Car Test Centre, England

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) Driving Test Centre

Car, Cat BStoke-on-TrentTougher than average

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) posts a 40.7% pass rate, with Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge) the nearest alternative about 3 miles away. Read on for its full DVSA history, first-time pass rate, waiting time and demographic breakdown.

Pass rate (2024-25)
40.7%
vs 48.7% UK avg
Tests in period
7.1K
2024-25
National rank
#302
of 323 centres
1st-time pass
40%
below UK avg

DVSA data last updated August 2026

Compare and decide

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) sits in the bottom quarter of car pass rates nationally (Bottom 7%, rank #302 of 323). The strongest car alternative nearby is Buxton, about 22.1 miles away.

BuxtonBest nearby
22.1 mi away
57%
+16.3 pp

Pass vs fail at a glance

40.7%passed
failed59.3%

All-time 25.8K passed, 33.6K failed, 59.4K total

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

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)
40.7%
UK national average
48.7%
Difference
-8 pp

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) gives up 8 points to the national average and is ranked 302 of 323 in its category; treat that as a route-difficulty signal, not a verdict on your chances.

Where Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) ranks among 323 centres

Bottom 7%
Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) sits in the bottom quarter of car pass rates
Rank
#302
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) has held a narrow 6.6-point range across the whole series (38.8% at the low in 2019-20, 45.4% at the high in 2021-22); what you see is what you get.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 4.1 pp
Male45.5%
0%UK avg 52.0%100%
Female41.4%
0%UK avg 48.0%100%
Zero faults0.4%
170 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Waiting time at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)

Median wait, booking to test
13.3 weeks
What the typical learner who tested here had waited
Weeks to 10% availability
24 weeks
The older headline measure
Window appointments free
5.7%
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 Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) in May 2026 had waited 13.3 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

Parklands
Clayton Lane
Trent Vale
Stoke-On-Trent
ST4 6PQ
England

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

Tests offered at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)

  • car
  • motorcycle module 2 (on-road)
  • 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 ST4 6PQ, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) is one of the DVSA's car test sites in England, located in Stoke-on-Trent. The choice of routes reflects the local mix of road types rather than any standard national template. By volume, Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) is at the upper end of the DVSA's network. With 59.4K tests across 2017-18-2024-25, the figures on this page are about as statistically settled as DVSA data gets.

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) is not where the easier car tests happen. The 40.7% pass rate sits 8 points below the UK average of 48.7%, putting the centre #302 of 323 nationally. 40% of first-timers pass at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme), 9 points below the UK figure of 49%. If your booking is your first attempt, factor in a few lessons on the local test-area roads.

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.

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

  • Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) 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.
  • 40% first-time pass at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) means roughly 6 in ten first-timers fail and rebook. Plan for that possibility: keep your insurance going, don't return the L-plates after the test.
  • 59.4K tests through this centre over the published window. At that throughput, competition for short-notice slots is constant, so make a habit of checking the official booking page often.
  • Ask any instructor working Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) 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.
  • If you missed the earlier slots at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme), cancellations appear on the official DVSA booking service throughout the day. Check at off-peak times (early morning, late evening) for the best chance of catching one.

Other test centres nearby

On the day at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)

Arrive at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) 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 17 to 21 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 Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge) is fully booked, Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) is the next closest centre, roughly 3 miles away.

Expect about 40 minutes once you set off, to the same national DVSA script. It opens with an eyesight check at 20 metres and one tell-me question, after which the examiner rides along for the drive and asks one show-me question on the move. Around 20 minutes of that is independent driving, guided either by a sat nav the examiner provides or by road signs to a named destination, with one of four set manoeuvres and a one-in-seven chance of 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 DVSA marking nationally, the fault recorded most often on car tests is junctions - observation, worth drilling on the local routes before your date.

Results come immediately on return to the centre. The examiner talks you through any faults marked, prints the DL25 feedback form, and (if you passed) takes your provisional licence so the full one can be issued by post. A pass needs no more than 15 driving faults and zero serious or dangerous faults, the standard 40.7% of candidates at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) meet under current DVSA marking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)?
The current pass rate at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) driving test centre is 40.7%, calculated from 7.1K tests in 2024-25. The first-time pass rate, candidates passing on their initial attempt, is 40%. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 43.4% (from 59.4K tests).
Is Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) an easy or hard test centre?
Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) is ranked #302 of 323 UK car test centres by pass rate, placing it in the bottom quarter of car pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 40.7% 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 Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) compare to the UK average?
Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)'s pass rate is 8 percentage points below the UK national average of 48.7%. Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) gives up 8 points to the national average and is ranked 302 of 323 in its category; treat that as a route-difficulty signal, not a verdict on your chances.
How many driving tests does Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) record?
Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) has recorded 59.4K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 25.8K passed and 33.6K 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 Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)?
The closest DVSA test centres to Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) are Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge) (38.8%), Stafford (46.1%), Crewe (44.4%) and Macclesfield (49.9%). Of these, Stafford, Crewe, Macclesfield have higher current pass rates than Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)'s 40.7%. Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge) 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 Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)?
Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) currently sees high demand with an estimated wait of about 17 to 21 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 Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) 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 Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)?
In the latest DVSA figures (May 2026), the median learner who took their test at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) had waited about 13.3 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 5.7% 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.

DVSA data period: 2024-25.

By Vikas DulgundeUpdated MethodologySources