NelsonDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Nelson conducted 5,955 car practical tests and 3,081 candidates passed: a 51.7% pass rate, +1.7 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 126 of 267 centres and 17 of 31 in North West.
Practise Nelson routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 14 practice routes near Nelson with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Nelson pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Nelson
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate fell from 56.5% to 51.7% (-4.8 points). Test volumes changed too, from 4,485 to 5,955 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Nelson | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 4,485 | 2,533 | 56.5% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 4,833 | 2,625 | 54.3% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 5,845 | 2,902 | 49.6% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 6,366 | 3,050 | 47.9% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 5,955 | 3,081 | 51.7% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was November 2025 (56.7% from 600 tests) and the weakest was May 2025 (46%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Nelson
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26. The closest with a noticeably higher rate is Skipton (18 km, 57.3%).
What the test at Nelson 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 Nelson driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 3,081 passes from 5,955 car practical tests at Nelson, a pass rate of 51.7%, above the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Nelson?
- 1,542 of 2,957 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (52.1%). 78 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- Is there an easier test centre near Nelson?
- The nearest centre with a noticeably higher pass rate is Skipton, about 18 km away, at 57.3% 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 Nelson?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 14 practice route patterns around Nelson. 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.