CheltenhamDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Cheltenham conducted 5,161 car practical tests and 2,231 candidates passed: a 43.2% pass rate, -6.8 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 236 of 267 centres and 18 of 20 in South West.
Practise Cheltenham routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 18 practice routes near Cheltenham with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Cheltenham pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Cheltenham
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate fell from 50.1% to 43.2% (-6.9 points). Test volumes changed too, from 5,400 to 5,161 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Cheltenham | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 5,400 | 2,706 | 50.1% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 5,190 | 2,327 | 44.8% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 7,114 | 3,292 | 46.3% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 6,545 | 3,056 | 46.7% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 5,161 | 2,231 | 43.2% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was May 2025 (52% from 440 tests) and the weakest was November 2025 (38%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Cheltenham
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26. The closest with a noticeably higher rate is Gloucester (16 km, 47.8%).
What the test at Cheltenham 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 Cheltenham driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 2,231 passes from 5,161 car practical tests at Cheltenham, a pass rate of 43.2%, below the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Cheltenham?
- 1,095 of 2,550 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (42.9%). 25 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- Is there an easier test centre near Cheltenham?
- The nearest centre with a noticeably higher pass rate is Gloucester, about 16 km away, at 47.8% 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 Cheltenham?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 18 practice route patterns around Cheltenham. 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.