England, Driving test centres

Driving Test Pass Rates in Carlisle

Carlisle has 3 DVSA driving test centres with a volume-weighted average car pass rate of 54.9% 6.2 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.

Centres

in Carlisle

Avg car pass rate

54.9%

+6.2 pp vs UK

UK average

48.7%

national benchmark

Total tests

63.2K

lifetime, all centres

DVSA data last updated September 2026

About Carlisle

Carlisle is the leading DVSA driving test centre tracked in Carlisle, with a current pass rate of 54.9% (2024-25 DVSA data).

The city's volume-weighted car pass rate is 54.9%, 6.2 percentage points above the 48.7% UK average. The figures come from 63.2K tests recorded across the city's centres; the full per-centre ranking is below.

Carlisle vs the UK average

Carlisle

volume-weighted average

54.9%

+6.2 pp vs UK

UK 48.7%

0%25%50%75%100%

Carlisle above the UK average pass rate by 6.2 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 Carlisle

Highest pass rate

Carlisle

1.1K tests (2024-25), #32

75.2%

Carlisle

3.7K tests (2024-25), #103

54.9%

All centres compared

Pass rate by gender across Carlisle

Male pass rate

58.3%

weighted city average

Female pass rate

51%

weighted city average

Across Carlisle's test centres, men pass at 58.3% and women at 51% a gender gap of 7.3 percentage points in favour of male candidates. Across the UK, the gap is around 2 percentage points on average.

By test category

Car (1)

47.3K tests on record

Carlisle

3.7K tests in 2024-25

54.9%

Motorcycle Mod 1 (1)

7.1K tests on record

Carlisle

1.1K tests in 2024-25

75.2%

Motorcycle Mod 2 (1)

3.5K tests on record

Carlisle

735 tests in 2024-25, low sample

76.1%

HGV / LGV (1)

5.3K tests on record

Carlisle LGV

837 tests in 2020-21, low sample

53.3%

All test centres in Carlisle

Carlisle

7.1K tests, Motorcycle Mod 1, National rank #32

47.3K tests, Car, National rank #103

3.5K tests, Motorcycle Mod 2, National rank #58

5.3K tests, HGV / LGV, National rank #99

1st-time

53.3%

pass

On the marking sheet

Every centre in Carlisle marks the same sheet, so the choice between them counts for less than whether move off, safety is solid. There are 15 categories on that sheet.

Take move off, safety. Forgetting the right-shoulder blind-spot check; bouncing back to seated position after the mirror check without looking. Most of the argument about what is a minor and what is a serious comes down to cases like that one, so it is worth knowing which side of the line yours falls on before an examiner decides it for you.

Is that a fault?Show me, tell me questions Test day readiness check

Six-point check on every move-off: left mirror, centre mirror, right mirror, right shoulder, left shoulder, signal. Practise until the sequence is reflexive. 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 Carlisle?

There are 3 DVSA driving test centres in Carlisle, England.

What is the average driving test pass rate in Carlisle?

Across Carlisle's car (category B) test centres, the volume-weighted average pass rate is 54.9%, compared to a UK national average of 48.7%. That puts Carlisle above the UK average by 6.2 percentage points.

Which is the easiest driving test centre in Carlisle?

Carlisle has the highest pass rate in Carlisle at 54.9% (2024-25 DVSA data), based on 3.7K tests in the period.

Which is the hardest driving test centre in Carlisle?

There isn't a clear "hardest" centre in Carlisle, the pass rates between centres are too close to call.

Which Carlisle centre has the best first-time pass rate?

Carlisle has the highest first-time pass rate in Carlisle at 53.4% (2024-25 DVSA data). First-time pass rate measures the percentage of candidates who pass on their first attempt, a useful indicator of difficulty for new candidates.

How do I book a driving test in Carlisle?

All UK driving tests are booked via the official DVSA service at gov.uk/book-driving-test. You'll need your provisional licence number, a theory test pass certificate, and a payment method. Choose any of the centres listed above when selecting your location.

What does a UK driving test cost in Carlisle?

The standard DVSA car practical driving test fee in Carlisle is £62 on weekdays and £75 on weekends and evenings, the same across all UK test centres. There are no additional location-based fees. Always book through gov.uk to avoid third-party markups.

Is the pass rate higher at smaller centres in Carlisle?

Not always. Smaller centres in Carlisle can show higher percentages but also fluctuate more year to year because of small sample sizes, centres with fewer than 1,000 tests in the current period are flagged as "Low sample" above. Volume-weighted averages give a fairer picture.

Before the practical

Every centre in Carlisle 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.

Take a free mock test Practise rules of the road Road signs

Speed limits, parking, junctions, roundabouts and right of way. All 14 DVSA topics are free to practise, with no sign up. See the theory pass rate by centre or the full practice hub.