BedfordDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Bedford conducted 8,854 car practical tests and 4,756 candidates passed: a 53.7% pass rate, +3.7 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 90 of 267 centres and 7 of 24 in East of England.
Practise Bedford routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 16 practice routes near Bedford with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Bedford pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Bedford
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate fell from 54.3% to 53.7% (-0.6 points). Test volumes changed too, from 4,595 to 8,854 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Bedford | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 4,595 | 2,494 | 54.3% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 5,501 | 3,079 | 56% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 8,665 | 4,564 | 52.7% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 8,958 | 4,472 | 49.9% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 8,854 | 4,756 | 53.7% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was January 2026 (58.6% from 580 tests) and the weakest was October 2025 (49.3%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Bedford
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26. The closest with a noticeably higher rate is Wellingborough (24 km, 60%).
What the test at Bedford involves
- About 40 minutes of driving, starting with an eyesight check and a “tell me” question.
- Around 20 minutes of independent driving, usually following a sat nav set by the examiner.
- One reversing manoeuvre: parallel park, bay park, or pull up on the right and reverse two car lengths.
- A “show me” question while you drive, and possibly an emergency stop.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the pass rate at Bedford driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 4,756 passes from 8,854 car practical tests at Bedford, a pass rate of 53.7%, above the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Bedford?
- 2,601 of 4,785 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (54.4%). 214 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- Is there an easier test centre near Bedford?
- The nearest centre with a noticeably higher pass rate is Wellingborough, about 24 km away, at 60% in 2025/26. Pass rates reflect who tests there as much as the roads, so practise the routes where you will actually take your test.
- How many practice routes are there for Bedford?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 16 practice route patterns around Bedford. They are compiled practice routes, not official DVSA routes; examiners change routes for traffic and roadworks.
Pass rates: DVSA, car driving test data by test centre (DRT122A/C/E, April 2025 to March 2026, published June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0. Practice routes are compiled by Driving Routes UK and are not official DVSA routes. Examiners vary routes for traffic and roadworks.