Canterbury driving test centre: pass rate and waiting time
DVSA's figures for car driving tests at Canterbury: the pass rate over 10 years, the first-time pass rate, and how long people waited for a test each month.
Short answer
45.8% of car driving tests at Canterbury were passes in 2025 to 2026, from 4,670 tests. That's the 7th highest of Kent's 8 test centres, against 50.0% nationally. For people taking their first test, the pass rate was 46.2%.
In September 2026, half the people who took a test at Canterbury had booked it 5.4 weeks or less before, and 55.5% took it within 7 weeks of booking. The national median was 11.6 weeks.
Pass rate over 10 years
Car practical tests at Canterbury, April to March each year.
| Year | Tests | Passes | Pass rate | Men | Women | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 4,670 | 2,138 | 45.8% | 44.5% | 47.6% | 50.0% |
| 2024 to 2025 | 3,322 | 1,672 | 50.3% | 48.4% | 52.9% | 48.7% |
| 2023 to 2024 | 3,844 | 1,865 | 48.5% | 49.0% | 47.9% | 47.9% |
| 2022 to 2023 | 3,637 | 1,869 | 51.4% | 51.7% | 51.0% | 48.4% |
| 2021 to 2022 | 3,528 | 1,760 | 49.9% | 51.7% | 47.8% | 48.9% |
| 2020 to 2021 | 893 | 450 | 50.4% | 54.6% | 46.0% | 49.8% |
| 2019 to 2020 | 2,998 | 1,383 | 46.1% | 49.6% | 42.9% | 45.9% |
| 2018 to 2019 | 3,155 | 1,477 | 46.8% | 49.1% | 44.6% | 45.8% |
| 2017 to 2018 | 3,102 | 1,453 | 46.8% | 49.5% | 44.6% | 46.3% |
| 2016 to 2017 | 3,157 | 1,514 | 48.0% | 51.9% | 44.4% | 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 | 2,054 | 950 | 46.2% | 57 |
| 2024 to 2025 | 1,710 | 914 | 53.5% | 26 |
| 2023 to 2024 | 1,905 | 913 | 47.9% | 21 |
| 2022 to 2023 | 1,687 | 832 | 49.3% | 33 |
| 2021 to 2022 | 1,854 | 933 | 50.3% | 47 |
Waiting times, month by month
The median weeks between booking and taking a test, for people who tested at Canterbury that month.
| Month | Median wait | Taken within 7 weeks | Waited over 21 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 5.4 weeks | 55.5% | 16.6% |
| August 2026 | 5.3 weeks | 54.2% | 19.2% |
| July 2026 | 5.3 weeks | 57.7% | 19.8% |
| June 2026 | 5.3 weeks | 58.1% | 19.0% |
| May 2026 | 5.14 weeks | 55.1% | 17.6% |
| April 2026 | 5.57 weeks | 55.5% | 14.9% |
| March 2026 | 4.43 weeks | 58.1% | 18.5% |
| February 2026 | 4.14 weeks | 61.2% | 16.4% |
| January 2026 | 5.71 weeks | 59.3% | 16.8% |
| December 2025 | 4.71 weeks | 64.3% | 12.5% |
| November 2025 | 5.29 weeks | 56.3% | 19.3% |
| October 2025 | 5.43 weeks | 55.9% | 13.8% |
| September 2025 | 7.57 weeks | 48.3% | 21.8% |
| August 2025 | 5.86 weeks | 55.1% | 18.1% |
| July 2025 | 6.14 weeks | 54.0% | 17.1% |
| June 2025 | 5.29 weeks | 60.0% | 17.5% |
| May 2025 | 5.79 weeks | 57.0% | 17.7% |
| April 2025 | 7 weeks | 50.2% | 20.1% |
Other Kent test centres
Sorted by the shortest wait in September 2026.
| Test centre | Pass rate, 2025-26 | First-time | Median wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford | 46.2% | 45.9% | 7.1 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 Canterbury driving test centre?
45.8% of car tests at Canterbury were passes in April 2025 to March 2026, from 4,670 tests. The national rate was 50.0%.
What is the first-time pass rate at Canterbury?
46.2% of people taking their first car test at Canterbury passed in 2025-26, against 50.5% nationally.
How long is the wait for a driving test at Canterbury?
In 2026-09, half of the people who took a test at Canterbury had waited 5.4 weeks or less since booking, according to DVSA. The national median was 11.6 weeks.