HGV/LGV Test Centre, England

Simonswood LGV Driving Test Centre

HGV, Cat CSimonswoodTougher than average

The Simonswood LGV driving test centre is located in Simonswood, 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 (2010-11)
42.5%
vs 48.7% UK avg
Tests in period
4.5K
2008-09 to 2010-11 (3yr avg)
National rank
#148
of 152 centres
1st-time pass
N/A
DVSA omits this centre from DRT122C

Pass vs fail at a glance

42.5%passed
failed57.8%

2.9K passed, 4.0K failed, 6.8K total

How Simonswood LGV compares

Simonswood LGV
42.5%
UK national average
48.7%
Difference
-6.2 pp

Simonswood LGV has a slightly tougher pass rate than the UK average. Routes here may be more demanding than rural centres.

Where Simonswood LGV ranks among 152 centres

Top 4%
Simonswood LGV sits in the bottom quarter of hgv/lgv pass rates
Rank
#148
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 7.8 pp
Male41.7%
0%UK avg 49.7%100%
Female49.5%
0%UK avg 44.0%100%
Zero faults0%
0 candidates passed without a single recorded fault

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait
16 weeks
High demand
Weekly capacity
~36
estimated test slots per week
Trend
stable
availability direction

Wait times at Simonswood LGV have remained broadly stable through recent reporting periods. Booking is achievable but not immediate: learners booking at Simonswood LGV typically wait around 16 weeks from booking to test day.

Peak months
June, July, August, September
longest waits in Simonswood
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

Catherinefield Industrial Est
Heathhall
Dumfries
DG1 3PQ
England

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

Tests offered at Simonswood LGV

  • HGV/LGV

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 DG1 3PQ, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Simonswood LGV is one of the DVSA's hgv/lgv test sites in England, located in Simonswood, Lancashire. The choice of routes reflects the local mix of road types rather than any standard national template. Across 2007-08-2010-11 the DVSA recorded 6.8K tests at Simonswood LGV. A solid mid-range sample, the data is reliable enough that the rank position below isn't an artefact of small numbers.

Simonswood LGV is not where the easier hgv/lgv tests happen. The 42.5% pass rate sits 6.2 points below the UK average of 48.7%, putting the centre #148 of 152 nationally. For Simonswood LGV the DVSA suppresses first-attempt figures in DRT122C. Smaller centres get rolled up; this is one of them. The overall pass rate above is the only published figure.

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
HGV/LGV
DVSA centre ID
simonswood-lgv-heavy

What learners should know about Simonswood LGV

  • Simonswood LGV is in the lower tier of pass rates nationally. That isn't an indictment of the examiners, it reflects road layout, traffic density, and route mix. Prepare specifically for the centre, not generically.
  • Practising the test routes is the single thing that most reliably moves a candidate's pass odds. Most ADI instructors in Simonswood will have a working knowledge of which routes Simonswood LGV uses.
  • If you missed the earlier slots at Simonswood LGV, the DVSA's official cancellation pool refreshes constantly. Check at off-peak times (early morning, late evening) for better odds.

Other test centres nearby

On the day at Simonswood LGV

Arrive at Simonswood LGV with about ten minutes to spare and know your parking options in advance, they vary site to site across the DVSA network. The DVSA centre finder maps the centre and its surroundings. With high demand and waits near 16 weeks, take any earlier slot the booking service offers rather than holding out. Don't set off without your provisional photocard licence; the test cannot start without it, and your car needs L plates and a working interior mirror. If Switch Island is fully booked, Simonswood LGV is the next closest centre, roughly 4 miles away.

Once underway the test takes around 40 minutes and is the same wherever you sit it. The examiner verifies your eyesight at 20 metres, puts one show-me and one tell-me question to you, then accompanies the drive. About 20 minutes is independent driving, sat nav or road signs to a named destination, with one of four set manoeuvres and an emergency stop on roughly one test in three. The drive covers the local mix of road types within roughly a twenty-minute radius of the centre. Across recent DVSA marking, the fault logged most often at this centre 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; 42.5% of candidates at Simonswood LGV currently clear that.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Simonswood LGV?
The current pass rate at Simonswood LGV driving test centre is 42.5%, calculated from 4.5K tests in 2008-09 to 2010-11 (3yr avg). DVSA does not publish first-attempt figures for this centre. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 42.2% (from 6.8K tests).
Is Simonswood LGV an easy or hard test centre?
Simonswood LGV is ranked #148 of 152 UK hgv/lgv test centres by pass rate, placing it in the bottom quarter of hgv/lgv pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 42.5% 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 Simonswood LGV compare to the UK average?
Simonswood LGV's pass rate is 6.2 percentage points below the UK national average of 48.7%. Simonswood LGV has a slightly tougher pass rate than the UK average. Routes here may be more demanding than rural centres.
How many tests are taken at Simonswood LGV each year?
Simonswood LGV has recorded 6.8K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 2.9K passed and 4.0K 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 Simonswood LGV?
The closest DVSA test centres to Simonswood LGV are Switch Island (53%), Liverpool LGV (System) (55%), St Helens (Liverpool) (40.2%) and St Helens (Liverpool) (66.2%). Of these, Switch Island, Liverpool LGV (System), St Helens (Liverpool) have higher current pass rates than Simonswood LGV's 42.5%. St Helens (Liverpool) sits 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 Simonswood LGV?
Simonswood LGV currently sees high demand with an estimated wait of around 16 weeks. 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 Simonswood LGV and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Simonswood LGV 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 Simonswood LGV?
The estimated wait at Simonswood LGV is around 16 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 6.8K 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: 2010-11.