PassRates.uk
Car Test Centre, England

Derby (Alvaston) Driving Test Centre

Car, Cat BDerbyDE1 3AEModerate

Derby (Alvaston) in Derby, England has a current pass rate of 51.3%, 2.6 points above the UK average of 48.7%. This page breaks down the multi-year trend, the first-time and gender pass rates, the waiting time and how it compares with the rest of the UK, all from the DVSA quarterly data.

By Vikas DulgundeUpdated MethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
51.3%
vs 48.7% UK avg
Tests in period
9.3K
2024-25
National rank
#145
of 323 centres
1st-time pass
50.9%
above UK avg

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Derby (Alvaston) sits in the top half of car pass rates nationally (Top 45%, rank #145 of 323). The strongest car alternative nearby is Chesterfield, about 21.7 miles away.

ChesterfieldBest nearby
21.7 mi away
54.5%
+3.2 pp
All centres in Derby→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

51.3%passed
failed48.7%

All-time 39.9K passed, 43.7K failed, 83.5K total

How Derby (Alvaston) compares

Derby (Alvaston)
51.3%
UK national average
48.7%
Difference
+2.6 pp

Derby (Alvaston) is 2.6 points ahead of the national figure and ranked 145 of 323 in its category, a difference most candidates will not feel on the day.

Where Derby (Alvaston) ranks among 323 centres

Top 45%
Derby (Alvaston) ranks higher than 55% of UK car test centres
Rank
#145
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Since 2017-18 the rate at Derby (Alvaston) has risen from 46.7% to 51.3%, a 4.6-point gain, peaking at 51.3% in 2024-25.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 7.7 pp
Male51.6%
0%UK avg 52.0%100%
Female43.9%
0%UK avg 48.0%100%
Zero faults1.7%
737 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Waiting time at Derby (Alvaston)

Median wait, booking to test
14.9 weeks
What the typical learner who tested here had waited
Weeks to 10% availability
19 weeks
The older headline measure
Window appointments free
3.5%
Share of the 24-week window still open

The headline figure for reaching 10% availability is 19 weeks, but the typical (median) learner who took their test at Derby (Alvaston) in May 2026 had waited 14.9 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

Off Belmore Way
Alvaston
Derby
DE21 7AY
England

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

Tests offered at Derby (Alvaston)

  • car
  • 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 DE21 7AY, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Drivers booked at Derby (Alvaston) report to a DVSA centre in Derby, East Midlands, postcode DE1 3AE. 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 Derby (Alvaston). 83.5K 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 Derby (Alvaston) sits at 51.3%, with the DVSA's national car average over the same window running at 48.7%. The gap (2.6 points above the UK figure) places the centre at rank #145 of 323, inside the upper half of the country's car test centres. 50.9% first-attempt pass at Derby (Alvaston), UK is 49%. The two numbers move together; whatever edge or drag the centre has on overall pass rate doesn't show up at the first-attempt level.

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

What learners should know about Derby (Alvaston)

  • Pass rate at Derby (Alvaston) 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.
  • Volume at Derby (Alvaston) is among the highest in the network. Don't take the first available date on faith, refreshing the DVSA booking page across a few days regularly turns up cancellations.
  • Ask any instructor working Derby (Alvaston) 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

Burton on Trent
10.5 mi, 75.3K tests, Rank #111
54.1%
+2.8 pp
Watnall
10.9 mi, 40.7K tests, Rank #114
53.9%
+2.6 pp
Nottingham (Chilwell)
10.0 mi, 55.6K tests, Rank #281
43.9%
-7.4 pp
Loughborough
15.1 mi, 83.0K tests, Rank #283
43.7%
-7.6 pp
Ashfield
17.1 mi, 109.4K tests, Rank #148
51.2%
-0.1 pp
ChesterfieldBest nearby
21.7 mi, 61.7K tests, Rank #106
54.5%
+3.2 pp
See all centres in Derby→Easiest UK centres→Hardest UK centres→Best for first-time pass→Busiest UK centres→

On the day at Derby (Alvaston)

Ten minutes early is the right target at Derby (Alvaston). Parking differs between DVSA centres, so it pays to scout the route on the DVSA centre finder (postcode DE1 3AE) the day before. This centre sees high demand, modelled at roughly 16 to 20 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. If Burton on Trent is fully booked, Derby (Alvaston) is the next closest centre, roughly 11 miles away.

Once underway the test takes around 40 minutes and is the same wherever you sit it. The examiner verifies your eyesight at 20 metres, puts one tell-me question to you, then accompanies the drive and asks one show-me question while you are driving. About 20 minutes is independent driving, sat nav or road signs to a named destination, with one of the set manoeuvres and an emergency stop on roughly one test in seven. 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.

Results come immediately on return to the centre. The examiner talks you through any faults marked, prints the DL25 feedback form, and (if you passed) takes your provisional licence so the full one can be issued by post. A pass needs no more than 15 driving faults and zero serious or dangerous faults, the standard 51.3% of candidates at Derby (Alvaston) meet under current DVSA marking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Derby (Alvaston)?
The current pass rate at Derby (Alvaston) driving test centre is 51.3%, calculated from 9.3K tests in 2024-25. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 50.9%. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 47.7% (from 83.5K tests).
Is Derby (Alvaston) an easy or hard test centre?
Derby (Alvaston) is ranked #145 of 323 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the top half of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 51.3% 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 Derby (Alvaston) compare to the UK average?
Derby (Alvaston)'s pass rate is 2.6 percentage points above the UK national average of 48.7%. Derby (Alvaston) is 2.6 points ahead of the national figure and ranked 145 of 323 in its category, a difference most candidates will not feel on the day.
How many driving tests does Derby (Alvaston) record?
Derby (Alvaston) has recorded 83.5K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 39.9K passed and 43.7K 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 Derby (Alvaston)?
The closest DVSA test centres to Derby (Alvaston) are Burton on Trent (54.1%), Watnall (53.9%), Nottingham (Chilwell) (43.9%) and Loughborough (43.7%). Of these, Burton on Trent, Watnall have higher current pass rates than Derby (Alvaston)'s 51.3%. Nottingham (Chilwell), Loughborough 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 Derby (Alvaston)?
Derby (Alvaston) currently sees high demand with an estimated wait of about 16 to 20 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 Derby (Alvaston) and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Derby (Alvaston) 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 Derby (Alvaston)?
In the latest DVSA figures (May 2026), the median learner who took their test at Derby (Alvaston) had waited about 14.9 weeks between booking and test day. DVSA's older measure, the number of weeks until at least 10% of slots are free, was 19 weeks. About 3.5% 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.