Blackburn DarwenDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Blackburn with Darwen conducted 12,205 car practical tests and 5,688 candidates passed: a 46.6% pass rate, -3.4 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 205 of 267 centres and 23 of 31 in North West.
Practise Blackburn Darwen routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 20 practice routes near Blackburn Darwen with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Blackburn Darwen pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Blackburn Darwen
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate rose from 46.1% to 46.6% (+0.5 points). Test volumes changed too, from 5,094 to 12,205 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Blackburn Darwen | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 5,094 | 2,350 | 46.1% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 6,997 | 3,259 | 46.6% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 8,561 | 4,014 | 46.9% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 8,885 | 4,247 | 47.8% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 12,205 | 5,688 | 46.6% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was April 2025 (49.2% from 847 tests) and the weakest was September 2025 (44.4%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Blackburn Darwen
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26. The closest with a noticeably higher rate is Manchester Chorley (13 km, 52.8%).
What the test at Blackburn Darwen 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 Blackburn Darwen driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 5,688 passes from 12,205 car practical tests at Blackburn with Darwen, a pass rate of 46.6%, below the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Blackburn Darwen?
- 2,309 of 5,073 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (45.5%). 101 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- Is there an easier test centre near Blackburn Darwen?
- The nearest centre with a noticeably higher pass rate is Manchester Chorley, about 13 km away, at 52.8% 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 Blackburn Darwen?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 20 practice route patterns around Blackburn Darwen. 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.