What is the pass rate at Barnstaple Test Centre?

Practical: 51.4% for 2025-26. Pass rates are historical DVSA statistics and do not predict an individual learner's result.

Does Barnstaple Test Centre's pass rate mean it is easier or harder?

No. A pass rate shows what happened to a group of learners in the past. Preparation, experience, traffic and local conditions can all affect the result. It does not prove that a centre, route or examiner is easier.

Which tests are available at Barnstaple Test Centre?

This location is listed for practical driving tests. Use the official booking link on this page to check current appointment availability.

What is the driving test waiting time at Barnstaple?

DVSA's published median booking-to-test wait was 8 weeks for July 2026. This is historical data, not a live appointment estimate.

What is the first-attempt pass rate at Barnstaple?

The published first-attempt pass rate was 53.8% from 2,540 first attempts in 2025-26. It describes a group of past tests and does not predict an individual's result.

What is the automatic-car pass rate at Barnstaple?

The published automatic-car pass rate was 41.8% from 1,081 tests in 2025-26. It does not show that automatic or manual tests are easier.

Are the roads listed near Barnstaple official driving test routes?

No. They are nearby roads and map features from OpenStreetMap. They are not official DVSA test routes, and we do not know which roads an examiner will use.

Practical driving test centre in Barnstaple

Barnstaple Driving Test Centre

Find the address, postcode and map. You can also compare official DVSA pass rates, numbers of tests and the full published history, including past practical-test waiting times.

Unit 1A, Benning Court (off Riverside Road), Pottington Industrial Estate, Barnstaple, EX31 1AB

Show published results for

Your choice updates every result on this page that DVSA publishes for men and women. It does not estimate your personal chance of passing. Waiting-time and cancellation figures are not split this way.

At a glance

Barnstaple driving test pass rate and waiting time

Latest published practical driving test pass rate: 51.4% from 5,562 tests in 2025-26. Published median waiting time: 8 weeks in Jul 2026 (historical data, not live availability).

Overall pass rate: 51.4%; 2025-26 · 5,562 tests
Published median wait: 8 weeks; Jul 2026 · historical, not live
First-attempt pass rate: 53.8%; 2025-26 · 2,540 first attempts
Automatic pass rate: 41.8%; 2025-26 · 1,081 automatic tests

These are group-level historical results. They do not predict an individual learner's result or prove that a centre is easier.

Barnstaple Test Centre map and location

Address and test-centre details

Barnstaple Test Centre
Unit 1A, Benning Court (off Riverside Road), Pottington Industrial Estate
Barnstaple
EX31 1AB

Location checked: 24 August 2026
Statistics period: Practical: 2025-26
Data imported: 13 August 2026

Browse all practical driving test centres in South West.

Barnstaple driving test information

Latest full year: 2025-26. DVSA centre name: Barnstaple.

Appointments

Booking and waiting times

Start here if you are deciding when to book. These figures are historical DVSA measures, not live appointment availability.

Published waiting-time and appointment-availability trend

The recorded median wait moved from 8 weeks in Aug 2024 to 8 weeks in Jul 2026. In Jul 2026, 45.3% of standard appointments in the booking window were still available.

Standard appointments still available

Percentage of standard test slots in the published booking window that had not been booked.

View exact monthly values

Published booking-to-test waiting times and appointment availability for Barnstaple
Month	Median wait	Weeks to 10% availability	Standard slots released	Booked	Still available	Available (%)	Overtime slots
Jul 2026	8 weeks	11.8 weeks	1,572	860	712	45.3%	38
Jun 2026	8 weeks	11 weeks	1,720	977	743	43.2%	39
May 2026	7 weeks	12 weeks	1,658	1,061	597	36%	37
Apr 2026	9.1 weeks	14.3 weeks	1,551	1,134	417	26.9%	8
Mar 2026	4.6 weeks	19 weeks	1,341	1,130	211	15.7%	114
Feb 2026	3.4 weeks	19.8 weeks	1,587	1,312	275	17.3%	76
Jan 2026	5.4 weeks	11.8 weeks	1,619	1,375	244	15.1%	38
Dec 2025	6.7 weeks	23.4 weeks	1,559	1,418	141	9%	11
Nov 2025	6.1 weeks	23.5 weeks	1,616	1,529	87	5.4%	74
Oct 2025	5 weeks	23.8 weeks	1,381	1,376	5	0.4%	95
Sept 2025	4.7 weeks	24 weeks	1,481	1,436	45	3%	97
Aug 2025	5.3 weeks	18.5 weeks	1,501	1,427	74	4.9%	97
Jul 2025	6 weeks	24 weeks	1,459	1,382	77	5.3%	104
Jun 2025	5.3 weeks	24 weeks	1,561	1,481	80	5.1%	69
May 2025	2.9 weeks	24 weeks	1,580	1,509	71	4.5%	58
Apr 2025	3.4 weeks	19.8 weeks	752	712	40	5.3%	65
Mar 2025	5.4 weeks	24 weeks	704	700	4	0.6%	93
Feb 2025	8.9 weeks	18.8 weeks	913	862	51	5.6%	39
Jan 2025	11.4 weeks	20.5 weeks	886	873	13	1.5%	47
Dec 2024	14.6 weeks	19.6 weeks	1,010	956	54	5.3%	45
Nov 2024	10.9 weeks	19 weeks	1,044	975	69	6.6%	38
Oct 2024	9.6 weeks	14.5 weeks	894	835	59	6.6%	97
Sept 2024	8.4 weeks	20.2 weeks	997	948	49	4.9%	38
Aug 2024	8 weeks	23.3 weeks	978	931	47	4.8%	35

Hover over or focus any point or bar for its exact value. Official DVSA DRT122F historical data. Both lines use weeks on the same scale. These figures are not live appointment availability and do not guarantee when a new booking can be made.

Results

How learners performed

These figures describe groups of tests in published DVSA tables. They do not estimate your personal chance of passing or prove that a centre is easier.

Overall pass rate

51.4%

Tests conducted

5,562

Results shown

All candidates

First attempts

53.8%

1,367 of 2,540 first attempts passed. 97 passes had no recorded driving faults.

Financial year 2025-26 · DVSA DRT122C

Automatic cars

41.8%

452 of 1,081 practical tests taken in automatic cars passed.

Financial year 2025-26 · DVSA DRT122E

How this pass rate compares

Overall practical driving pass rate

Official DVSA result for 2025-26

51.4%

Great Britain rank

172nd of 312

Centres with a published 2025-26 rate; tied with 5 other centres.

South West rank

12th of 22

The regional comparison rate is 51.7%.

Compared with Great Britain

1.4 points above

The Great Britain comparison rate is 50%.

Nearby centre with a higher published rate

Bridgend

36.3 miles away · 53.3% from 5,990 tests

View centre →

A higher past rate does not mean this centre is easier or has appointments available now.

Published history

Historical charts and detailed tables

These charts show the historical results and breakdowns DVSA has published for this centre. Open any table to see the exact published values.

Loading full history...

Official test-day guidance

Prepare for test day at Barnstaple

This checklist summarises current GOV.UK guidance for practical car tests. Your booking confirmation remains the source for your appointment time and any centre-specific instructions.

What to take

Your UK driving licence.
Your theory pass certificate if you have it.
A suitable car, usually your instructor's car.

Check the complete GOV.UK list

What happens

An eyesight check and two vehicle-safety questions.
General and independent driving in varied conditions, but not on motorways.
One reversing exercise and possibly an emergency stop.
A standard test includes around 35 minutes of driving.

Read how the test works

Using your own car

The car must meet DVSA safety, visibility, tax, MOT, insurance and equipment rules. A test can be cancelled without a refund if the car is unsuitable.

Check every vehicle requirement

Official links checked 14 August 2026. GOV.UK should be followed if this summary and current official guidance ever differ.

Roads near the test centre

What the roads are like around Barnstaple

This section shows main roads, roundabouts and traffic lights mapped within 2.2 miles of the test centre. You can use it to get familiar with the area before your test.

These are not DVSA test routes. We do not know which roads an examiner will use.

Skills to practise for these road environments

These suggestions are derived from mapped nearby features, not from examiner-route information.

Faster-road planning

Build confidence reading signs early, selecting a lane, joining safely and leaving a longer following distance as speeds rise.

Why this is included: Mapped nearby examples include Roundswell Roundabout, Atlantic Highway (A39), Lake Roundabout.

Roundabout observations

Practise reducing speed in time, reading lane markings, checking mirrors and making a fresh safety decision at each approach.

Why this is included: OpenStreetMap labels nearby roundabouts including Mermaid Cross, Longbridge Roundabout, A3125, and maps 7 mini-roundabout points.

Signal-controlled junctions

Practise scanning for lane arrows and stop lines, planning for changing lights, and checking that a junction is clear before proceeding.

Why this is included: OpenStreetMap contains 37 traffic-signal map points within the mapped radius.

Lower-speed road awareness

Practise meeting traffic safely, allowing for parked vehicles, and looking early for pedestrians, cyclists and side-road hazards.

Why this is included: Mapped lower-speed or local-road examples include Barnstaple Western Bypass (A361), Bickington Road (A3125), Sticklepath Hill (A3125).

Changing speed environments

Practise spotting speed-limit changes promptly and choosing an appropriate speed for the road and conditions rather than driving at the limit automatically.

Why this is included: The selected nearby roads carry mapped limits ranging from 30 mph to 60 mph.

Main roads nearby

Roundswell RoundaboutMajor road · about 1.6 miles from the test centreMapped maximum speed: 60 mph
Atlantic Highway (A39)Major road · about 1.6 miles from the test centreMapped maximum speed: 60 mph
Lake RoundaboutMajor road · about 1.8 miles from the test centreMapped maximum speed: 60 mph
A361Major road · about 1.8 miles from the test centreMapped maximum speed: 60 mph
Rumsam Bridge (A361)Major road · about 1.9 miles from the test centreMapped maximum speed: 60 mph
Bishop's Tawton Road (A377)Major road · about 2.1 miles from the test centreMapped maximum speed: 60 mph
Braunton Road (A361)Main road · about 387 metres from the test centreMapped maximum speed: 50 mph
Barnstaple Western Bypass (A361)Main road · about 626 metres from the test centreMapped maximum speed: 30 mph
Bickington Road (A3125)Main road · about 1,450 metres from the test centreMapped maximum speed: 30 mph
Sticklepath Hill (A3125)Main road · about 1,466 metres from the test centreMapped maximum speed: 30 mph
A3125Main road · about 1,473 metres from the test centreMapped maximum speed: 30 mph
Mermaid CrossMain road · about 1,509 metres from the test centreMapped maximum speed: 30 mph

Map data downloaded and automatically checked on 22 August 2026. OpenStreetMap can be incomplete or out of date. Distances are straight-line estimates, not driving distances. © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence. The numbers count OpenStreetMap map entries, not physical junctions.

Compare alternatives

Test centres near Barnstaple

Distances are straight-line centre-to-centre estimates, not driving distances. Rates and waits cover the displayed published period and do not show that one centre is easier.

Overall latest pass rate (2025-26)

Published median wait (Jul 2026)

The charts only include centres with figures from the same period as Barnstaple. Hover over or focus a point for its exact value. Exact figures, test volumes and distances are shown below.

Launceston Test Centre

Launceston, PL15 9NJ

About 34.4 miles straight-line · practical tests

Overall result: 46.3%; 2025-26 · 3,991 tests
Median wait: 7 weeks; Jul 2026 · historical
First attempt: 47%
Automatic: 34.8%

View Launceston

Bridgend Test Centre

Bridgend, CF31 4AD

About 36.3 miles straight-line · practical tests

Overall result: 53.3%; 2025-26 · 5,990 tests
Median wait: 5.7 weeks; Jul 2026 · historical
First attempt: 55.1%
Automatic: 43%

View Bridgend

Exeter Test Centre

Exeter, EX2 8FS

About 36.4 miles straight-line · practical tests

Overall result: 46.8%; 2025-26 · 8,679 tests
Median wait: 7.6 weeks; Jul 2026 · historical
First attempt: 45.6%
Automatic: 38.5%

View Exeter

Swansea Test Centre

Swansea, SA1 8QY

About 37.6 miles straight-line · practical tests

Overall result: 48.2%; 2025-26 · 12,375 tests
Median wait: 5.9 weeks; Jul 2026 · historical
First attempt: 51.2%
Automatic: 38.4%

View Swansea

Barry Test Centre

Barry, CF62 5QN

About 41 miles straight-line · practical tests

Overall result: 57%; 2025-26 · 2,244 tests
Median wait: 10 weeks; Jul 2026 · historical
First attempt: 55.5%
Automatic: 49.8%

View Barry

Llanelli Test Centre

Llanelli, SA15 3SB

About 41.6 miles straight-line · practical tests

Overall result: 51%; 2025-26 · 4,380 tests
Median wait: 5.4 weeks; Jul 2026 · historical
First attempt: 52.4%
Automatic: 43.2%

View Llanelli

Questions about Barnstaple Test Centre

Where is Barnstaple Test Centre?: Barnstaple Test Centre is at Unit 1A, Benning Court (off Riverside Road), Pottington Industrial Estate, Barnstaple, EX31 1AB. The map on this page shows its published location.
What is the pass rate at Barnstaple Test Centre?: Practical: 51.4% for 2025-26. Pass rates are historical DVSA statistics and do not predict an individual learner's result.
Does Barnstaple Test Centre's pass rate mean it is easier or harder?: No. A pass rate shows what happened to a group of learners in the past. Preparation, experience, traffic and local conditions can all affect the result. It does not prove that a centre, route or examiner is easier.
Which tests are available at Barnstaple Test Centre?: This location is listed for practical driving tests. Use the official booking link on this page to check current appointment availability.
What is the driving test waiting time at Barnstaple?: DVSA's published median booking-to-test wait was 8 weeks for July 2026. This is historical data, not a live appointment estimate.
What is the first-attempt pass rate at Barnstaple?: The published first-attempt pass rate was 53.8% from 2,540 first attempts in 2025-26. It describes a group of past tests and does not predict an individual's result.
What is the automatic-car pass rate at Barnstaple?: The published automatic-car pass rate was 41.8% from 1,081 tests in 2025-26. It does not show that automatic or manual tests are easier.
Are the roads listed near Barnstaple official driving test routes?: No. They are nearby roads and map features from OpenStreetMap. They are not official DVSA test routes, and we do not know which roads an examiner will use.