Driving test centres near me
Find your nearest test centres and, more usefully, what each one is like: the DVSA pass rate and how many tests it runs. The nearest centre is the default choice; a glance at the next few along often turns up a shorter queue.
Written and checked by James Burfield. Facts checked against GOV.UK and DVSA sources on 8 September 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.
This site covers DVSA driving tests in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own agency, the DVA, and its own booking service: book or change a test in Northern Ireland on nidirect (checked 11 October 2026).
Your location never leaves the browser; a postcode goes only to postcodes.io, the open ONS lookup, and is not stored.
Why check more than the nearest one
The national average wait is 20.2 weeks, and it hides enormous local variation. Booking systems fill centre by centre, so the queue at yours says nothing about the queue 10 miles away. Cancellation slots also appear centre by centre, and watching 2 or 3 centres multiplies your chances of catching one; the routine is in our driving test cancellations guide.
Pass rates across the 289 centres we compare run from 71.4% down to 34.3% against a 50% national average. Treat that gap carefully: it reflects who tests where as much as route difficulty, and the case for chasing an easier centre is weaker than it looks. The full picture is on the centre comparison.
Distances are measured between the places the centres are named after, at town level, because the DVSA publishes no address list. Close enough to plan with; check the exact address on GOV.UK when you book.
Common questions
How do I find my nearest driving test centre?
Use the finder on this page with your location or postcode, or the official search on GOV.UK. Ours adds the DVSA pass rate and test volume for each centre, which the official one does not show.
Should I book the nearest driving test centre?
Usually, but check the alternatives first. Two centres within half an hour of each other can have waiting lists months apart and pass rates 10 points apart. If a nearby centre has a much shorter queue, the extra travel often pays for itself.
How many driving test centres are there in Great Britain?
The DVSA runs around 320 practical car test centres across Great Britain. We compare the 289 that conducted at least 100 car tests in the year to March 2026; the rest are too small for their pass rates to mean much.
Can I take my test at any centre?
Yes. You choose the centre when you book on GOV.UK, and you can move to another one later with the free change service, within the 2-change limit on car tests.