CarlisleDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Carlisle conducted 3,518 car practical tests and 2,065 candidates passed: a 58.7% pass rate, +8.7 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 35 of 267 centres and 5 of 31 in North West.
Practise Carlisle routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 13 practice routes near Carlisle with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Carlisle pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Carlisle
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate rose from 57.7% to 58.7% (+1 points). Test volumes changed too, from 4,335 to 3,518 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Carlisle | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 4,335 | 2,500 | 57.7% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 3,398 | 1,833 | 53.9% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 1,852 | 1,036 | 55.9% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 3,684 | 2,023 | 54.9% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 3,518 | 2,065 | 58.7% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was August 2025 (65.4% from 179 tests) and the weakest was February 2026 (51.3%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Carlisle
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26.
What the test at Carlisle 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 Carlisle driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 2,065 passes from 3,518 car practical tests at Carlisle, a pass rate of 58.7%, above the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Carlisle?
- 1,118 of 1,866 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (59.9%). 103 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- How many practice routes are there for Carlisle?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 13 practice route patterns around Carlisle. 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.