category: close enough that centre choice matters far less than preparation.

Where Darlington ranks among 135 centres

Top 49%
Darlington ranks higher than 51% of UK motorcycle module 2 test centres
Rank
#66
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Darlington has climbed 17.2 points across the series, 65.2% in 2017-18 to 82.4% now; the weakest year on record was 61.5% in 2022-23.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 3.2 pp
Male69.3%
0%100%
Female66.1%
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
~31
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

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

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

Drivers booked at Darlington report to a DVSA centre in Morton Palms, Tees Valley, postcode DL1 4BS. 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. Over 2017-18-2024-25, 11.9K candidates sat tests here. The figures are statistically usable for centre-to-centre comparisons, which is most of what people land on this page wanting to do.

By raw pass rate Darlington sits at 74.7%, with the DVSA's national motorcycle module 2 average over the same window running at 72.2%. The gap (2.5 points above the UK figure) places the centre at rank #66 of 135, inside the upper half of the country's motorcycle module 2 test centres. First-attempt data for Darlington is missing from the DVSA's DRT122C release. It's not a low number, it's no number, the centre is small enough that DVSA omits it from that particular table.

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 Darlington

  • Pass rate at Darlington 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.
  • Ask any instructor working Darlington 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

Gateshead
31.1 mi, 21.4K tests, Rank #119
64.5%
-10.2 pp
Knaresborough
35.0 mi, 3.1K tests, Rank #49
77.4%
+2.7 pp
Horsforth
47.1 mi, 3.4K tests, Rank #20
81.4%
+6.7 pp
York
40.9 mi, 4.1K tests, Rank #99
69.3%
-5.4 pp
SteetonBest nearby
46.4 mi, 1.1K tests, Rank #15
82.4%
+7.7 pp
Bradford (Thornbury)
50.8 mi, 3.5K tests, Rank #74
73.3%
-1.4 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 74.7%, calculated from 2.4K 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% (from 11.9K tests).
Is Darlington an easy or hard test centre?
Darlington is ranked #66 of 135 UK motorcycle module 2 test centres by pass rate, placing it in the top half of motorcycle module 2 pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 74.7% 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 Darlington compare to the UK average?
Darlington's pass rate is 2.5 percentage points above the UK national average of 72.2%. Darlington sits 2.5 points above the UK average, ranked 66 of 135 in its category: close enough that centre choice matters far less than preparation.
How many driving tests does Darlington record?
Darlington has recorded 11.9K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 8.2K passed and 3.7K 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 (64.5%), Knaresborough (77.4%), Horsforth (81.4%) and York (69.3%). Of these, Knaresborough, Horsforth have higher current pass rates than Darlington's 74.7%. Gateshead, York 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 11.9K 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.