What is the UK driving test pass rate?

The UK average pass rate for the Category B (car) practical driving test is around 48%, though it varies significantly between test centres, from roughly 35% at the hardest urban centres to over 65% at the easiest rural ones.

Which UK driving test centre has the highest pass rate?

Small rural test centres (particularly in Scotland and the Scottish Islands) consistently show the highest pass rates, often above 65%. Lerwick in Shetland leads the UK at around 68.5%.

Where does the data come from?

All statistics come from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) quarterly statistical release on GOV.UK. The dataset is released under the Open Government Licence and is updated automatically each quarter.

Does PassRates.uk show motorcycle and HGV pass rates?

Yes. The data covers the Category B (car) practical test, motorcycle Module 1 and Module 2 tests, and heavy-vehicle (LGV/HGV) tests for every UK test centre.

Car Test Centre, England

Sheffield (Handsworth)

Car, Cat BSheffieldModerate

The Sheffield (Handsworth) driving test centre is located in Sheffield, England. Below are the official pass-rate statistics, multi-year trend, demographic breakdown, and how this centre compares against the UK average and its neighbours, all drawn from the DVSA quarterly statistical release.

Pass rate

45.3%

vs 48% UK avg

Total tests

14.7K

6.7K passed

National rank

#266

of 326 centres

1st-time pass

45%

below UK avg

About this test centre

Sheffield (Handsworth) is a DVSA-operated car test centre located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire (England). It serves learners from across its catchment area, with test routes radiating out from the centre into surrounding residential and arterial roads. Over the available DVSA reporting periods (2017-18-2024-25), Sheffield (Handsworth) has hosted 14.7K practical tests, a meaningful sample for percentage comparisons.

Ranking #266 of 326 by pass rate places Sheffield (Handsworth) in the bottom quarter of UK car test centres, broadly in line with the UK national average of 48%. The first-time pass rate of 45% is below the UK figure (47.2%), many learners need a second attempt, so building familiarity with local routes pays off.

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.

Pass vs fail at a glance

45.3%passed

failed54.7%

6.7K passed, 8.1K failed, 14.7K total

How Sheffield (Handsworth) compares

Sheffield (Handsworth)

45.3%

UK national average

48%

Difference

-2.7 pp

Sheffield (Handsworth) sits close to the UK average pass rate.

Where Sheffield (Handsworth) ranks among 326 centres

Top 19%

Sheffield (Handsworth) sits in the bottom quarter of car pass rates

Rank

#266

BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Sheffield (Handsworth) pass rate vs UK average

UK avg 48.0%

Most common faults at this centre

The fault categories most frequently recorded against learners on test. Knowing them lets you target practice on the things examiners are most likely to penalise.

1Junctions - observation10
2Mirrors - change direction9
3Move off - safely8
4Junctions - turning right7
5Response to signs - traffic lights6

Per-centre fault breakdowns are derived from the DVSA national fault distribution applied to centre-level test outcomes.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rategap 4.1 pp

Male47.2%

0%UK avg 50.0%100%

Female43.1%

0%UK avg 45.8%100%

Zero faults7.1%

471 candidates passed without a single recorded fault

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait

12 weeks

Moderate demand

Weekly capacity

~38

estimated test slots per week

Trend

stable

availability direction

Wait times at Sheffield (Handsworth) have remained broadly stable through recent reporting periods. Booking is achievable but not immediate: learners booking at Sheffield (Handsworth) typically wait around 12 weeks from booking to test day.

Peak months

June, July, August, September

longest waits in Sheffield

Best to book

November, December, January, February

shortest expected waits

Wait time is estimated from regional demand patterns reported in the National Audit Office investigation into car driving test waiting times (Dec 2025) and the DVSA Despatch blog updates, combined with this centre's test volume. Real availability fluctuates with examiner staffing and cancellations, always check the official DVSA booking service for live slots.

Centre details

Address

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire, South Yorkshire

Country

England

Test category

Car

DVSA centre ID

sheffield-handsworth

City coverage

All centres in Sheffield →

Open in maps

View on Google Maps →

What learners should know about Sheffield (Handsworth)

Sheffield (Handsworth) sits close to the UK national pass rate, so prepare expecting a normal level of difficulty, neither unusually easy nor unusually hard.
Always book your test through the official DVSA booking service (gov.uk). Be wary of third-party sites charging premium fees for the same booking.

Other test centres nearby

Sheffield (Middlewood Road)

18.9K tests, Rank #217

48%

Sheffield (Handsworth)

16.6K tests, Rank #100

55%

Rotherham

12.9K tests, Rank #204

48.7%

Rotherham

19.2K tests, Rank #31

72.5%

Rotherham

14.9K tests, Rank #95

73%

Chesterfield

8.9K tests, Rank #155

50.7%

See all centres in Sheffield→Compare with the easiest UK centres→Compare with the hardest→

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Sheffield (Handsworth)?

The current overall pass rate at Sheffield (Handsworth) driving test centre is 45.3%, calculated from 14.7K recorded tests. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 45%.

Is Sheffield (Handsworth) an easy or hard test centre?

Sheffield (Handsworth) is ranked #266 of 326 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the bottom quarter of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 45.3% compares to a UK average of 48%. Higher pass rates often correlate with quieter rural or suburban routes; lower rates with dense urban centres featuring complex junctions and multi-lane roundabouts.

How does Sheffield (Handsworth) compare to the UK average?

Sheffield (Handsworth)'s pass rate is 2.7 percentage points below the UK national average of 48%. Sheffield (Handsworth) sits close to the UK average pass rate.

How many tests are taken at Sheffield (Handsworth) each year?

Sheffield (Handsworth) has recorded 14.7K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 6.7K passed and 8.1K failed. The yearly trend chart on this page shows how volume and pass rate have moved across recent reporting periods.

How do I book a driving test at Sheffield (Handsworth)?

All practical driving tests in the UK are booked through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test. You'll need your provisional licence number, theory test pass certificate number, and a payment card (£62 weekday / £75 weekend evening). Avoid third-party booking sites that charge premium fees for the same slot.

Can I reschedule or cancel my test?

Yes, you can reschedule or cancel free of charge as long as you give at least 3 clear working days' notice (excluding the test day and the day you change it). Manage your booking via gov.uk/change-driving-test. Last-minute changes inside that window forfeit the test fee.

What documents do I need to bring on the day?

Bring your provisional UK photocard driving licence and your theory test pass certificate (or its number). The examiner will verify both before the test starts. Without your licence the test cannot proceed and the fee is forfeited. Glasses or contacts must match your eyesight declaration, you'll be asked to read a number plate from 20 metres.

What is the practical test pass mark?

A practical driving test is a pass with no more than 15 minor (driving) faults and zero serious or dangerous faults. A single serious or dangerous fault is an automatic fail regardless of how few minors you accumulate. The independent driving section, manoeuvres, and show-me/tell-me questions all factor into the examiner's assessment.

Where can I see Sheffield (Handsworth) on a map?

Open the interactive PassRates map to see Sheffield (Handsworth) alongside every other UK driving test centre, colour-coded by pass-rate tier, or view it on Google Maps for navigation.

How long is the wait for a driving test at Sheffield (Handsworth)?

The estimated wait at Sheffield (Handsworth) is around 12 weeks (moderate demand). That figure 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 14.7K lifetime tests. Wait times peak in June and July and ease in November and December. For live availability, check the official DVSA booking service.

How accurate is this pass rate data?

The figures on this page come directly from the DVSA quarterly statistical release, the same dataset cited by government bodies and journalists. PassRates.uk aggregates multi-year totals so smaller centres with seasonal variance show a stable representative figure rather than a single noisy quarter. Data is released under the Open Government Licence and refreshed each quarter.

Source

Data: DVSA quarterly statistical release, released under the Open Government Licence v3.0. PassRates.uk aggregates DVSA centre-level totals across reporting periods. Last refreshed 2026-05-01.