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Car Test Centre, England

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

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.

By VikasReviewed by VikasMethodologySources
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

Pass vs fail at a glance

40.7%passed
failed56.6%

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) 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 323 centres

Top 8%
Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) sits in the bottom quarter of car pass rates
Rank
#302
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

The most common driving test faults nationally

These are the fault types DVSA examiners record most often across all car tests in Great Britain, ranked most to least common. They are a national pattern, not a measurement taken at this centre, but they are the faults worth targeting in practice wherever you sit your test.

  1. 1
    Junctions - observationNot looking properly before pulling out at junctions.
  2. 2
    Mirrors - change directionNot checking mirrors before signalling, changing speed or direction.
  3. 3
    Move off - safelyPulling away without safe control or proper observation.
  4. 4
    Junctions - turning rightPoor positioning or judgement when turning right at junctions.
  5. 5
    Response to signs - traffic lightsMissing or misreading traffic signs, signals or road markings.

This ranking is DVSA national fault data, shown here for context. DVSA does not publish a separate fault breakdown for individual test centres.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 4.1 pp
Male45.5%
0%UK avg 49.7%100%
Female41.4%
0%UK avg 44.0%100%
Zero faults0.4%
170 candidates passed without a single recorded fault

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait
17 to 21 weeks
High demand
Weekly capacity
~155
estimated test slots per week
Demand
High
busier than average

Booking requires patience: on this estimate, learners booking at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) would typically wait around 17 to 21 weeks from booking to test day.

Peak months
June, July, August, September
when UK waits tend to be longest
Best to book
November, December, January, February
when UK waits tend to be shortest

This wait is an estimate modelled from regional demand and this centre's test volume, not a live booking figure. See how it is worked out on our methodology page, and check the DVSA booking service for live slots.

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 that into how many lessons you take on local routes specifically.

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
stoke-on-trent-newcastle-under-lyme

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 six 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, set up a cancellation alert and check 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), the DVSA's official cancellation pool refreshes constantly. Check at off-peak times (early morning, late evening) for better odds.

Other test centres nearby

Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme)
2.8K tests, Rank #17
89.9%
Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge)
56.6K tests, Rank #312
38.8%
Swynnerton LGV
11.9K tests, Rank #103
56%
Stone LGV
2.6K tests, Rank #122
50.7%
Stafford
50.7K tests, Rank #251
46.1%
Crewe
63.5K tests, Rank #274
44.4%
See all centres in Stoke-on-Trent→Easiest UK centres→Hardest UK centres→Best for first-time pass→Busiest UK centres→

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.

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 show-me plus one tell-me question, after which the examiner rides along for the drive. 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-three 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) 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 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 (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) (89.9%), Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge) (38.8%), Swynnerton LGV (56%) and Stone LGV (50.7%). Of these, Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme), Swynnerton LGV, Stone LGV 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)?
The estimated wait at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) is about 17 to 21 weeks (high demand). That range 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 59.4K lifetime tests, so treat it as an estimate rather than a live figure. Across the UK, waits 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.