Ashford driving test centre: pass rate and waiting time
DVSA's figures for car driving tests at Ashford: the pass rate over 10 years, the first-time pass rate, and how long people waited for a test each month.
Short answer
46.2% of car driving tests at Ashford were passes in 2025 to 2026, from 5,475 tests. That's the 6th highest of Kent's 8 test centres, against 50.0% nationally. For people taking their first test, the pass rate was 45.9%.
Moved: Ashford's test centre moved from the Civic Centre on Tannery Lane to International House, Dover Place, Ashford TN23 1HU, from 17 November 2025. Existing bookings were transferred. KentOnline.
In September 2026, half the people who took a test at Ashford had booked it 7.1 weeks or less before, and 49.8% took it within 7 weeks of booking. The national median was 11.6 weeks.
Pass rate over 10 years
Car practical tests at Ashford, April to March each year.
| Year | Tests | Passes | Pass rate | Men | Women | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 5,475 | 2,530 | 46.2% | 45.7% | 46.9% | 50.0% |
| 2024 to 2025 | 3,504 | 1,823 | 52.0% | 52.3% | 51.8% | 48.7% |
| 2023 to 2024 | 4,811 | 2,355 | 49.0% | 49.3% | 48.5% | 47.9% |
| 2022 to 2023 | 6,103 | 3,033 | 49.7% | 48.6% | 51.2% | 48.4% |
| 2021 to 2022 | 3,904 | 1,804 | 46.2% | 46.1% | 46.3% | 48.9% |
| 2020 to 2021 | 863 | 432 | 50.1% | 52.8% | 47.3% | 49.8% |
| 2019 to 2020 | 3,749 | 1,657 | 44.2% | 46.4% | 42.2% | 45.9% |
| 2018 to 2019 | 3,784 | 1,705 | 45.1% | 46.8% | 43.5% | 45.8% |
| 2017 to 2018 | 3,811 | 1,699 | 44.6% | 47.4% | 42.4% | 46.3% |
| 2016 to 2017 | 3,440 | 1,685 | 49.0% | 53.0% | 45.7% | 47.1% |
First-time pass rate
Only people taking their first car test. It's the fairest way to compare centres.
| Year | First attempts | Passed first time | First-time pass rate | Passed with no faults |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 2,473 | 1,135 | 45.9% | 53 |
| 2024 to 2025 | 1,862 | 986 | 53.0% | 50 |
| 2023 to 2024 | 2,442 | 1,219 | 49.9% | 75 |
| 2022 to 2023 | 2,785 | 1,348 | 48.4% | 92 |
| 2021 to 2022 | 1,918 | 863 | 45.0% | 33 |
Waiting times, month by month
The median weeks between booking and taking a test, for people who tested at Ashford that month.
| Month | Median wait | Taken within 7 weeks | Waited over 21 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 7.1 weeks | 49.8% | 20.5% |
| August 2026 | 6.3 weeks | 53.2% | 15.7% |
| July 2026 | 6.3 weeks | 53.0% | 18.8% |
| June 2026 | 4.7 weeks | 58.8% | 18.6% |
| May 2026 | 4.29 weeks | 62.8% | 16.9% |
| April 2026 | 4.14 weeks | 63.7% | 15.3% |
| March 2026 | 5.29 weeks | 59.1% | 15.9% |
| February 2026 | 4 weeks | 61.7% | 15.2% |
| January 2026 | 5.71 weeks | 56.1% | 17.0% |
| December 2025 | 8.29 weeks | 45.5% | 24.0% |
| November 2025 | 10.29 weeks | 37.4% | 28.7% |
| October 2025 | 11.57 weeks | 37.9% | 31.8% |
| September 2025 | 11.14 weeks | 40.6% | 26.6% |
| August 2025 | 10.29 weeks | 40.9% | 24.1% |
| July 2025 | 11.43 weeks | 36.1% | 24.9% |
| June 2025 | 10.36 weeks | 40.9% | 23.7% |
| May 2025 | 13.64 weeks | 32.4% | 35.0% |
| April 2025 | 11.57 weeks | 35.1% | 35.9% |
Other Kent test centres
Sorted by the shortest wait in September 2026.
| Test centre | Pass rate, 2025-26 | First-time | Median wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury | 45.8% | 46.2% | 5.4 weeks |
| Folkestone | 42.4% | 42.2% | 7.1 weeks |
| Herne Bay | 55.9% | 56.3% | 8.6 weeks |
| Maidstone | 60.2% | 61.6% | 9.7 weeks |
| Tunbridge Wells | 64.5% | 65.4% | 10.6 weeks |
| Gillingham | 56.4% | 57.6% | 12 weeks |
| Sevenoaks | 59.0% | 60.9% | 15 weeks |
Before you book
- Only you can book, change or cancel your car test, through GOV.UK. Since 12 May 2026, instructors and booking services can't do it for you, and nobody can sell you a test slot. The 2026 booking rules.
- You can change a booking twice, and only move it to one of the three nearest test centres, so pick your centre carefully.
- A test costs £62 on a weekday, or £75 in the evening, at weekends and on bank holidays.
- A pass rate reflects who tests at a centre as well as the roads. Being ready on the day matters far more than which centre you choose.
- Lessons in Kent cost a middle of £40 an hour. Kent lesson prices by town.
Common questions
What is the pass rate at Ashford driving test centre?
46.2% of car tests at Ashford were passes in April 2025 to March 2026, from 5,475 tests. The national rate was 50.0%.
What is the first-time pass rate at Ashford?
45.9% of people taking their first car test at Ashford passed in 2025-26, against 50.5% nationally.
How long is the wait for a driving test at Ashford?
In 2026-09, half of the people who took a test at Ashford had waited 7.1 weeks or less since booking, according to DVSA. The national median was 11.6 weeks.