Kettering Driving Test Centre
Kettering posts a 71.1% pass rate, with Bedford the nearest alternative about 20 miles away. Read on for its full DVSA history, first-time pass rate, waiting time and demographic breakdown.
DVSA data last updated September 2026
Kettering sits in the bottom half of motorcycle module 2 pass rates nationally (Bottom 36%, rank #87 of 135). The strongest motorcycle module 2 alternative nearby is Grantham (Somerby), about 36.7 miles away.
Pass vs fail at a glance
All-time 7.6K passed, 3.4K failed, 11.0K total
How Kettering compares
The 1.1-point gap at Kettering (ranked 87 of 135 in its category) is real but small; local route familiarity moves your odds more than the venue does.
Where Kettering ranks among 135 centres
Pass-rate trend by year
The headline barely moved (68.8% in 2017-18, 70.9% now) but the ride was not smooth: Kettering has swung 8 points between its best year (76.5%, 2019-20) and its worst (68.5%, 2022-23).
Pass rate by demographic
Estimated wait time and demand
Booking is achievable but not immediate: on this estimate, learners booking at Kettering would typically wait around 10 to 14 weeks from booking to test day.
This wait is an estimate modelled from regional demand and this centre's test volume, not a live booking figure. See how it is worked out on our methodology page, and check the DVSA booking service for live slots.
Centre details
Address
Source: DVSA find a driving test centre (Open Government Licence v3.0), captured 2026-05-12.
Tests offered at Kettering
- car
- motorcycle module 1 (off-road)
- motorcycle module 2 (on-road)
- ADI part 3
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 NN15 6NL, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.
About this test centre
Kettering is one of the DVSA's motorcycle module 2 test sites in England, located in Kettering, North Northamptonshire at NN15 6NL. The choice of routes reflects the local mix of road types rather than any standard national template. Kettering sees moderate volume: 11.0K practical tests through 2017-18-2024-25. Year-on-year percentages here are meaningful, but watch the trend line rather than fixating on any single period.
Kettering runs close to the national curve: 71.1% pass rate, 1.1 points below the UK average of 72.2%. The rank is #87 of 135 motorcycle module 2 centres. First-attempt data for Kettering 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.
What learners should know about Kettering
- Centre difficulty is roughly average at Kettering. 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 Kettering will know the road types and junctions learners commonly meet near the centre.
- If you missed the earlier slots at Kettering, cancellations appear on the official DVSA booking service throughout the day. Check at off-peak times (early morning, late evening) for the best chance of catching one.
Whether you pass at Kettering is not decided by the centre. It is decided by the 15 things an examiner can mark you on, and response, traffic signs is one of the ones that ends attempts early.
Take response, traffic signs. Pre-test route familiarity not built. Eyes fixed too close in. Sign-blindness from over-focusing on the road surface. Most of the argument about what is a minor and what is a serious comes down to cases like that one, so it is worth knowing which side of the line yours falls on before an examiner decides it for you.
Drive your local test routes specifically scanning for signs. Have the instructor cover unusual signs on country roads (national speed limit on single carriageway = 60 mph, not 70). Free to use, no sign up. Everything for the day itself is on the practical test hub.
Other test centres nearby
You cannot book a practical test at Kettering until you hold a theory pass, and it has to still be valid on the day you sit it. Nationally 44.8% of candidates pass the theory.
Vehicle condition, tyres, lights, fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. All 14 DVSA topics are free to practise, with no sign up. See the theory pass rate by centre or the full practice hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass rate at Kettering?
Is Kettering an easy or hard test centre?
How does Kettering compare to the UK average?
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How long is the wait for a driving test at Kettering?
Data: DVSA quarterly statistical release, released under the Open Government Licence v3.0. PassRates.uk aggregates DVSA centre-level totals across reporting periods.
DVSA data period: 2024-25.