PassRates.uk
HGV/LGV Test Centre, Wales

Heads of the Valleys Driving Test Centre

HGV, Cat CRhymneyCF48 2YGHigh pass rate

At Heads of the Valleys, 81.7% of candidates pass, one of the 124 test centres we rank from the DVSA data. Below you will find the full pass-rate history, the demographic split, the estimated waiting time and a comparison with the nearest centres.

By Vikas DulgundeUpdated MethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
81.7%
vs 60.2% UK avg
Tests in period
1.5K
2022-23 to 2024-25 (3yr avg)
National rank
#9
of 124 centres
1st-time pass
N/A
DVSA omits this centre from DRT122C

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Heads of the Valleys sits in the top 10% of UK hgv/lgv pass rates nationally (Top 7%, rank #9 of 124). The strongest hgv/lgv alternative nearby is Taunton Training, about 49.6 miles away.

Taunton TrainingBest nearby
49.6 mi away
82.7%
+1.0 pp
All centres in Rhymney→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

81.7%passed
failed18.3%

All-time 2.8K passed, 742 failed, 3.5K total

How Heads of the Valleys compares

Heads of the Valleys
81.7%
UK national average
60.2%
Difference
+21.5 pp

Heads of the Valleys clears the UK average by 21.5 points and sits ranked 9 of 124 in its category. That margin says more about its route mix than about marking, the DVSA standard is identical everywhere.

Where Heads of the Valleys ranks among 124 centres

Top 7%
Heads of the Valleys ranks higher than 93% of UK hgv/lgv test centres
Rank
#9
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Since 2017-18 the rate at Heads of the Valleys has risen from 76.6% to 86.8%, a 10.2-point gain, peaking at 86.8% in 2024-25.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 0.3 pp
Male80.4%
0%100%
Female80.1%
0%100%
Zero faults0%
0 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait
5 to 9 weeks
Lower demand
Weekly capacity
~10
estimated test slots per week
Demand
Lower
quieter than average

Booking is comparatively quick: on this estimate, learners booking at Heads of the Valleys would typically wait around 5 to 9 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

Heads of the Valleys
Rhymney
Caerphilly
CF48 2YG
Wales

Tests offered at Heads of the Valleys

  • HGV/LGV

For other test types at this location, search the DVSA centre finder with postcode CF48 2YG.

Accessibility & facilities

Parking, toilets, and disabled-access details vary by centre. Check the official DVSA find a driving test centre tool with postcode CF48 2YG, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Heads of the Valleys sits in Rhymney, Caerphilly, just inside the CF48 2YG postcode. It's a DVSA-run hgv/lgv test centre, and the routes from here work outward into the streets and arterial roads that learners from Rhymney tend to know already. Heads of the Valleys is a smaller centre by volume, 3.5K tests through 2017-18-2024-25. The figures hold up for headline comparisons but lose granularity once you slice them by quarter.

81.7% at Heads of the Valleys, against a UK hgv/lgv average of 60.2%. That puts the centre 21.5 points clear of the national figure and ranks it #9 of 124 hgv/lgv centres in the DVSA's network. For Heads of the Valleys the DVSA suppresses first-attempt figures in DRT122C. Smaller centres get rolled up; this is one of them. The overall pass rate above is the only published figure.

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
Wales
Test category
HGV/LGV

What learners should know about Heads of the Valleys

  • Don't read a higher pass rate as a softer test. Heads of the Valleys'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.
  • If you can, take at least one lesson with an instructor who specifically works the Heads of the Valleys area. Local instructors know which nearby junctions are demanding and will drill them.
  • 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

Llantrisant
16.8 mi, 9.7K tests, Rank #71
60%
-21.7 pp
Pontypool LGV
13.2 mi, 5.9K tests, Rank #98
53.5%
-28.2 pp
Paul Williams (Gloucester)
20.2 mi, 2.3K tests, Rank #28
71.3%
-10.4 pp
Newport (Gwent) LGV
18.8 mi, 3.2K tests, Rank #36
69.1%
-12.6 pp
Neath LGV
21.5 mi, 487 tests, Rank #77
58.7%
-23.0 pp
Taunton TrainingBest nearby
49.6 mi, 3.1K tests, Rank #7
82.7%
+1.0 pp
See all centres in Rhymney→Easiest UK centres→Hardest UK centres→Best for first-time pass→Busiest UK centres→

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Heads of the Valleys?
The current pass rate at Heads of the Valleys driving test centre is 81.7%, calculated from 1.5K 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 78.8% (from 3.5K tests).
Is Heads of the Valleys an easy or hard test centre?
Heads of the Valleys is ranked #9 of 124 UK hgv/lgv test centres by pass rate, placing it in the top 10% of UK hgv/lgv pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 81.7% compares to a UK average of 60.2%. 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 Heads of the Valleys compare to the UK average?
Heads of the Valleys's pass rate is 21.5 percentage points above the UK national average of 60.2%. Heads of the Valleys clears the UK average by 21.5 points and sits ranked 9 of 124 in its category. That margin says more about its route mix than about marking, the DVSA standard is identical everywhere.
How many driving tests does Heads of the Valleys record?
Heads of the Valleys has recorded 3.5K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 2.8K passed and 742 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 Heads of the Valleys?
The closest DVSA test centres to Heads of the Valleys are Llantrisant (60%), Pontypool LGV (53.5%), Paul Williams (Gloucester) (71.3%) and Newport (Gwent) LGV (69.1%). Heads of the Valleys's 81.7% is the highest current pass rate among them. Llantrisant, Pontypool LGV, Paul Williams (Gloucester), Newport (Gwent) LGV 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 Heads of the Valleys?
Heads of the Valleys currently sees low demand with an estimated wait of about 5 to 9 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 Heads of the Valleys and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Heads of the Valleys 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 Heads of the Valleys?
The estimated wait at Heads of the Valleys is about 5 to 9 weeks (low 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 3.5K 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.