ChesterDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Chester conducted 9,212 car practical tests and 4,360 candidates passed: a 47.3% pass rate, -2.7 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 195 of 267 centres and 21 of 31 in North West.
Practise Chester routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 14 practice routes near Chester with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Chester pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Chester
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate rose from 43.2% to 47.3% (+4.1 points). Test volumes changed too, from 7,167 to 9,212 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Chester | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 7,167 | 3,098 | 43.2% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 8,245 | 3,688 | 44.7% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 9,838 | 4,277 | 43.5% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 8,026 | 3,708 | 46.2% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 9,212 | 4,360 | 47.3% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was June 2025 (51.4% from 708 tests) and the weakest was October 2025 (44.3%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Chester
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26. The closest with a noticeably higher rate is Liverpool Upton (18 km, 52.6%).
What the test at Chester 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 Chester driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 4,360 passes from 9,212 car practical tests at Chester, a pass rate of 47.3%, below the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Chester?
- 2,104 of 4,395 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (47.9%). 110 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- Is there an easier test centre near Chester?
- The nearest centre with a noticeably higher pass rate is Liverpool Upton, about 18 km away, at 52.6% 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 Chester?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 14 practice route patterns around Chester. 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.