PassRates.uk
HGV/LGV Test Centre, England

Watnall Driving Test Centre

HGV, Cat CWatnallNG16 1JXHigh pass rate

Watnall posts a 56.9% pass rate, with Data Academy the nearest alternative about 26 miles away. Read on for its full DVSA history, first-time pass rate, waiting time and demographic breakdown.

By Vikas DulgundeUpdated MethodologySources
Pass rate (2024-25)
56.9%
vs 60.2% UK avg
Tests in period
1.7K
2024-25
National rank
#87
of 124 centres
1st-time pass
N/A
DVSA omits this centre from DRT122C

DVSA data last updated July 2026

Compare and decide

Watnall sits in the bottom half of hgv/lgv pass rates nationally (Bottom 31%, rank #87 of 124). The strongest hgv/lgv alternative nearby is A1 (Salisbury), about 34.8 miles away.

A1 (Salisbury)Best nearby
34.8 mi away
63.3%
+6.4 pp
All centres in Watnall→See every centre on the map→Best centre for me→

Pass vs fail at a glance

56.9%passed
failed43.1%

All-time 12.4K passed, 9.7K failed, 22.1K total

How Watnall compares

Watnall
56.9%
UK national average
60.2%
Difference
-3.3 pp

Watnall sits 3.3 points under the national average, ranked 87 of 124 in its category. Routes here are likely more demanding than at rural centres; extra time on the local roads pays back directly.

Where Watnall ranks among 124 centres

Bottom 31%
Watnall sits in the bottom half of hgv/lgv pass rates
Rank
#87
BestMedianHardest

Pass-rate trend by year

The series at Watnall is remarkably flat, moving only from 56.1% (2017-18) to 56.9% now, with a total spread of 4.9 points.

Pass rate by demographic

Male vs female pass rate gap 6.8 pp
Male55.2%
0%100%
Female62.0%
0%100%
Zero faults0%
0 candidates have passed without a single recorded fault across all DVSA periods

Estimated wait time and demand

Estimated wait
10 to 14 weeks
Moderate demand
Weekly capacity
~58
estimated test slots per week
Demand
Moderate
around the middle of the range

Booking is achievable but not immediate: on this estimate, learners booking at Watnall would typically wait around 10 to 14 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

These figures are an estimate, not live data. We model them from published demand reports and this centre's test volume; the method is on our methodology page. Check the DVSA booking service for current slots.

Centre details

Address

Driving Test Centre Watnall LGV
Fernwood House
Fernwood Drive
Main Road
Watnall
NG16 1LA
England

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

Tests offered at Watnall

  • 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 NG16 1LA, or call DVSA Customer Services on 0300 200 1122.

About this test centre

If you've got a test booked at NG16 1JX, that's Watnall in Watnall, East Midlands. Examiners drive a mix of the roads immediately surrounding the centre; the DVSA does not publish its test routes. 22.1K tests through 2017-18-2024-25 puts Watnall in the comfortable middle of the volume distribution. The pass rate moves with real signal, not noise.

Rank: #87 of 124. Pass rate: 56.9%. UK average: 60.2%. That's a lower half centre by the DVSA's own published figures. For Watnall 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

What learners should know about Watnall

  • Watnall doesn't deviate much from the national curve, so generic preparation advice (mock tests, mirror discipline, junction observation) applies here in the same shape it would anywhere.
  • Ask any instructor working Watnall 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.
  • Don't pay third-party sites for booking access at Watnall. Use gov.uk/book-driving-test directly; cancellations show up on the same booking flow.

Other test centres nearby

Data Academy
25.8 mi, 4.1K tests, Rank #74
59%
+2.1 pp
Sheffield (Handsworth)
25.4 mi, 16.6K tests, Rank #76
58.9%
+2.0 pp
Leicester (Cannock Street)
24.8 mi, 12.6K tests, Rank #124
37.9%
-19.0 pp
Leicester LGV
26.1 mi, 3.1K tests, Rank #120
40.9%
-16.0 pp
Sheffield LGV
27.3 mi, 8.1K tests, Rank #118
42.6%
-14.3 pp
A1 (Salisbury)Best nearby
34.8 mi, 1.5K tests, Rank #62
63.3%
+6.4 pp
See all centres in Watnall→Easiest UK centres→Hardest UK centres→Best for first-time pass→Busiest UK centres→

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass rate at Watnall?
The current pass rate at Watnall driving test centre is 56.9%, calculated from 1.7K tests in 2024-25. DVSA does not publish first-attempt figures for this centre. Across all DVSA reporting periods on record, the lifetime average is 56.1% (from 22.1K tests).
Is Watnall an easy or hard test centre?
Watnall is ranked #87 of 124 UK hgv/lgv test centres by pass rate, placing it in the bottom half of hgv/lgv pass rates nationally. Its pass rate of 56.9% compares to a UK average of 60.2%. 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 Watnall compare to the UK average?
Watnall's pass rate is 3.3 percentage points below the UK national average of 60.2%. Watnall sits 3.3 points under the national average, ranked 87 of 124 in its category. Routes here are likely more demanding than at rural centres; extra time on the local roads pays back directly.
How many driving tests does Watnall record?
Watnall has recorded 22.1K tests in the available DVSA data, of which 12.4K passed and 9.7K failed. The yearly trend chart on this page shows how volume and pass rate have moved across recent reporting periods.
Which driving test centres are near Watnall?
The closest DVSA test centres to Watnall are Data Academy (59%), Sheffield (Handsworth) (58.9%), Leicester (Cannock Street) (37.9%) and Leicester LGV (40.9%). Of these, Data Academy, Sheffield (Handsworth) have higher current pass rates than Watnall's 56.9%. Leicester (Cannock Street), Leicester 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 Watnall?
Watnall currently sees moderate demand with an estimated wait of about 10 to 14 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 Watnall and what do I need?
Book your practical test through the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test, then choose Watnall 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 Watnall?
The estimated wait at Watnall is about 10 to 14 weeks (moderate 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 22.1K 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.