Driving Test Pass Rates in Bristol
Bristol has 3 DVSA driving test centres with a volume-weighted average car pass rate of 52.8% 4.1 pp above the UK national average of 48.7%.The full centre-by-centre ranking, the gender split and the first-time pass rate are all set out below.
DVSA data last updated September 2026
About Bristol
Bristol has 3 DVSA driving test centres, and across its car (category B) test centres the pass rate runs from 52% at Bristol (Kingswood) up to 53.7% at Bristol (Avonmouth) (2024-25 DVSA data). That is a 1.7 percentage point gap between the easiest and hardest centre in the city, so the centre you book is one of the bigger factors within your control.
The city's volume-weighted car pass rate is 52.8%, 4.1 percentage points above the 48.7% UK average. The figures come from 224.5K tests recorded across the city's centres; the full per-centre ranking is below.
Bristol vs the UK average
Bristol above the UK average pass rate by 4.1 percentage points. Pass rates in Bristol run slightly ahead of the UK norm, suggesting modestly favourable test conditions.
Easiest & hardest centres in Bristol
All centres compared
Pass rate by gender across Bristol
Across Bristol's test centres, men pass at 59.4% and women at 54.5% a gender gap of 4.9 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 Bristol
Every centre in Bristol marks the same sheet, so the choice between them counts for less than whether mirrors, change direction 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, mirrors, change direction being a common one. Working through it as a list beats remembering it in the car park.
Verbalise MSM out loud on every lane change for two full lessons. Slow down the sequence so each step is deliberate, then speed it back up while keeping the order. 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. The best-performing centre in Bristol is Bristol (Avonmouth) at 53.7% (2024-25), and the toughest is Bristol (Kingswood) at 52% (2024-25). 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 Bristol?
What is the average driving test pass rate in Bristol?
Which is the easiest driving test centre in Bristol?
Which is the hardest driving test centre in Bristol?
Which Bristol centre has the best first-time pass rate?
How do I book a driving test in Bristol?
What does a UK driving test cost in Bristol?
Is the pass rate higher at smaller centres in Bristol?
Every centre in Bristol 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.
Following distances, courtesy, priority and how to behave around other road users. 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. 129.7K passes recorded across 3 Bristol centres.