Car Test Centre, England

Lee On The Solent Driving Test Centre

Car, Cat BLee-on-the-SolentPO13 9JGHigh pass rate

Lee On The Solent posts a 59.6% pass rate, with Portsmouth the nearest alternative about 5 miles away. Read on for its full DVSA history, first-time pass rate, waiting time and demographic breakdown.

Pass rate (2024-25)
59.6%
vs 48.7% UK avg
Tests in period
10.4K
2024-25
National rank
#55
of 323 centres
1st-time pass
60.6%
above UK avg

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Lee On The Solent sits in the top quarter of car pass rates nationally (Top 17%, rank #55 of 323). The strongest car alternative nearby is Chichester, about 18.6 miles away.

ChichesterBest nearby
18.6 mi away
64.2%
+4.6 pp

Pass vs fail at a glance

59.6%passed
failed40.4%

All-time 50.9K passed, 39.0K failed, 89.8K total

How Lee On The Solent compares

Lee On The Solent
59.6%
UK national average
48.7%
Difference
+10.9 pp

A 10.9-point lead over the national figure puts Lee On The Solent ranked 55 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 Lee On The Solent ranks among 323 centres

Top 17%
Lee On The Solent ranks higher than 83% of UK car test centres
Rank
#55
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Since 2017-18 the rate at Lee On The Solent has risen from 55.3% to 59.6%, a 4.3-point gain, peaking at 65.6% in 2021-22.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 7.4 pp
Male60.4%
0%UK avg 52.0%100%
Female53.0%
0%UK avg 48.0%100%
Zero faults3.6%
1.6K candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Waiting time at Lee On The Solent

Median wait, booking to test
17.6 weeks
What the typical learner who tested here had waited
Weeks to 10% availability
24 weeks
The older headline measure
Window appointments free
5%
Share of the 24-week window still open

The headline figure for reaching 10% availability is 24 weeks, but the typical (median) learner who took their test at Lee On The Solent in May 2026 had waited 17.6 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

The Richard Sainsbury Building
Daedalus Argus Gate Daedalus Drive
Lee on the Solent
PO13 9JY
England

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

Tests offered at Lee On The Solent

  • car
  • motorcycle module 1 (off-road)
  • motorcycle module 2 (on-road)
  • 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 PO13 9JY, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Lee On The Solent is one of the DVSA's car test sites in England, located in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire at PO13 9JG. The choice of routes reflects the local mix of road types rather than any standard national template. By volume, Lee On The Solent is at the upper end of the DVSA's network. With 89.8K tests across 2017-18-2024-25, the figures on this page are about as statistically settled as DVSA data gets.

Lee On The Solent passes higher than most. At 59.6% versus a UK average of 48.7%, it ranks #55 of 323 car centres, the top quarter of the network. 60.6% of first-timers pass at Lee On The Solent, 11.6 points above the UK figure of 49%. A prepared first attempt has a real shot here in a way it doesn't at every centre.

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 Lee On The Solent

  • Above-average pass rate at Lee On The Solent doesn't mean above-average ease. The fundamentals examiners mark are the same nationally: junctions, mirrors, observation, signal timing. A 65%+ pass rate means more candidates clear those, not that the bar is lower.
  • 60.6% of first-timers pass at Lee On The Solent, so the centre is on the forgiving side. If your instructor is signing you off as test-ready, your own preparation matters far more than the venue.
  • Volume at Lee On The Solent 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.
  • Practising the roads around the centre is the preparation that most reliably pays off. Most ADI instructors in Lee-on-the-Solent will know the road types and junctions learners commonly meet near the centre.
  • If you missed the earlier slots at Lee On The Solent, 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.

Other test centres nearby

On the day at Lee On The Solent

Give yourself ten minutes in hand when you head to Lee On The Solent, and look up where to park beforehand, facilities differ from one DVSA site to the next. The DVSA centre finder (postcode PO13 9JG) shows the exact location. This is a very high-demand centre, modelled at roughly 20 to 24 weeks to a slot, so book as far ahead as you can and keep an eye on cancellations. You must have your provisional photocard licence on you, plus a car with L plates and a working interior mirror for the examiner. If Portsmouth is fully booked, Lee On The Solent is the next closest centre, roughly 5 miles away.

Expect about 40 minutes once you set off, to the same national DVSA script. It opens with an eyesight check at 20 metres and one tell-me question, after which the examiner rides along for the drive and asks one show-me question on the move. Around 20 minutes of that is independent driving, guided either by a sat nav the examiner provides or by road signs to a named destination, with one of four set manoeuvres and a one-in-seven chance of an emergency stop. 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 59.6% of candidates at Lee On The Solent meet under current DVSA marking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Lee On The Solent?
The current pass rate at Lee On The Solent driving test centre is 59.6%, calculated from 10.4K tests in 2024-25. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 60.6%. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 56.6% (from 89.8K tests).
Is Lee On The Solent an easy or hard test centre?
Lee On The Solent is ranked #55 of 323 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the top quarter of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 59.6% compares to a UK average of 48.7%. Centres with calmer suburban or rural routes tend to sit higher, while busy urban sites with tight junctions and multi-lane roundabouts usually sit lower.
How does Lee On The Solent compare to the UK average?
Lee On The Solent's pass rate is 10.9 percentage points above the UK national average of 48.7%. A 10.9-point lead over the national figure puts Lee On The Solent ranked 55 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.
How many driving tests does Lee On The Solent record?
Lee On The Solent has recorded 89.8K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 50.9K passed and 39.0K 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 Lee On The Solent?
The closest DVSA test centres to Lee On The Solent are Portsmouth (51.8%), Newport (Isle of Wight) (52.4%), Southampton (Maybush) (47.1%) and Winchester (47.9%). Lee On The Solent's 59.6% is the highest current pass rate among them. Portsmouth, Newport (Isle of Wight), Southampton (Maybush), Winchester 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 Lee On The Solent?
Lee On The Solent currently sees very high demand with an estimated wait of about 20 to 24 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 Lee On The Solent and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Lee On The Solent 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 Lee On The Solent?
In the latest DVSA figures (May 2026), the median learner who took their test at Lee On The Solent had waited about 17.6 weeks between booking and test day. DVSA's older measure, the number of weeks until at least 10% of slots are free, was 24 weeks. About 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.