PassRates.uk
Car Test Centre, England

Sidcup (London) Driving Test Centre

Car, Cat BSidcupDA14 6FJHigh pass rate

At Sidcup (London), 59% of candidates pass, one of the 323 test centres we rank from the DVSA data. Below you will find the full pass-rate history, the demographic split, the official DVSA waiting time and a comparison with the nearest centres.

By Vikas DulgundeUpdated MethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
59%
vs 48.7% UK avg
Tests in period
12.8K
2024-25
National rank
#61
of 323 centres
1st-time pass
59.8%
above UK avg

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Sidcup (London) sits in the top quarter of car pass rates nationally (Top 19%, rank #61 of 323). No nearby car centre currently posts a higher pass rate.

Bromley (London)Nearest alternative
4.1 mi away
51.7%
-7.3 pp
All centres in Sidcup→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

59%passed
failed41%

All-time 52.1K passed, 52.7K failed, 104.8K total

How Sidcup (London) compares

Sidcup (London)
59%
UK national average
48.7%
Difference
+10.3 pp

The 10.3-point gap in candidates' favour at Sidcup (London) (ranked 61 of 323 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 Sidcup (London) ranks among 323 centres

Top 19%
Sidcup (London) ranks higher than 81% of UK car test centres
Rank
#61
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

The direction of travel here is upward: Sidcup (London) has added 13.9 points since 2017-18, from 45.1% to 59%, with its strongest year at 62% in 2020-21.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 6.3 pp
Male52.8%
0%UK avg 52.0%100%
Female46.5%
0%UK avg 48.0%100%
Zero faults3%
1.2K candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Waiting time at Sidcup (London)

Median wait, booking to test
22 weeks
What the typical learner who tested here had waited
Weeks to 10% availability
24 weeks
The older headline measure
Window appointments free
2.8%
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 Sidcup (London) in May 2026 had waited 22 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

2 Crayside
Five Arches Business Estate
Maidstone Road
Sidcup
DA14 5AG
England

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

Tests offered at Sidcup (London)

  • 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 DA14 5AG, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Drivers booked at Sidcup (London) report to a DVSA centre in Sidcup, Greater London, postcode DA14 6FJ. 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. Sidcup (London) runs at high volume: 104.8K 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.

By raw pass rate Sidcup (London) sits at 59%, with the DVSA's national car average over the same window running at 48.7%. The gap (10.3 points clear of the UK figure) places the centre at rank #61 of 323, inside the top quarter of the country's car test centres. 59.8% of first-timers pass at Sidcup (London), 10.8 points above the UK figure of 49%. A prepared first attempt has a real shot here in a way it doesn't at every 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

What learners should know about Sidcup (London)

  • Above-average pass rate at Sidcup (London) doesn't mean above-average ease. The fundamentals examiners mark are the same nationally: junctions, mirrors, observation, signal timing. A 65%+ pass rate means more candidates clear those, not that the bar is lower.
  • First-time pass rate of 59.8% at Sidcup (London) 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.
  • Volume at Sidcup (London) is among the highest in the network. Don't take the first available date on faith, refreshing the DVSA booking page across a few days regularly turns up cancellations.
  • If you can, take at least one lesson with an instructor who specifically works the Sidcup (London) 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

Belvedere (London)
4.3 mi, 57.7K tests, Rank #316
38.3%
-20.7 pp
Bromley (London)Best nearby
4.1 mi, 37.1K tests, Rank #141
51.7%
-7.3 pp
Erith (London)
5.0 mi, 69.3K tests, Rank #191
49.3%
-9.7 pp
Goodmayes (London)
9.6 mi, 301.0K tests, Rank #284
43.7%
-15.3 pp
Wanstead (London)
10.8 mi, 111.8K tests, Rank #304
40.4%
-18.6 pp
Hornchurch (London)
10.5 mi, 82.9K tests, Rank #214
48.3%
-10.7 pp
See all centres in Sidcup→Easiest UK centres→Hardest UK centres→Best for first-time pass→Busiest UK centres→

On the day at Sidcup (London)

Aim to be at Sidcup (London) ten minutes early. Because parking and waiting facilities are not the same at every DVSA centre, check the approach on the DVSA centre finder (postcode DA14 6FJ) before the day. Demand is very high and the modelled wait is close to 19 to 23 weeks, so an early booking and a cancellation alert are both worth setting up. The examiner needs to see your provisional photocard licence to begin, and the car you bring must be roadworthy, fitted with L plates and a working interior mirror. If Belvedere (London) is fully booked, Sidcup (London) is the next closest centre, roughly 4 miles away.

The practical lasts about 40 minutes and uses the standard DVSA format nationwide. After an eyesight check at 20 metres and one show-me and one tell-me question, the examiner sits in for the drive. Roughly 20 minutes of that is independent driving, either following a sat nav set by the examiner or following road signs, and you will complete one of four set manoeuvres; about one in seven tests includes an emergency stop, a frequency the DVSA reduced in late 2025. 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 will know the result before you leave Sidcup (London). 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 59% of candidates here meet it under current DVSA marking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Sidcup (London)?
The current pass rate at Sidcup (London) driving test centre is 59%, calculated from 12.8K tests in 2024-25. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 59.8%. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 49.7% (from 104.8K tests).
Is Sidcup (London) an easy or hard test centre?
Sidcup (London) is ranked #61 of 323 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the top quarter of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 59% compares to a UK average of 48.7%. 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 Sidcup (London) compare to the UK average?
Sidcup (London)'s pass rate is 10.3 percentage points above the UK national average of 48.7%. The 10.3-point gap in candidates' favour at Sidcup (London) (ranked 61 of 323 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 Sidcup (London) record?
Sidcup (London) has recorded 104.8K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 52.1K passed and 52.7K failed. The yearly trend chart on this page shows how volume and pass rate have moved across recent reporting periods.
Which driving test centres are near Sidcup (London)?
The closest DVSA test centres to Sidcup (London) are Belvedere (London) (38.3%), Bromley (London) (51.7%), Erith (London) (49.3%) and Goodmayes (London) (43.7%). Sidcup (London)'s 59% is the highest current pass rate among them. Belvedere (London), Bromley (London), Erith (London), Goodmayes (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 Sidcup (London)?
Sidcup (London) currently sees very high demand with an estimated wait of about 19 to 23 weeks. Across the UK, waits tend to ease in November, December, January, when fewer learners are booking, and peak in June, July, August. A flexible test date helps: booking into a quieter month often shortens the wait and opens up more available slots. Always confirm live availability on the DVSA booking service.
How do I book a test at Sidcup (London) and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Sidcup (London) 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 Sidcup (London)?
In the latest DVSA figures (May 2026), the median learner who took their test at Sidcup (London) had waited about 22 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 2.8% 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.