Car Test Centre, Wales

Pembroke Dock Driving Test Centre

Car, Cat BPembroke DockHigh pass rate

Pembroke Dock in Pembroke Dock, Wales has a current pass rate of 57.9%, 9.2 points above the UK average of 48.7%. This page breaks down the multi-year trend, the first-time and gender pass rates, the waiting time and how it compares with the rest of the UK, all from the DVSA quarterly data.

Pass rate (2024-25)
57.9%
vs 48.7% UK avg
Tests in period
2.1K
2024-25
National rank
#74
of 323 centres
1st-time pass
56.8%
above UK avg

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Pembroke Dock sits in the top quarter of car pass rates nationally (Top 23%, rank #74 of 323). No nearby car centre currently posts a higher pass rate.

BarnstapleNearest alternative
56.8 mi away
54.7%
-3.2 pp

Pass vs fail at a glance

57.9%passed
failed42.1%

All-time 18.4K passed, 14.8K failed, 33.1K total

How Pembroke Dock compares

Pembroke Dock
57.9%
UK national average
48.7%
Difference
+9.2 pp

The 9.2-point advantage at Pembroke Dock (ranked 74 of 323 in its category) is worth having but not decisive; a well-prepared candidate passes at either kind of centre.

Where Pembroke Dock ranks among 323 centres

Top 23%
Pembroke Dock ranks higher than 77% of UK car test centres
Rank
#74
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Since 2017-18 the rate at Pembroke Dock has risen from 52.9% to 57.9%, a 5-point gain, peaking at 64.6% in 2022-23.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 5.3 pp
Male58.2%
0%UK avg 52.0%100%
Female52.9%
0%UK avg 48.0%100%
Zero faults3.2%
198 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Waiting time at Pembroke Dock

Median wait, booking to test
16 weeks
What the typical learner who tested here had waited
Weeks to 10% availability
24 weeks
The older headline measure
Window appointments free
0%
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 Pembroke Dock in May 2026 had waited 16 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 Captain Superintendents Building
Royal Dockyard
Pembroke Dock
SA72 6TD
Wales

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

Tests offered at Pembroke Dock

  • Car

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 SA72 6TD, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Drivers booked at Pembroke Dock report to a DVSA centre in Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire. The car 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. 33.1K tests through 2017-18-2024-25 puts Pembroke Dock in the comfortable middle of the volume distribution. The pass rate moves with real signal, not noise.

By raw pass rate Pembroke Dock sits at 57.9%, with the DVSA's national car average over the same window running at 48.7%. The gap (9.2 points clear of the UK figure) places the centre at rank #74 of 323, inside the top quarter of the country's car test centres. Across 1.1K first-attempt tests, Pembroke Dock passes 56.8% of candidates, against 49% nationally. The centre is a relatively forgiving venue for a first booking, by the DVSA's own data.

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
Car

What learners should know about Pembroke Dock

  • Pembroke Dock 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.
  • First-time pass rate of 56.8% at Pembroke Dock is on the forgiving side. A well-prepared first booking has a reasonable shot; don't over-correct by booking a "practice" test you don't actually need.
  • Practising the roads around the centre is the preparation that most reliably pays off. Most ADI instructors in Pembroke Dock will know the road types and junctions learners commonly meet near the centre.
  • 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

On the day at Pembroke Dock

Ten minutes early is the right target at Pembroke Dock. Parking differs between DVSA centres, so it pays to scout the route on the DVSA centre finder the day before. Demand sits at moderate with a modelled wait of about 9 to 13 weeks, which generally leaves more room to choose a date. Bring the provisional photocard licence, the examiner checks for it first, and make sure your car is roadworthy with L plates and a working interior mirror. If Cardigan is fully booked, Pembroke Dock is the next closest centre, roughly 29 miles away.

Plan for a drive of roughly 40 minutes, identical in structure to every other DVSA centre. First comes the 20-metre eyesight check and a tell-me vehicle-safety question, then the examiner joins you for the road section, with one show-me question while you drive. About 20 minutes is independent driving by sat nav or by following signs to a named target, you tackle one of four set manoeuvres, and around one in seven candidates get an emergency stop. The drive covers the local mix of road types within roughly a twenty-minute radius of the centre. Across DVSA marking nationally, the fault recorded most often on car tests is junctions - observation, worth drilling on the local routes before your date.

There is no wait for the verdict, the examiner delivers it at the centre. They go over each fault recorded, hand you the DL25 feedback form, and on a pass retain your provisional licence so the full version arrives by post. To pass you need no more than 15 driving faults and not a single serious or dangerous one; 57.9% of candidates at Pembroke Dock currently clear that.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Pembroke Dock?
The current pass rate at Pembroke Dock driving test centre is 57.9%, calculated from 2.1K tests in 2024-25. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 56.8%. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 55.4% (from 33.1K tests).
Is Pembroke Dock an easy or hard test centre?
Pembroke Dock is ranked #74 of 323 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the top quarter of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 57.9% 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 Pembroke Dock compare to the UK average?
Pembroke Dock's pass rate is 9.2 percentage points above the UK national average of 48.7%. The 9.2-point advantage at Pembroke Dock (ranked 74 of 323 in its category) is worth having but not decisive; a well-prepared candidate passes at either kind of centre.
How many driving tests does Pembroke Dock record?
Pembroke Dock has recorded 33.1K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 18.4K passed and 14.8K 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 Pembroke Dock?
The closest DVSA test centres to Pembroke Dock are Cardigan (49.8%), Carmarthen (54.4%), Llanelli (51%) and Swansea (52.1%). Pembroke Dock's 57.9% is the highest current pass rate among them. Cardigan, Carmarthen, Llanelli, Swansea 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 Pembroke Dock?
Pembroke Dock currently sees moderate demand with an estimated wait of about 9 to 13 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 Pembroke Dock and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Pembroke Dock 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 Pembroke Dock?
In the latest DVSA figures (May 2026), the median learner who took their test at Pembroke Dock had waited about 16 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 0% 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.