Car Test Centre, England

Sheffield (Middlewood Road) Driving Test Centre

Car, Cat BSheffieldModerate

The Sheffield (Middlewood Road) 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.

By VikasReviewed by VikasMethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
47.5%
vs 48.7% UK avg
Tests in period
9.9K
2024-25
National rank
#228
of 323 centres
1st-time pass
49.1%
above UK avg

Pass vs fail at a glance

47.5%passed
failed52.7%

60.5K passed, 67.3K failed, 127.7K total

How Sheffield (Middlewood Road) compares

Sheffield (Middlewood Road)
47.5%
UK national average
48.7%
Difference
-1.2 pp

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

Where Sheffield (Middlewood Road) ranks among 323 centres

Top 30%
Sheffield (Middlewood Road) sits in the bottom half of car pass rates
Rank
#228
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

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.

  1. 1Junctions - observation10
  2. 2Mirrors - change direction9
  3. 3Move off - safely8
  4. 4Junctions - turning right7
  5. 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 rate gap 6.4 pp
Male50.6%
0%UK avg 49.7%100%
Female44.2%
0%UK avg 44.0%100%
Zero faults0.9%
618 candidates passed without a single recorded fault

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait
19 weeks
High demand
Weekly capacity
~333
estimated test slots per week
Trend
worsening
availability direction

Wait times at Sheffield (Middlewood Road) have been lengthening as demand outpaces examiner capacity. Booking requires patience: learners booking at Sheffield (Middlewood Road) typically wait around 19 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 2024) 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

Orgreave Way
Handsworth
Sheffield
S13 9LT
England

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

Tests offered at Sheffield (Middlewood Road)

  • car
  • lorry and bus
  • 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 S13 9LT, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Sheffield (Middlewood Road): a DVSA car test centre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Local routes, local traffic patterns, no national standard for what "harder" or "easier" looks like beyond what the numbers below show. By volume, Sheffield (Middlewood Road) is at the upper end of the DVSA's network. With 127.7K tests across 2017-18-2024-25, the figures on this page are about as statistically settled as DVSA data gets.

The lower half of the UK by pass rate: Sheffield (Middlewood Road) ranks #228 of 323 car centres at 47.5%, 1.2 points below the national figure of 48.7%. First-attempt pass rate: 49.1%, against the UK figure of 49%. Effectively level, the gap between candidates who pass first time at Sheffield (Middlewood Road) and those who pass first time nationally is preparation, not the 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.

Country
England
Test category
Car
DVSA centre ID
sheffield-middlewood-road

What learners should know about Sheffield (Middlewood Road)

  • Centre difficulty is roughly average at Sheffield (Middlewood Road). The same fault categories that fail candidates nationally (junctions, mirrors, observation) are what fail candidates here, in similar proportions.
  • 127.7K tests through this centre over the published window. At that throughput, competition for short-notice slots is constant, set up a cancellation alert and check often.
  • Ask any instructor working Sheffield (Middlewood Road) about the centre's "usual fails", they'll have two or three specific junctions or manoeuvres in mind. Practise those until they're automatic before your date.
  • The only legitimate booking route is gov.uk. Anything calling itself a "test booking concierge" is reselling the same slots at a markup, the slots aren't theirs to control.

Other test centres nearby

On the day at Sheffield (Middlewood Road)

Give yourself ten minutes in hand when you head to Sheffield (Middlewood Road), and look up where to park beforehand, facilities differ from one DVSA site to the next. The DVSA centre finder shows the exact location. This is a high-demand centre, modelled at roughly 19 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 Sheffield LGV is fully booked, Sheffield (Middlewood Road) is the next closest centre, roughly 3 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 one show-me and one tell-me question, then sits in for the drive. 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 three 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 recent DVSA marking, the fault logged most often at this centre is junctions - observation, worth drilling on the local routes before your date.

You will know the result before you leave Sheffield (Middlewood Road). The examiner explains the faults marked on your DL25 feedback form and, if you have passed, takes the provisional licence so a full one can be posted out. The pass standard is fixed nationally, 15 driving faults maximum and zero serious or dangerous faults, and 47.5% of candidates here meet it under current DVSA marking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Sheffield (Middlewood Road)?
The current pass rate at Sheffield (Middlewood Road) driving test centre is 47.5%, calculated from 9.9K tests in 2024-25. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 49.1%. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 47.3% (from 127.7K tests).
Is Sheffield (Middlewood Road) an easy or hard test centre?
Sheffield (Middlewood Road) is ranked #228 of 323 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the bottom half of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 47.5% 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 Sheffield (Middlewood Road) compare to the UK average?
Sheffield (Middlewood Road)'s pass rate is 1.2 percentage points below the UK national average of 48.7%. Sheffield (Middlewood Road) sits close to the UK average pass rate.
How many tests are taken at Sheffield (Middlewood Road) each year?
Sheffield (Middlewood Road) has recorded 127.7K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 60.5K passed and 67.3K 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 Sheffield (Middlewood Road)?
The closest DVSA test centres to Sheffield (Middlewood Road) are Sheffield LGV (42.6%), Barnsley (52.2%), Sheffield (Handsworth) (45.3%) and Sheffield (Handsworth) (58.9%). Of these, Barnsley, Sheffield (Handsworth) have higher current pass rates than Sheffield (Middlewood Road)'s 47.5%. Sheffield LGV, Sheffield (Handsworth) 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 Sheffield (Middlewood Road)?
Sheffield (Middlewood Road) currently sees high demand with an estimated wait of around 19 weeks. 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 Sheffield (Middlewood Road) and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Sheffield (Middlewood Road) 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 Sheffield (Middlewood Road)?
The estimated wait at Sheffield (Middlewood Road) is around 19 weeks (high 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 127.7K lifetime tests. Wait times peak in June and July and ease in November and December. For live availability, check the official DVSA booking service.
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.