Pass rate by centre
UK theory test pass rate by centre (2024/25)
Last updated
DVSA publishes the pass rate at every UK theory test centre. The table below covers all 194 centres for April 2024 to March 2025 — the latest released period. Search by name, sort by any column. The highest pass rate is Symbister (Shetland) at 65.2% on just 23 tests; the highest by meaningful volume is Kyle of Lochalsh at 64.3%. The lowest is Millom at 34.6%.
Tables show pass rates for the car theory test by gender, age and test centre.
All 194 test centres — search and sort
194 centres
| Centre | Tests | Passes | Pass rate | YoY (pp) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symbister | 23 | 15 | 65.2% | — |
| Kyle of Lochalsh | 56 | 36 | 64.3% | +9.5 |
| Helmsdale | 56 | 34 | 60.7% | +12.9 |
| Portree | 49 | 29 | 59.2% | +14.6 |
| Aviemore | 47 | 27 | 57.5% | +4.1 |
| Craignure (Isle of Mull) | 21 | 12 | 57.1% | — |
| North Berwick | 332 | 187 | 56.3% | -1.1 |
| Huntingdon | 133 | 74 | 55.6% | +4.2 |
| Ullapool | 40 | 22 | 55.0% | -8.3 |
| Rushden | 123 | 67 | 54.5% | +9.6 |
| Royal Tunbridge Wells | 9,724 | 5,211 | 53.6% | +0.3 |
| Guildford | 16,307 | 8,733 | 53.5% | +0.4 |
| Cambridge | 22,974 | 12,229 | 53.2% | -0.5 |
| Brodick (Isle of Arran) | 47 | 25 | 53.2% | -5.0 |
| Mallaig | 38 | 20 | 52.6% | — |
| Tarbert (Argyll & Bute) | 76 | 40 | 52.6% | +4.9 |
| Lochmaddy | 84 | 44 | 52.4% | +9.5 |
| Saxmundham | 88 | 46 | 52.3% | -2.3 |
| Tain | 73 | 38 | 52.0% | +2.0 |
| Cumnock | 52 | 27 | 51.9% | +9.7 |
| Southwark | 66,976 | 34,645 | 51.7% | -0.5 |
| Exeter | 13,318 | 6,856 | 51.5% | +0.5 |
| Morden | 39,929 | 20,538 | 51.4% | +0.4 |
| Brighton | 18,833 | 9,676 | 51.4% | -0.6 |
| Harrogate | 6,727 | 3,450 | 51.3% | -1.4 |
| Ballater | 43 | 22 | 51.2% | +12.4 |
| Oxford | 20,939 | 10,670 | 51.0% | -1.0 |
| Kirkwall | 452 | 230 | 50.9% | +0.7 |
| Blandford Forum | 1,745 | 885 | 50.7% | +0.9 |
| Edinburgh | 38,608 | 19,545 | 50.6% | +0.1 |
| York | 12,201 | 6,131 | 50.3% | +0.1 |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | 11,665 | 5,857 | 50.2% | -0.7 |
| Cheltenham | 8,854 | 4,439 | 50.1% | -0.8 |
| Bowmore (Isle of Islay) | 44 | 22 | 50.0% | +14.9 |
| Diss | 102 | 51 | 50.0% | -11.7 |
| Strathpeffer | 38 | 19 | 50.0% | — |
| Glossop | 396 | 197 | 49.8% | -2.1 |
| Lerwick | 477 | 237 | 49.7% | -0.8 |
| Salisbury | 6,594 | 3,274 | 49.6% | +0.0 |
| Truro | 10,270 | 5,069 | 49.4% | -0.9 |
| Kendal | 3,925 | 1,933 | 49.3% | -0.7 |
| Hornsea | 65 | 32 | 49.2% | -5.6 |
| Oban | 638 | 314 | 49.2% | -1.7 |
| Galashiels | 3,181 | 1,562 | 49.1% | -0.4 |
| Penzance | 1,701 | 834 | 49.0% | -0.1 |
| Frome | 11,312 | 5,544 | 49.0% | -0.7 |
| Bristol | 44,946 | 21,997 | 48.9% | +0.2 |
| Reading | 33,341 | 16,310 | 48.9% | -0.9 |
| Grantham | 6,066 | 2,966 | 48.9% | +1.2 |
| Pitlochry | 125 | 61 | 48.8% | -1.2 |
| Bodmin | 1,476 | 720 | 48.8% | -0.1 |
| Norwich | 19,773 | 9,609 | 48.6% | -0.7 |
| Andover | 8,849 | 4,300 | 48.6% | +0.5 |
| Kingsbridge | 1,090 | 528 | 48.4% | -0.3 |
| Torquay | 7,199 | 3,474 | 48.3% | +0.9 |
| Dundee | 17,732 | 8,547 | 48.2% | +0.2 |
| Tarbert (Isle of Harris) | 54 | 26 | 48.1% | — |
| Inverness | 5,779 | 2,781 | 48.1% | +0.4 |
| Aberdeen | 17,305 | 8,319 | 48.1% | -0.1 |
| Redditch | 15,698 | 7,542 | 48.0% | +1.6 |
| Bury St Edmunds | 7,931 | 3,806 | 48.0% | -1.0 |
| Chelmsford | 20,957 | 10,043 | 47.9% | -0.3 |
| Northallerton | 4,955 | 2,371 | 47.9% | +1.0 |
| Tongue | 44 | 21 | 47.7% | -1.3 |
| Fareham | 9,809 | 4,681 | 47.7% | +0.9 |
| Plymouth | 12,759 | 6,085 | 47.7% | -0.5 |
| Chester | 18,170 | 8,649 | 47.6% | +0.5 |
| Axminster | 2,361 | 1,123 | 47.6% | +0.8 |
| Bethnal Green | 38,873 | 18,427 | 47.4% | +0.1 |
| Newport (Isle of Wight) | 4,201 | 1,989 | 47.4% | +0.3 |
| Chichester | 8,128 | 3,840 | 47.2% | -1.9 |
| Milton Keynes | 28,820 | 13,607 | 47.2% | -0.4 |
| Penrith | 214 | 101 | 47.2% | -8.8 |
| Bournemouth | 15,317 | 7,221 | 47.1% | -0.7 |
| Williton | 621 | 292 | 47.0% | -3.8 |
| Lincoln | 12,551 | 5,900 | 47.0% | -0.5 |
| Newcastle | 43,141 | 20,260 | 47.0% | +0.3 |
| Nottingham | 40,722 | 19,072 | 46.8% | -0.1 |
| Stirling | 12,685 | 5,941 | 46.8% | +0.4 |
| Yeovil | 8,156 | 3,814 | 46.8% | +0.8 |
| Bishop Auckland | 503 | 235 | 46.7% | +1.1 |
| Kirkbymoorside | 75 | 35 | 46.7% | +2.5 |
| Hertford | 23,806 | 11,101 | 46.6% | +0.1 |
| Watford | 35,207 | 16,408 | 46.6% | -0.8 |
| Launceston | 1,484 | 688 | 46.4% | -2.3 |
| Horley | 18,752 | 8,689 | 46.3% | -1.0 |
| Aylesbury | 14,420 | 6,681 | 46.3% | -1.8 |
| Worcester | 15,572 | 7,213 | 46.3% | -0.9 |
| Southampton | 19,173 | 8,872 | 46.3% | -1.8 |
| Builth Wells | 1,321 | 611 | 46.3% | -1.4 |
| Shrewsbury | 14,110 | 6,526 | 46.3% | +0.4 |
| Canterbury | 26,182 | 12,091 | 46.2% | 0.0 |
| Ipswich | 13,460 | 6,212 | 46.1% | +1.1 |
| Scarborough | 4,997 | 2,305 | 46.1% | +1.3 |
| Worthing | 7,835 | 3,614 | 46.1% | -0.5 |
| Leven | 412 | 190 | 46.1% | +2.8 |
| New Romney | 1,951 | 899 | 46.1% | +1.4 |
| Huntly | 139 | 64 | 46.0% | -4.0 |
| Taunton | 9,699 | 4,462 | 46.0% | +0.8 |
| Colchester | 14,510 | 6,658 | 45.9% | -1.1 |
| Aldershot | 15,723 | 7,207 | 45.8% | -0.2 |
| Louth | 144 | 66 | 45.8% | -3.0 |
| Peterhead | 96 | 44 | 45.8% | -1.2 |
| Corby | 11,286 | 5,165 | 45.8% | -0.3 |
| Sidcup | 40,098 | 18,345 | 45.8% | -1.3 |
| Brechin | 103 | 47 | 45.6% | -2.3 |
| Portsmouth | 15,672 | 7,141 | 45.6% | -0.8 |
| Stockport | 34,381 | 15,658 | 45.5% | -0.9 |
| Burnley | 1,420 | 646 | 45.5% | +3.0 |
| Hexham | 154 | 70 | 45.5% | -10.0 |
| Lanark | 605 | 275 | 45.5% | -0.1 |
| Liverpool | 64,736 | 29,409 | 45.4% | -0.9 |
| Carmarthen | 1,821 | 827 | 45.4% | +2.3 |
| Staines | 16,851 | 7,650 | 45.4% | +0.5 |
| Croydon | 43,824 | 19,869 | 45.3% | -0.8 |
| Cardiff | 29,281 | 13,273 | 45.3% | +0.3 |
| Crewe | 14,500 | 6,572 | 45.3% | +0.2 |
| Hastings | 6,371 | 2,886 | 45.3% | -1.3 |
| Chesterfield | 14,391 | 6,510 | 45.2% | +0.2 |
| Fakenham | 124 | 56 | 45.2% | -5.9 |
| Aberystwyth | 2,226 | 1,005 | 45.1% | -2.4 |
| Dumfries | 3,575 | 1,611 | 45.1% | +1.5 |
| Glasgow | 71,187 | 32,069 | 45.0% | -0.2 |
| Barnstaple | 4,944 | 2,227 | 45.0% | +2.1 |
| Swindon | 19,823 | 8,913 | 45.0% | -0.3 |
| Ayr | 10,365 | 4,659 | 45.0% | +0.7 |
| Southend-On-Sea | 22,489 | 10,074 | 44.8% | -0.1 |
| Gloucester | 12,045 | 5,352 | 44.4% | -0.2 |
| Hull | 20,406 | 9,036 | 44.3% | +0.6 |
| Derby | 33,637 | 14,883 | 44.3% | +0.2 |
| Eastbourne | 6,756 | 2,988 | 44.2% | -0.5 |
| Leeds | 46,982 | 20,770 | 44.2% | +0.2 |
| Greenock | 4,682 | 2,069 | 44.2% | -0.4 |
| Grimsby | 9,081 | 4,012 | 44.2% | +0.6 |
| Hereford | 8,079 | 3,562 | 44.1% | -0.8 |
| Sheffield | 43,049 | 18,982 | 44.1% | -1.0 |
| Bala | 545 | 240 | 44.0% | +2.6 |
| Preston | 52,846 | 23,246 | 44.0% | -1.1 |
| Fort William | 553 | 243 | 43.9% | -2.0 |
| Chatham | 32,365 | 14,203 | 43.9% | 0.0 |
| Campbeltown | 73 | 32 | 43.8% | -3.7 |
| Sunderland | 20,419 | 8,937 | 43.8% | -0.6 |
| North Finchley | 62,447 | 27,325 | 43.8% | -0.8 |
| Coventry | 47,766 | 20,883 | 43.7% | 0.0 |
| Carlisle | 6,775 | 2,954 | 43.6% | -0.3 |
| Wrexham | 8,281 | 3,586 | 43.3% | -0.9 |
| Elgin | 3,591 | 1,554 | 43.3% | +0.8 |
| Weymouth | 4,755 | 2,057 | 43.3% | -1.8 |
| Manchester | 85,425 | 36,821 | 43.1% | -0.0 |
| Northampton | 27,373 | 11,795 | 43.1% | +0.2 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 21,269 | 9,159 | 43.1% | -1.4 |
| Dumbarton | 4,235 | 1,820 | 43.0% | -1.2 |
| Bangor | 7,367 | 3,162 | 42.9% | -1.0 |
| Alnwick | 1,319 | 566 | 42.9% | -3.0 |
| Wick | 315 | 135 | 42.9% | -5.4 |
| Peterborough | 21,055 | 9,007 | 42.8% | -1.0 |
| Bridgend | 8,495 | 3,632 | 42.8% | -0.7 |
| Huddersfield | 27,436 | 11,690 | 42.6% | -0.6 |
| Barrow | 3,493 | 1,488 | 42.6% | -1.4 |
| Sutton Coldfield | 24,308 | 10,305 | 42.4% | -0.9 |
| Stornoway | 555 | 235 | 42.3% | -4.1 |
| Swansea | 20,541 | 8,690 | 42.3% | -0.1 |
| Middlesbrough | 32,287 | 13,621 | 42.2% | -0.3 |
| Berwick | 1,022 | 431 | 42.2% | -1.8 |
| Kings Lynn | 7,862 | 3,302 | 42.0% | -0.5 |
| Lowestoft | 6,634 | 2,784 | 42.0% | -2.3 |
| Worksop | 310 | 130 | 41.9% | -1.6 |
| Cromer | 110 | 46 | 41.8% | -2.5 |
| Luton | 35,766 | 14,938 | 41.8% | -0.3 |
| Haverfordwest | 4,523 | 1,881 | 41.6% | +0.9 |
| Doncaster | 25,240 | 10,496 | 41.6% | +0.6 |
| Slough | 25,103 | 10,432 | 41.6% | +0.5 |
| Workington | 4,091 | 1,698 | 41.5% | -1.7 |
| Bolton | 44,680 | 18,540 | 41.5% | -0.1 |
| Boston | 6,477 | 2,676 | 41.3% | +0.1 |
| Newport (Gwent) | 14,677 | 6,032 | 41.1% | -0.3 |
| Rhyl | 6,419 | 2,633 | 41.0% | -1.4 |
| Skegness | 176 | 72 | 40.9% | +1.9 |
| Newtown | 1,291 | 528 | 40.9% | -4.6 |
| Dolgellau | 443 | 181 | 40.9% | -2.9 |
| Stranraer | 270 | 110 | 40.7% | +2.9 |
| Cardigan | 805 | 327 | 40.6% | -1.0 |
| Ilford | 89,742 | 36,386 | 40.5% | -0.7 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 13,544 | 5,484 | 40.5% | -2.1 |
| Newton Stewart | 84 | 34 | 40.5% | +5.6 |
| Birmingham | 80,284 | 32,471 | 40.5% | -0.1 |
| Leicester | 54,335 | 21,578 | 39.7% | -0.0 |
| Wolverhampton | 35,159 | 13,522 | 38.5% | -1.1 |
| Uxbridge | 82,369 | 31,502 | 38.2% | -0.9 |
| Dudley | 28,873 | 11,023 | 38.2% | -0.9 |
| Dunoon | 38 | 14 | 36.8% | — |
| Bradford | 41,920 | 15,414 | 36.8% | -0.8 |
| Porthmadog | 714 | 255 | 35.7% | -2.5 |
| Millom | 52 | 18 | 34.6% | -16.3 |
No centres match that search.
Biggest year-on-year movers
Comparing the April 2024 – March 2025 figures with the previous year reveals some notable swings — usually driven by very small candidate volumes at rural sites, where a handful of extra passes or failures can shift the percentage by 10+ points. The headline movers from the full dataset:
Biggest risers
- Bowmore (Isle of Islay, Scotland): +14.9 percentage points
- Portree (Isle of Skye, Scotland): +14.6 percentage points
- Helmsdale (Sutherland, Scotland): +12.9 percentage points
Biggest fallers
- Millom (Cumbria, England): -16.3 percentage points
- Diss (Norfolk, England): -11.7 percentage points
- Hexham (Northumberland, England): -9.9 percentage points
By nation
| Nation | Approx. pass rate |
|---|---|
| Scotland | ~48.9% |
| England | ~46.0% |
| Wales | ~42.3% |
Scotland sits roughly 7 percentage points above Wales — a gap that has been stable since 2020.
Why centres vary — what the rate is actually telling you
Every DVSA theory test centre uses the same official question bank, drawn at random by the same Pearson VUE booking system. The questions are not "easier" in Kyle of Lochalsh or "harder" in Bradford. Two factors drive the per-centre variation:
- Candidate population. Centres in areas with a higher proportion of repeat retakes, ESL candidates, or candidates with less formal revision support naturally show lower pass rates. Rural Scottish Highlands centres test very small annual volumes, often of well-prepared candidates from a narrow demographic.
- Volume. Small centres can swing 10+ percentage points year on year on the strength of a few extra passes or failures. The headline year-on-year change at, for example, Millom should not be read as a deterioration in standards — it's statistical noise from low volumes.
The practical conclusion: your choice of theory test centre does not change your odds of passing . You bring the same knowledge to whichever centre you book. Pick the centre that is most convenient for you and arrive prepared.
How DVSA publishes the per-centre data
Theory test centre figures live in DVSA table DRT112A on the Driving test and theory test data: cars page. The format is OpenDocument Spreadsheet (.ods). Releases cover an April-to-March period, normally published the following August. The next release covering April 2025 – March 2026 is expected in summer 2026.
Looking for your centre?
Find your nearest theory test centre with the official postcode search at gov.uk/find-theory-test-centre . Booking is at gov.uk/book-theory-test , £23 for car or motorcycle (see also our note on booking direct, not via middlemen).
Sources
- GOV.UK — Driving test and theory test data: cars (DVSA tables DRT111A, DRT111B, DRT111C, DRT112A)
- GOV.UK — Tables index for DVSA statistics
- GOV.UK — Find your nearest theory test centre
Pass-rate figures reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0 . Data parsed directly from DRT112A at build time and cached in theory-pass-rate-by-centre.json.