ExeterDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Exeter conducted 8,679 car practical tests and 4,061 candidates passed: a 46.8% pass rate, -3.2 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 203 of 267 centres and 16 of 20 in South West.
Practise Exeter routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 14 practice routes near Exeter with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Exeter pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Exeter
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate rose from 45.1% to 46.8% (+1.7 points). Test volumes changed too, from 7,180 to 8,679 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Exeter | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 7,180 | 3,237 | 45.1% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 7,586 | 3,732 | 49.2% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 9,046 | 4,408 | 48.7% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 8,714 | 4,172 | 47.9% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 8,679 | 4,061 | 46.8% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was August 2025 (52.1% from 637 tests) and the weakest was January 2026 (41.9%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Exeter
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26. The closest with a noticeably higher rate is Newton Abbot (18 km, 53.8%).
What the test at Exeter 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 Exeter driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 4,061 passes from 8,679 car practical tests at Exeter, a pass rate of 46.8%, below the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Exeter?
- 1,907 of 4,182 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (45.6%). 57 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- Is there an easier test centre near Exeter?
- The nearest centre with a noticeably higher pass rate is Newton Abbot, about 18 km away, at 53.8% 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 Exeter?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 14 practice route patterns around Exeter. 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.