North East’s Easiest and Toughest Driving Test Centres

North East driving test centres with the highest and lowest pass rates

Figures also suggest men pass slightly more often than women.

New figures highlight how much driving test pass rates in the North East can change depending on which test centre you choose—meaning your location could affect your chances of passing.

Nationally, around half of learners passed their practical driving test last year (49%). That’s up from 44% in 2008, suggesting pass rates have improved over time.

The data also shows a small gender gap: male learners recorded a slightly higher pass rate (51%) than female learners (49%). Even so, the biggest difference comes from where you sit your test.

There’s no rule that you must book the closest test centre. Many learners do, but the figures suggest it can be worth comparing nearby centres.

In Gateshead, described as the North East’s toughest test centre, the overall pass rate was 37% last year, with 37% of men and 38% of women passing.

However, in Hexham—around 20 miles away—the pass rate was much higher at 57%, the best in the region. The breakdown there shows 56% of men and 58% of women passed.

Across the UK, Wolverhampton had the lowest pass rate, with only 33% of candidates passing—roughly one in three.

The national pattern suggests that quieter test centres tend to have higher pass rates. In fact, the centres with the best results typically carried out fewer than 500 tests a year.

Even though it isn’t the busiest test centre in the North East, Gateshead still delivered over 8,000 tests last year, while Hexham handled around 1,000, reflecting a much lower volume.

An interactive map can help learners compare local test centres: centres above the national average appear in green, while those below average are shown in red.