England, Driving test centres

Driving Test Pass Rates in Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent has 2 DVSA driving test centres with a volume-weighted average car pass rate of 39.8% 8.9 pp below the UK national average of 48.7%.Pass rates across its centres run from 38.8% to 40.7%. The full ranking, gender split and first-time pass rate are below.

Centres
2
in Stoke-on-Trent
Avg car pass rate
39.8%
-8.9 pp vs UK
UK average
48.7%
national benchmark
Total tests
118.8K
lifetime, all centres

DVSA data last updated September 2026

About Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent has 2 DVSA driving test centres, and across its car (category B) test centres the pass rate runs from 38.8% at Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge) up to 40.7% at Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) (2024-25 DVSA data). That is a 1.9 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 39.8%, 8.9 percentage points below the 48.7% UK average. The figures come from 118.8K tests recorded across the city's centres; the full per-centre ranking is below.

Stoke-on-Trent vs the UK average

Stoke-on-Trent
volume-weighted average
39.8%
-8.9 pp vs UK
UK 48.7%
0%25%50%75%100%

Stoke-on-Trent below the UK average pass rate by 8.9 percentage points. Candidates here face a tougher-than-average pass rate, which usually correlates with busier urban routes and complex junction layouts.

Easiest & hardest centres in Stoke-on-Trent

All centres compared

Pass rate by gender across Stoke-on-Trent

Male pass rate
44.3%
weighted city average
Female pass rate
38.9%
weighted city average

Across Stoke-on-Trent's test centres, men pass at 44.3% and women at 38.9% a gender gap of 5.4 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 Stoke-on-Trent

On the marking sheet

Every centre in Stoke-on-Trent 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.

Take junctions, observation. Mechanical full-head turn missing or timed too early. Eyes scanned but did not register an approaching vehicle. 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.

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. The best-performing centre in Stoke-on-Trent is Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) at 40.7% (2024-25), and the toughest is Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge) at 38.8% (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 Stoke-on-Trent?
There are 2 DVSA driving test centres in Stoke-on-Trent, England.
What is the average driving test pass rate in Stoke-on-Trent?
Across Stoke-on-Trent's car (category B) test centres, the volume-weighted average pass rate is 39.8%, compared to a UK national average of 48.7%. That puts Stoke-on-Trent below the UK average by 8.9 percentage points.
Which is the easiest driving test centre in Stoke-on-Trent?
Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) has the highest pass rate in Stoke-on-Trent at 40.7% (2024-25 DVSA data), based on 7.1K tests in the period.
Which is the hardest driving test centre in Stoke-on-Trent?
Stoke-On-Trent (Cobridge) has the lowest pass rate in Stoke-on-Trent at 38.8% (2024-25 DVSA data), based on 6.5K tests in the period. Its routes may be more demanding than the city average.
Which Stoke-on-Trent centre has the best first-time pass rate?
Stoke-on-Trent (Newcastle-Under-Lyme) has the highest first-time pass rate in Stoke-on-Trent at 40% (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 Stoke-on-Trent?
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 Stoke-on-Trent?
The standard DVSA car practical driving test fee in Stoke-on-Trent 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 Stoke-on-Trent?
Not always. Smaller centres in Stoke-on-Trent 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 Stoke-on-Trent 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.

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Data: DVSA quarterly statistical release, released under the Open Government Licence v3.0. 50.4K passes recorded across 2 Stoke-on-Trent centres.