PassRates.uk
HGV/LGV Test Centre, Scotland

Machrihanish LGV Driving Test Centre

HGV, Cat CMachrihanishPA28 6PXHigh pass rate

At Machrihanish LGV, 93.6% 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 (2023-24)
93.6%
vs 60.2% UK avg
Tests in period
78
2019-20 to 2023-24 (lifetime, low volume)
National rank
#1
of 124 centres
1st-time pass
N/A
DVSA omits this centre from DRT122C

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Machrihanish LGV sits in the top 10% of UK hgv/lgv pass rates nationally (Top 1%, rank #1 of 124). No nearby hgv/lgv centre currently posts a higher pass rate.

Kilmarnock LGVNearest alternative
50.0 mi away
75.9%
-17.7 pp
All centres in Machrihanish→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

93.6%passed
failed6.4%

All-time 73 passed, 5 failed, 78 total

How Machrihanish LGV compares

Machrihanish LGV
93.6%
UK national average
60.2%
Difference
+33.4 pp

The 33.4-point gap in candidates' favour at Machrihanish LGV (ranked 1 of 124 in its category) is among the wider spreads in the network, consistent with quieter local roads rather than any difference in how examiners mark.

Where Machrihanish LGV ranks among 124 centres

Top 1%
Machrihanish LGV ranks higher than 99% of UK hgv/lgv test centres
Rank
#1
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 11.1 pp
Male100.0%
0%100%
Female88.9%
0%100%
Zero faults0%
0 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait
4 to 8 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 Machrihanish LGV would typically wait around 4 to 8 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

The range above is an estimate, not a real-time slot count. We model it from National Audit Office demand data and this centre's volume; the methodology page sets out the workings. For live availability use the DVSA booking service.

Centre details

Address

RAF Station
Machrihanish
Arygllshire
PA28 6NU
Scotland

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

Tests offered at Machrihanish LGV

  • HGV/LGV

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 PA28 6NU, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Drivers booked at Machrihanish LGV report to a DVSA centre in Machrihanish, Argyll and Bute, postcode PA28 6PX. The hgv/lgv routes used here are drawn from the streets the centre's examiners drive every week, so the test reflects local conditions rather than a generic syllabus. Small sample warning: 78 tests across 2019-20-2023-24. The headline rate on this page is the multi-year aggregate, which is the only version of the number worth trusting at this volume.

By raw pass rate Machrihanish LGV sits at 93.6%, with the DVSA's national hgv/lgv average over the same window running at 60.2%. The gap (33.4 points clear of the UK figure) places the centre at rank #1 of 124, inside the top ten percent of the country's hgv/lgv test centres. For Machrihanish LGV 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
Scotland
Test category
HGV/LGV

What learners should know about Machrihanish LGV

  • Machrihanish LGV passes higher than the UK average, but the marking sheet is identical to every other DVSA centre. The bias is in the local road mix (less traffic, simpler junction geometry); the standard is national.
  • With 78 tests on record at Machrihanish LGV, 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 Machrihanish LGV area. Local instructors know which nearby junctions are demanding and will drill them.
  • Book through the official DVSA service (gov.uk/book-driving-test). Third-party "fast-track" sites charge a premium for the same booking; the official DVSA booking service is free.

Other test centres nearby

Dreghorn LGV
45.5 mi, 775 tests, Rank #19
75.1%
-18.5 pp
Kilmarnock LGVBest nearby
50.0 mi, 8.2K tests, Rank #17
75.9%
-17.7 pp
Diamond (Newark)
74.4 mi, 2.2K tests, Rank #26
72.1%
-21.5 pp
GTG (Glasgow)
62.2 mi, 8.6K tests, Rank #64
62.6%
-31.0 pp
Ritchies (Glasgow)
64.7 mi, 10.8K tests, Rank #24
72.9%
-20.7 pp
Glasgow LGV
65.2 mi, 1.6K tests, Rank #51
65.8%
-27.8 pp
See all centres in Machrihanish→Easiest UK centres→Hardest UK centres→Best for first-time pass→Busiest UK centres→

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Machrihanish LGV?
The current pass rate at Machrihanish LGV driving test centre is 93.6%, calculated from 78 tests in 2019-20 to 2023-24 (lifetime, low volume). DVSA does not publish first-attempt figures for this centre. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 93.6% (from 78 tests).
Is Machrihanish LGV an easy or hard test centre?
Machrihanish LGV is ranked #1 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 93.6% compares to a UK average of 60.2%. 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 Machrihanish LGV compare to the UK average?
Machrihanish LGV's pass rate is 33.4 percentage points above the UK national average of 60.2%. The 33.4-point gap in candidates' favour at Machrihanish LGV (ranked 1 of 124 in its category) is among the wider spreads in the network, consistent with quieter local roads rather than any difference in how examiners mark.
How many driving tests does Machrihanish LGV record?
Machrihanish LGV has recorded 78 tests in the available DVSA data, of which 73 passed and 5 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 Machrihanish LGV?
The closest DVSA test centres to Machrihanish LGV are Dreghorn LGV (75.1%), Kilmarnock LGV (75.9%), Diamond (Newark) (72.1%) and GTG (Glasgow) (62.6%). Machrihanish LGV's 93.6% is the highest current pass rate among them. Dreghorn LGV, Kilmarnock LGV, Diamond (Newark), GTG (Glasgow) 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 Machrihanish LGV?
Machrihanish LGV currently sees low demand with an estimated wait of about 4 to 8 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 Machrihanish LGV and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Machrihanish LGV 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 Machrihanish LGV?
The estimated wait at Machrihanish LGV is about 4 to 8 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 78 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: 2023-24.