RochdaleDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Rochdale (Manchester) conducted 11,563 car practical tests and 5,584 candidates passed: a 48.3% pass rate, -1.7 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 182 of 267 centres and 19 of 31 in North West.
Practise Rochdale routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 14 practice routes near Rochdale with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Rochdale pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Rochdale
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate rose from 35.8% to 48.3% (+12.5 points). Test volumes changed too, from 6,453 to 11,563 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Rochdale | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 6,453 | 2,307 | 35.8% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 6,860 | 2,561 | 37.3% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 7,583 | 2,889 | 38.1% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 9,790 | 4,036 | 41.2% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 11,563 | 5,584 | 48.3% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was February 2026 (52.5% from 946 tests) and the weakest was April 2025 (43.6%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Rochdale
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26. The closest with a noticeably higher rate is Bolton (20 km, 51.8%).
What the test at Rochdale 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 Rochdale driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 5,584 passes from 11,563 car practical tests at Rochdale (Manchester), a pass rate of 48.3%, below the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Rochdale?
- 2,469 of 5,079 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (48.6%). 65 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- Is there an easier test centre near Rochdale?
- The nearest centre with a noticeably higher pass rate is Bolton, about 20 km away, at 51.8% 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 Rochdale?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 14 practice route patterns around Rochdale. 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.