ColchesterDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Colchester conducted 7,756 car practical tests and 3,925 candidates passed: a 50.6% pass rate, +0.6 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 154 of 267 centres and 13 of 24 in East of England.
Practise Colchester routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 12 practice routes near Colchester with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Colchester pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Colchester
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate rose from 46.2% to 50.6% (+4.4 points). Test volumes changed too, from 8,634 to 7,756 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Colchester | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 8,634 | 3,993 | 46.2% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 10,122 | 4,462 | 44.1% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 9,923 | 4,616 | 46.5% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 9,977 | 4,788 | 48% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 7,756 | 3,925 | 50.6% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was July 2025 (57.2% from 712 tests) and the weakest was December 2025 (44.7%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Colchester
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26. The closest with a noticeably higher rate is Ipswich (27 km, 62.3%).
What the test at Colchester 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 Colchester driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 3,925 passes from 7,756 car practical tests at Colchester, a pass rate of 50.6%, above the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Colchester?
- 2,098 of 4,102 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (51.1%). 145 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- Is there an easier test centre near Colchester?
- The nearest centre with a noticeably higher pass rate is Ipswich, about 27 km away, at 62.3% 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 Colchester?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 12 practice route patterns around Colchester. 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.