PrestonDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Preston conducted 9,194 car practical tests and 5,174 candidates passed: a 56.3% pass rate, +6.3 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 60 of 267 centres and 8 of 31 in North West.
Practise Preston routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 20 practice routes near Preston with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Preston pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Preston
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate fell from 56.9% to 56.3% (-0.6 points). Test volumes changed too, from 8,062 to 9,194 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Preston | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 8,062 | 4,584 | 56.9% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 9,704 | 5,930 | 61.1% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 11,115 | 6,305 | 56.7% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 11,380 | 6,116 | 53.7% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 9,194 | 5,174 | 56.3% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was January 2026 (61.1% from 812 tests) and the weakest was May 2025 (51.4%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Preston
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26. The closest with a noticeably higher rate is Heysham (32 km, 59.2%).
What the test at Preston 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 Preston driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 5,174 passes from 9,194 car practical tests at Preston, a pass rate of 56.3%, above the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Preston?
- 2,948 of 5,178 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (56.9%). 253 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- Is there an easier test centre near Preston?
- The nearest centre with a noticeably higher pass rate is Heysham, about 32 km away, at 59.2% 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 Preston?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 20 practice route patterns around Preston. 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.