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

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)

Car, Cat BStoke-on-TrentTougher than average

The Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) driving test centre is located in Stoke-on-Trent, 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

42.3%

vs 48% UK avg

Total tests

10.2K

4.3K passed

National rank

#297

of 326 centres

1st-time pass

43.1%

below UK avg

About this test centre

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) is a DVSA-operated car test centre located in Stoke-on-Trent, 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), Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) has hosted 10.2K practical tests, a meaningful sample for percentage comparisons.

Ranking #297 of 326 by pass rate places Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) in the bottom quarter of UK car test centres, notably below the UK national average of 48%. The first-time pass rate of 43.1% 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

42.3%passed

failed57.7%

4.3K passed, 5.9K failed, 10.2K total

How Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) compares

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)

42.3%

UK national average

48%

Difference

-5.7 pp

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) has a slightly tougher pass rate than the UK average. Routes here may be more demanding than rural centres.

Where Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) ranks among 326 centres

Top 10%

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) sits in the bottom quarter of car pass rates

Rank

#297

BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) 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 1.7 pp

Male43.1%

0%UK avg 50.0%100%

Female41.4%

0%UK avg 45.8%100%

Zero faults3.9%

170 candidates passed without a single recorded fault

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait

16 weeks

High demand

Weekly capacity

~27

estimated test slots per week

Trend

improving

availability direction

Wait times at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) have been gradually shortening as DVSA recovers post-pandemic capacity. Booking is achievable but not immediate: learners booking at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) typically wait around 16 weeks from booking to test day.

Peak months

June, July, August, September

longest waits in Stoke-on-Trent

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

Stoke-on-Trent, England

England, Stoke-on-Trent

Country

England

Test category

Car

DVSA centre ID

stoke-on-trent-newcastle-under-lyme

City coverage

All centres in Stoke-on-Trent →

Open in maps

View on Google Maps →

What learners should know about Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) has a tougher-than-average pass rate. If you can, take at least 2-3 lessons on the actual Stoke-on-Trent routes before the test, the difficulty is usually in the route, not the examiners.
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

Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge)

10.4K tests, Rank #314

39.9%

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)

2.8K tests, Rank #17

81.6%

Swynnerton LGV

11.9K tests, Rank #103

54.9%

Stone LGV

2.6K tests, Rank #122

50.7%

Stafford

7.5K tests, Rank #216

48.1%

Macclesfield

8.5K tests, Rank #161

50.5%

See all centres in Stoke-on-Trent→Compare with the easiest UK centres→Compare with the hardest→

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)?

The current overall pass rate at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) driving test centre is 42.3%, calculated from 10.2K recorded tests. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 43.1%.

Is Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) an easy or hard test centre?

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) is ranked #297 of 326 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the bottom quarter of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 42.3% 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 Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) compare to the UK average?

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)'s pass rate is 5.7 percentage points below the UK national average of 48%. Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) 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 Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) each year?

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) has recorded 10.2K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 4.3K passed and 5.9K 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 Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)?

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 Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) on a map?

Open the interactive PassRates map to see Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) 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 Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)?

The estimated wait at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) 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 10.2K 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.