BoltonDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Bolton (Manchester) conducted 11,570 car practical tests and 5,996 candidates passed: a 51.8% pass rate, +1.8 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 122 of 267 centres and 16 of 31 in North West.
Practise Bolton routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 12 practice routes near Bolton with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Bolton pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Bolton
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate fell from 56.7% to 51.8% (-4.9 points). Test volumes changed too, from 9,627 to 11,570 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Bolton | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 9,627 | 5,454 | 56.7% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 10,831 | 6,339 | 58.5% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 12,037 | 6,574 | 54.6% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 11,879 | 6,730 | 56.7% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 11,570 | 5,996 | 51.8% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was July 2025 (55% from 1,143 tests) and the weakest was November 2025 (46%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Bolton
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26.
What the test at Bolton 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 Bolton driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 5,996 passes from 11,570 car practical tests at Bolton (Manchester), a pass rate of 51.8%, above the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Bolton?
- 3,060 of 5,792 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (52.8%). 215 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- How many practice routes are there for Bolton?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 12 practice route patterns around Bolton. 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.