PassRates.uk
Motorcycle Module 1 Test Centre, England

Gateshead Driving Test Centre

Moto, Mod 1GatesheadHigh pass rate

Gateshead in Gateshead currently passes 70.9% of tests, 2.1 points below the UK average of 73%. 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)
70.9%
vs 73% UK avg
Tests in period
1.2K
2024-25
National rank
#47
of 72 centres
1st-time pass
N/A
DVSA omits this centre from DRT122C

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Gateshead sits in the bottom half of motorcycle module 1 pass rates nationally (Bottom 36%, rank #47 of 72). The strongest motorcycle module 1 alternative nearby is Blackburn with Darwen, about 94.0 miles away.

Blackburn with DarwenBest nearby
94.0 mi away
78.3%
+7.4 pp
All centres in Gateshead→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

70.9%passed
failed29.1%

All-time 15.3K passed, 6.2K failed, 21.6K total

How Gateshead compares

Gateshead
70.9%
UK national average
73%
Difference
-2.1 pp

Gateshead is 2.1 points behind the national figure and ranked 47 of 72 in its category, a difference most candidates will not feel on the day.

Where Gateshead ranks among 72 centres

Bottom 36%
Gateshead sits in the bottom half of motorcycle module 1 pass rates
Rank
#47
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Stability is the story at Gateshead: 72.4% in 2017-18, 70.9% now, and every year in between inside a 7.4-point band.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 21.9 pp
Male73.1%
0%100%
Female51.2%
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
~56
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 Gateshead 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

Waterside Drive
Dunston
Gateshead
NE11 9HU
England

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

Tests offered at Gateshead

  • car
  • motorcycle module 1 (off-road)
  • motorcycle module 2 (on-road)
  • 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 NE11 9HU, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Gateshead: a DVSA motorcycle module 1 test centre in Gateshead, North East. Local routes, local traffic patterns, no national standard for what "harder" or "easier" looks like beyond what the numbers below show. Across 2017-18-2024-25 the DVSA recorded 21.6K tests at Gateshead. A solid mid-range sample, the data is reliable enough that the rank position below isn't an artefact of small numbers.

The lower half of the UK by pass rate: Gateshead ranks #47 of 72 motorcycle module 1 centres at 70.9%, 2.1 points below the national figure of 73%. First-attempt data for Gateshead 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 1

What learners should know about Gateshead

  • Centre difficulty is roughly average at Gateshead. The same fault categories that fail candidates nationally (junctions, mirrors, observation) are what fail candidates here, in similar proportions.
  • Practising the roads around the centre is the preparation that most reliably pays off. Most ADI instructors in Gateshead 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

Darlington
31.1 mi, 13.7K tests, Rank #51
70.1%
-0.8 pp
Steeton
75.0 mi, 1.0K tests, Rank #71
56.3%
-14.6 pp
Walton LGV
45.3 mi, 9.0K tests, Rank #63
66%
-4.9 pp
Wakefield
88.5 mi, 20.5K tests, Rank #55
68.8%
-2.1 pp
Carlisle
53.2 mi, 7.1K tests, Rank #32
75.2%
+4.3 pp
Blackburn with DarwenBest nearby
94.0 mi, 16.6K tests, Rank #13
78.3%
+7.4 pp
See all centres in Gateshead→Easiest UK centres→Hardest UK centres→Best for first-time pass→Busiest UK centres→

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Gateshead?
The current pass rate at Gateshead driving test centre is 70.9%, calculated from 1.2K tests in 2024-25. DVSA does not publish first-attempt figures for this centre. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 71.1% (from 21.6K tests).
Is Gateshead an easy or hard test centre?
Gateshead is ranked #47 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 70.9% compares to a UK average of 73%. 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 Gateshead compare to the UK average?
Gateshead's pass rate is 2.1 percentage points below the UK national average of 73%. Gateshead is 2.1 points behind the national figure and ranked 47 of 72 in its category, a difference most candidates will not feel on the day.
How many driving tests does Gateshead record?
Gateshead has recorded 21.6K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 15.3K passed and 6.2K 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 Gateshead?
The closest DVSA test centres to Gateshead are Darlington (70.1%), Steeton (56.3%), Walton LGV (66%) and Wakefield (68.8%). Gateshead's 70.9% is the highest current pass rate among them. Darlington, Steeton, Walton LGV, 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 Gateshead?
Gateshead 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. 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 Gateshead and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Gateshead 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 Gateshead?
The estimated wait at Gateshead 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 21.6K 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.