Car Test Centre, England

Sevenoaks Driving Test Centre

Car, Cat BSevenoaksModerate

Sevenoaks in Sevenoaks, England has a current pass rate of 53.6%, 4.9 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)
53.6%
vs 48.7% UK avg
Tests in period
6.4K
2024-25
National rank
#118
of 323 centres
1st-time pass
54.9%
above UK avg

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Sevenoaks sits in the top half of car pass rates nationally (Top 37%, rank #118 of 323). The strongest car alternative nearby is Sidcup (London), about 11.3 miles away.

Sidcup (London)Best nearby
11.3 mi away
59%
+5.4 pp

Pass vs fail at a glance

53.6%passed
failed46.4%

All-time 40.6K passed, 38.8K failed, 79.4K total

How Sevenoaks compares

Sevenoaks
53.6%
UK national average
48.7%
Difference
+4.9 pp

At 4.9 points above the UK figure and ranked 118 of 323 in its category, Sevenoaks offers a modest but real edge, typically a product of its local road layout rather than the venue itself.

Where Sevenoaks ranks among 323 centres

Top 37%
Sevenoaks ranks higher than 63% of UK car test centres
Rank
#118
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Year-to-year volatility is the story at Sevenoaks: 10.8 points separate 2021-22 (59.5%) from 2023-24 (48.7%), even though the endpoints nearly match.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 4.1 pp
Male53.3%
0%UK avg 52.0%100%
Female49.2%
0%UK avg 48.0%100%
Zero faults0.9%
617 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Waiting time at Sevenoaks

Median wait, booking to test
12 weeks
What the typical learner who tested here had waited
Weeks to 10% availability
24 weeks
The older headline measure
Window appointments free
4.4%
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 Sevenoaks in May 2026 had waited 12 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

45 Argyle Road
Sevenoaks
TN13 1HJ
England

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

Tests offered at Sevenoaks

  • car
  • ADI part 2
  • 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 TN13 1HJ, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Sevenoaks is in Sevenoaks, Kent and runs DVSA car tests for learners across the local area. Your examiner picks the route on the day without telling you which, and the DVSA does not publish them. Sevenoaks runs at high volume: 79.4K tests across 2017-18-2024-25 put it among the busier DVSA centres in the country. The headline numbers carry weight because the sample carries weight.

Out of 323 UK car test centres, Sevenoaks ranks 118, which lands it in the upper half nationally. The 53.6% pass rate is 4.9 points above the UK figure of 48.7%. First-attempt pass rate at Sevenoaks: 54.9%, against 49% nationally. That's a 5.9-point lead. Well-prepared candidates with no prior test attempts pass here at a noticeably higher rate than the UK average.

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
England
Test category
Car

What learners should know about Sevenoaks

  • Centre difficulty is roughly average at Sevenoaks. The same fault categories that fail candidates nationally (junctions, mirrors, observation) are what fail candidates here, in similar proportions.
  • 79.4K tests through this centre over the published window. At that throughput, competition for short-notice slots is constant, so make a habit of checking the official booking page often.
  • Practising the roads around the centre is the preparation that most reliably pays off. Most ADI instructors in Sevenoaks will know the road types and junctions learners commonly meet near the centre.
  • Don't pay third-party sites for booking access at Sevenoaks. Use gov.uk/book-driving-test directly; cancellations show up on the same booking flow.

Other test centres nearby

On the day at Sevenoaks

Plan to arrive at Sevenoaks about ten minutes before your slot. Parking varies between DVSA centres, so check the route and the surrounding streets on the DVSA centre finder a day or two ahead. With demand running very high here and waits near 20 to 24 weeks, it is worth holding any earlier cancellation slot you are offered. Bring your provisional photocard licence; the examiner will not start without it, and you will need a roadworthy car with L plates and a working interior mirror. If Tunbridge Wells is fully booked, Sevenoaks is the next closest centre, roughly 10 miles away.

The test runs for around 40 minutes and follows the same DVSA format used at every centre. The examiner checks your eyesight at 20 metres, asks you a tell-me safety question, then sits in for the drive, with one show-me question while you are driving. About 20 minutes of it is independent driving, either following a sat nav the examiner sets up or following road signs to a named place. You will do one of four set manoeuvres, and roughly one in seven candidates is asked to perform 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.

You find out there and then, back at Sevenoaks. The examiner runs through the faults on the DL25 feedback form and, on a pass, keeps your provisional licence so a full licence follows in the post. Clearing the test means staying under 16 driving faults, that is 15 or fewer, with no serious or dangerous fault; 53.6% of candidates here manage it on the current marking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Sevenoaks?
The current pass rate at Sevenoaks driving test centre is 53.6%, calculated from 6.4K tests in 2024-25. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 54.9%. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 51.2% (from 79.4K tests).
Is Sevenoaks an easy or hard test centre?
Sevenoaks is ranked #118 of 323 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the top half of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 53.6% 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 Sevenoaks compare to the UK average?
Sevenoaks's pass rate is 4.9 percentage points above the UK national average of 48.7%. At 4.9 points above the UK figure and ranked 118 of 323 in its category, Sevenoaks offers a modest but real edge, typically a product of its local road layout rather than the venue itself.
How many driving tests does Sevenoaks record?
Sevenoaks has recorded 79.4K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 40.6K passed and 38.8K failed. The trend chart on this page plots how both volume and pass rate have changed across the recent DVSA reporting periods.
Which driving test centres are near Sevenoaks?
The closest DVSA test centres to Sevenoaks are Tunbridge Wells (58.9%), Sidcup (London) (59%), Erith (London) (49.3%) and Belvedere (London) (38.3%). Of these, Tunbridge Wells, Sidcup (London) have higher current pass rates than Sevenoaks's 53.6%. Erith (London), Belvedere (London) 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 Sevenoaks?
Sevenoaks 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. 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 Sevenoaks and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Sevenoaks 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 Sevenoaks?
In the latest DVSA figures (May 2026), the median learner who took their test at Sevenoaks had waited about 12 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 4.4% 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.