Driving Test Pass Rates in Barnstaple
Barnstaple has 1 DVSA driving test centre with a volume-weighted average car pass rate of 54.7% 6 pp above the UK national average of 48.7%.The full ranking, gender split and first-time pass rate are below.
DVSA data last updated September 2026
About Barnstaple
Barnstaple is the only DVSA driving test centre tracked in Barnstaple, with a current pass rate of 54.7% (2024-25 DVSA data).
The city's volume-weighted car pass rate is 54.7%, 6 percentage points above the 48.7% UK average. The figures come from 53.0K tests recorded across the city's centres; the full per-centre ranking is below.
Barnstaple vs the UK average
Barnstaple above the UK average pass rate by 6 percentage points. Candidates here pass at notably higher rates than the UK average, though this often reflects quieter routes rather than easier examiners.
Easiest & hardest centres in Barnstaple
Pass rate by gender across Barnstaple
Across Barnstaple's test centres, men pass at 57.4% and women at 48.5% a gender gap of 8.9 percentage points in favour of male candidates. Across the UK, the gap is around 2 percentage points on average.
By test category
All test centres in Barnstaple
Every centre in Barnstaple marks the same sheet, so the choice between them counts for less than whether junctions, observation is solid. There are 15 categories on that sheet.
A fair amount of what goes wrong is settled before the engine starts: the documents, the car, the 2 vehicle safety questions and whichever habit you have not drilled, junctions, observation being a common one. Working through it as a list beats remembering it in the car park.
Full head turn at every junction. Hold the look until you have processed both directions. Time the look so it gives usable information for the move you are about to make. Free to use, no sign up. Everything for the day itself is on the practical test hub.
About these statistics
Pass rates shown above use the latest DVSA reporting period for each centre. Rates are volume-weighted across the city, larger centres carry proportionally more weight than smaller ones. Centres with fewer than 1,000 tests in the current period are flagged as low-sample to avoid statistically noisy comparisons. Always factor in your own preparation, instructor recommendations, and route familiarity, pass rates are a useful signal, not a guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
How many driving test centres are in Barnstaple?
What is the average driving test pass rate in Barnstaple?
Which is the easiest driving test centre in Barnstaple?
Which is the hardest driving test centre in Barnstaple?
Which Barnstaple centre has the best first-time pass rate?
How do I book a driving test in Barnstaple?
What does a UK driving test cost in Barnstaple?
Is the pass rate higher at smaller centres in Barnstaple?
Every centre in Barnstaple needs a valid theory pass before you can book, and the certificate lasts two years from the day you sit it. Nationally 44.8% pass the theory.
What to do at the scene, first aid basics and breakdown procedure. All 14 DVSA topics are free to practise, with no sign up. See the theory pass rate by centre or the full practice hub.
Other cities you might compare
Data: DVSA quarterly statistical release, released under the Open Government Licence v3.0. 28.2K passes recorded across 1 Barnstaple centre.