Gairloch Driving Test Centre
Gairloch in Gairloch currently passes 72.1% of tests, 23.4 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.
DVSA data last updated July 2026
Gairloch sits in the top 10% of UK car pass rates nationally (Top 1%, rank #4 of 323). No nearby car centre currently posts a higher pass rate.
Pass vs fail at a glance
All-time 479 passed, 185 failed, 664 total
How Gairloch compares
A 23.4-point lead over the national figure puts Gairloch ranked 4 of 323 in its category. Gaps this large usually come from the roads, not the examiners: fewer complex junctions and lighter traffic on the local routes.
Where Gairloch ranks among 323 centres
Pass-rate trend by year
Year-to-year volatility is the story at Gairloch: 18.9 points separate 2018-19 (86.5%) from 2021-22 (67.6%), even though the endpoints nearly match.
Pass rate by demographic
Estimated wait time and demand
Booking is comparatively quick: on this estimate, learners booking at Gairloch would typically wait around 4 to 8 weeks from booking to test day.
These figures are an estimate, not live data. We model them from published demand reports and this centre's test volume; the method is on our methodology page. Check the DVSA booking service for current slots.
Centre details
Address
Source: DVSA find a driving test centre (Open Government Licence v3.0), captured 2026-05-12.
Tests offered at Gairloch
- car
Accessibility & facilities
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 IV21 2BX, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.
About this test centre
Gairloch is in Gairloch, Highland (IV21 2DU) and runs DVSA car tests for learners across the local area. Your examiner picks the route on the day without telling you which, and the DVSA does not publish them. Be careful with the per-period numbers at Gairloch. With just 664 tests over 2017-18-2024-25, one or two unlucky candidates in a slow quarter can move the rate by five points.
Out of 323 UK car test centres, Gairloch ranks 4, which lands it in the top ten percent nationally. The 72.1% pass rate is 23.4 points clear of the UK figure of 48.7%. Across 438 first-attempt tests, Gairloch passes 76% 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.
What learners should know about Gairloch
- Don't read a higher pass rate as a softer test. Gairloch's rate reflects route geography more than examiner discretion, DVSA marking is centrally trained. Prepare for the same fault categories you'd prepare for anywhere.
- First-time pass rate of 76% at Gairloch is on the forgiving side. A well-prepared first booking has a reasonable shot; don't over-correct by booking a "practice" test you don't actually need.
- With 664 tests on record at Gairloch, the per-quarter pass rates are noisy. The trend chart on this page is more informative than any specific number from a specific period.
- If you can, take at least one lesson with an instructor who specifically works the Gairloch area. Local instructors know which nearby junctions are demanding and will drill them.
- Don't pay third-party sites for booking access at Gairloch. Use gov.uk/book-driving-test directly; cancellations show up on the same booking flow.
Other test centres nearby
On the day at Gairloch
Plan to arrive at Gairloch 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 IV21 2DU) a day or two ahead. Demand here is low with waits around 4 to 8 weeks, so there is usually a little more slot choice than at the busiest urban centres. 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 Kyle of Lochalsh is fully booked, Gairloch is the next closest centre, roughly 31 miles away.
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 seven tests includes an emergency stop, a frequency the DVSA reduced in late 2025. The drive covers the local mix of road types within roughly a twenty-minute radius of the centre. 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 Gairloch. 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 72.1% of candidates here meet it under current DVSA marking. Candidates on their first attempt clear that bar more often here, 76% against the 72.1% overall figure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass rate at Gairloch?
Is Gairloch an easy or hard test centre?
How does Gairloch compare to the UK average?
How many driving tests does Gairloch record?
Which driving test centres are near Gairloch?
When is the best time to book a test at Gairloch?
How do I book a test at Gairloch and what do I need?
How long is the wait for a driving test at Gairloch?
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.