Driving Test Pass Rates in Nelson
Nelson has 1 DVSA driving test centre with a volume-weighted average car pass rate of 47.9% 0.8 pp below 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 Nelson
Nelson is the only DVSA driving test centre tracked in Nelson, with a current pass rate of 47.9% (2024-25 DVSA data).
The city's volume-weighted car pass rate is 47.9%, 0.8 percentage points below the 48.7% UK average. The figures come from 85.3K tests recorded across the city's centres; the full per-centre ranking is below.
Nelson vs the UK average
Nelson below the UK average pass rate by 0.8 percentage points. Pass rates in Nelson sit close to the UK norm; candidates here can expect a typical level of difficulty.
Easiest & hardest centres in Nelson
Pass rate by gender across Nelson
Across Nelson's test centres, men pass at 53.6% and women at 44.5% a gender gap of 9.1 percentage points in favour of male candidates. Across the UK, the gap is around 2 percentage points on average.
All test centres in Nelson
Every centre in Nelson marks the same sheet, so the choice between them counts for less than whether response, traffic lights is solid. There are 15 categories on that sheet.
Take response, traffic lights. Hesitation on amber from over-cautiousness (creating amber-light minors); failing to stop in time at staggered lights; jumping the gun on green before the box is clear. 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.
Amber-light decision practice: at every amber, the instructor calls "stop or go" so you build the muscle for the right call. Practise multi-stage junctions. 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 Nelson?
What is the average driving test pass rate in Nelson?
Which is the easiest driving test centre in Nelson?
Which is the hardest driving test centre in Nelson?
Which Nelson centre has the best first-time pass rate?
How do I book a driving test in Nelson?
What does a UK driving test cost in Nelson?
Is the pass rate higher at smaller centres in Nelson?
Every centre in Nelson 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.
Control in different weather, road surfaces, gradients and at night. All 14 DVSA topics are free to practise, with no sign up. See the theory pass rate by centre or the full practice hub.
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Data: DVSA quarterly statistical release, released under the Open Government Licence v3.0. 41.6K passes recorded across 1 Nelson centre.