PassRates.uk
HGV/LGV Test Centre, England

Switch Island Driving Test Centre

HGV, Cat CSwitch IslandL30 8RRModerate

Switch Island in Switch Island, England has a current pass rate of 53%, 7.2 points below the UK average of 60.2%. This page breaks down the multi-year trend, the first-time and gender pass rates, the waiting time and how it compares with the rest of the UK, all from the DVSA quarterly data.

By Vikas DulgundeUpdated MethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
53%
vs 60.2% UK avg
Tests in period
3.5K
2022-23 to 2024-25 (3yr avg)
National rank
#101
of 124 centres
1st-time pass
N/A
DVSA omits this centre from DRT122C

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Switch Island sits in the bottom quarter of hgv/lgv pass rates nationally (Bottom 19%, rank #101 of 124). The strongest hgv/lgv alternative nearby is Wrexham LGV, about 30.9 miles away.

Wrexham LGVBest nearby
30.9 mi away
69.7%
+16.7 pp
All centres in Switch Island→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

53%passed
failed47%

All-time 2.1K passed, 1.9K failed, 4.0K total

How Switch Island compares

Switch Island
53%
UK national average
60.2%
Difference
-7.2 pp

At 7.2 points below the UK figure (ranked 101 of 124 in its category), Switch Island is on the harder side without being extreme; familiarity with the local junctions closes much of the gap.

Where Switch Island ranks among 124 centres

Bottom 19%
Switch Island sits in the bottom quarter of hgv/lgv pass rates
Rank
#101
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

Switch Island has climbed 5.4 points across the series, 52.3% in 2021-22 to 57.7% now; the weakest year on record was 51.1% in 2022-23.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 3.6 pp
Male53.2%
0%100%
Female49.6%
0%100%
Zero faults0%
0 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait
12 to 16 weeks
High demand
Weekly capacity
~21
estimated test slots per week
Demand
High
busier than average

Booking is achievable but not immediate: on this estimate, learners booking at Switch Island would typically wait around 12 to 16 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

Treat this as a modelled estimate rather than a booking quote. It is built from regional demand patterns and test volume, explained in full on our methodology page. Always confirm real slots on the DVSA booking service.

Centre details

Address

Argyll and Bute Council Offices Jamieson Street
Bowmore
Isle of Islay
PA43 7HL
England

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

Tests offered at Switch Island

  • car

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 PA43 7HL, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

Switch Island: a DVSA hgv/lgv test centre in Switch Island, Liverpool City Region. Local routes, local traffic patterns, no national standard for what "harder" or "easier" looks like beyond what the numbers below show. 4.0K tests across 2021-22-2024-25, a workable sample but on the lighter side. Single-period swings can look dramatic without actually meaning much, the multi-year aggregate is the more honest number.

The bottom quarter of the UK by pass rate: Switch Island ranks #101 of 124 hgv/lgv centres at 53%, 7.2 points below the national figure of 60.2%. First-attempt data for Switch Island is missing from the DVSA's DRT122C release. It's not a low number, it's no number, the centre is small enough that DVSA omits it from that particular table.

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

What learners should know about Switch Island

  • Switch Island runs a tougher-than-average pass rate. If you've trained somewhere quieter, take at least 2-3 lessons on Switch Island test-area roads before your date. The difficulty is in the road mix, not the marking sheet.
  • If you can, take at least one lesson with an instructor who specifically works the Switch Island area. Local instructors know which nearby junctions are demanding and will drill them.
  • The only legitimate booking route is gov.uk. Anything calling itself a "test booking concierge" is reselling the same slots at a markup, the slots aren't theirs to control.

Other test centres nearby

Simonswood LGV
4.1 mi, 6.8K tests, Rank #119
42.5%
-10.5 pp
Liverpool LGV (System)
7.0 mi, 887 tests, Rank #92
55%
+2.0 pp
Roadtrain (Essex)
17.0 mi, 5.6K tests, Rank #37
69%
+16.0 pp
Kirkham LGV
20.3 mi, 18.5K tests, Rank #102
52.8%
-0.2 pp
Apex (Peterborough)
15.7 mi, 3.3K tests, Rank #66
61.5%
+8.5 pp
Wrexham LGVBest nearby
30.9 mi, 13.9K tests, Rank #33
69.7%
+16.7 pp
See all centres in Switch Island→Easiest UK centres→Hardest UK centres→Best for first-time pass→Busiest UK centres→

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Switch Island?
The current pass rate at Switch Island driving test centre is 53%, calculated from 3.5K tests in 2022-23 to 2024-25 (3yr avg). DVSA does not publish first-attempt figures for this centre. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 52.9% (from 4.0K tests).
Is Switch Island an easy or hard test centre?
Switch Island is ranked #101 of 124 UK hgv/lgv test centres by pass rate, placing it in the bottom quarter of hgv/lgv pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 53% compares to a UK average of 60.2%. Much of the spread comes down to route geography: lighter traffic and simpler junctions lift a centre, dense city driving and complex roundabouts pull it down.
How does Switch Island compare to the UK average?
Switch Island's pass rate is 7.2 percentage points below the UK national average of 60.2%. At 7.2 points below the UK figure (ranked 101 of 124 in its category), Switch Island is on the harder side without being extreme; familiarity with the local junctions closes much of the gap.
How many driving tests does Switch Island record?
Switch Island has recorded 4.0K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 2.1K passed and 1.9K failed. The trend chart on this page plots how both volume and pass rate have changed across the recent DVSA reporting periods.
Which driving test centres are near Switch Island?
The closest DVSA test centres to Switch Island are Simonswood LGV (42.5%), Liverpool LGV (System) (55%), Roadtrain (Essex) (69%) and Kirkham LGV (52.8%). Of these, Liverpool LGV (System), Roadtrain (Essex) have higher current pass rates than Switch Island's 53%. Simonswood LGV, Kirkham LGV 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 Switch Island?
Switch Island currently sees high demand with an estimated wait of about 12 to 16 weeks. Across the UK, waits tend to ease in November, December, January, when fewer learners are booking, and peak in June, July, August. Where you can be flexible on dates, targeting one of the quieter months tends to bring a shorter wait and a wider choice of slots. Always confirm live availability on the DVSA booking service.
How do I book a test at Switch Island and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Switch Island as your centre. You will need your provisional licence number and your theory test pass certificate number. Our guides cover how to book step by step and how faults are marked.
How long is the wait for a driving test at Switch Island?
The estimated wait at Switch Island is about 12 to 16 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 4.0K 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.