Folkestone driving test centre: pass rate and waiting time
DVSA's figures for car driving tests at Folkestone: the pass rate over 10 years, the first-time pass rate, and how long people waited for a test each month.
Short answer
42.4% of car driving tests at Folkestone were passes in 2025 to 2026, from 7,818 tests. That's the lowest of Kent's 8 test centres, against 50.0% nationally. For people taking their first test, the pass rate was 42.2%.
In September 2026, half the people who took a test at Folkestone 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 Folkestone, April to March each year.
| Year | Tests | Passes | Pass rate | Men | Women | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 7,818 | 3,313 | 42.4% | 40.5% | 45.4% | 50.0% |
| 2024 to 2025 | 4,370 | 1,984 | 45.4% | 44.8% | 46.1% | 48.7% |
| 2023 to 2024 | 3,553 | 1,495 | 42.1% | 43.5% | 40.4% | 47.9% |
| 2022 to 2023 | 3,297 | 1,428 | 43.3% | 43.9% | 42.7% | 48.4% |
| 2021 to 2022 | 4,752 | 2,247 | 47.3% | 46.9% | 47.7% | 48.9% |
| 2020 to 2021 | 1,070 | 525 | 49.1% | 52.9% | 45.2% | 49.8% |
| 2019 to 2020 | 3,911 | 1,615 | 41.3% | 43.0% | 39.6% | 45.9% |
| 2018 to 2019 | 3,763 | 1,665 | 44.2% | 47.3% | 41.6% | 45.8% |
| 2017 to 2018 | 4,594 | 1,989 | 43.3% | 46.0% | 40.8% | 46.3% |
| 2016 to 2017 | 4,441 | 1,821 | 41.0% | 41.6% | 40.4% | 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 | 3,352 | 1,414 | 42.2% | 78 |
| 2024 to 2025 | 1,933 | 872 | 45.1% | 34 |
| 2023 to 2024 | 1,639 | 607 | 37.0% | 12 |
| 2022 to 2023 | 1,628 | 625 | 38.4% | 14 |
| 2021 to 2022 | 2,576 | 1,170 | 45.4% | 26 |
Waiting times, month by month
The median weeks between booking and taking a test, for people who tested at Folkestone that month.
| Month | Median wait | Taken within 7 weeks | Waited over 21 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 7.1 weeks | 49.8% | 9.9% |
| August 2026 | 7.9 weeks | 51.4% | 13.2% |
| July 2026 | 7.9 weeks | 47.7% | 13.3% |
| June 2026 | 5.4 weeks | 55.2% | 10.2% |
| May 2026 | 4.86 weeks | 59.1% | 11.5% |
| April 2026 | 6 weeks | 54.5% | 14.4% |
| March 2026 | 6.43 weeks | 51.5% | 16.5% |
| February 2026 | 6.71 weeks | 50.9% | 16.8% |
| January 2026 | 6.21 weeks | 53.5% | 14.6% |
| December 2025 | 6.71 weeks | 51.0% | 15.8% |
| November 2025 | 5.21 weeks | 58.8% | 14.6% |
| October 2025 | 5.71 weeks | 57.9% | 13.0% |
| September 2025 | 5.14 weeks | 58.7% | 12.1% |
| August 2025 | 7.29 weeks | 49.2% | 15.3% |
| July 2025 | 5.57 weeks | 55.1% | 15.1% |
| June 2025 | 4.86 weeks | 63.7% | 10.7% |
| May 2025 | 5.29 weeks | 54.9% | 17.0% |
| April 2025 | 5.14 weeks | 58.0% | 15.5% |
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 |
| Ashford | 46.2% | 45.9% | 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 Folkestone driving test centre?
42.4% of car tests at Folkestone were passes in April 2025 to March 2026, from 7,818 tests. The national rate was 50.0%.
What is the first-time pass rate at Folkestone?
42.2% of people taking their first car test at Folkestone passed in 2025-26, against 50.5% nationally.
How long is the wait for a driving test at Folkestone?
In 2026-09, half of the people who took a test at Folkestone had waited 7.1 weeks or less since booking, according to DVSA. The national median was 11.6 weeks.