Gillingham driving test centre: pass rate and waiting time
DVSA's figures for car driving tests at Gillingham: the pass rate over 10 years, the first-time pass rate, and how long people waited for a test each month.
Short answer
56.4% of car driving tests at Gillingham were passes in 2025 to 2026, from 14,886 tests. That's the 4th highest of Kent's 8 test centres, against 50.0% nationally. For people taking their first test, the pass rate was 57.6%.
In September 2026, half the people who took a test at Gillingham had booked it 12 weeks or less before, and 37.4% took it within 7 weeks of booking. The national median was 11.6 weeks.
Pass rate over 10 years
Car practical tests at Gillingham, April to March each year.
| Year | Tests | Passes | Pass rate | Men | Women | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 14,886 | 8,389 | 56.4% | 57.1% | 55.4% | 50.0% |
| 2024 to 2025 | 14,761 | 8,440 | 57.2% | 57.0% | 57.3% | 48.7% |
| 2023 to 2024 | 13,091 | 7,353 | 56.2% | 56.9% | 55.4% | 47.9% |
| 2022 to 2023 | 12,023 | 6,891 | 57.3% | 58.1% | 56.4% | 48.4% |
| 2021 to 2022 | 7,782 | 4,576 | 58.8% | 60.7% | 57.0% | 48.9% |
| 2020 to 2021 | 2,183 | 1,178 | 54.0% | 56.2% | 51.8% | 49.8% |
| 2019 to 2020 | 9,061 | 4,415 | 48.7% | 52.2% | 45.5% | 45.9% |
| 2018 to 2019 | 10,736 | 5,083 | 47.4% | 50.8% | 44.2% | 45.8% |
| 2017 to 2018 | 9,322 | 4,466 | 47.9% | 50.1% | 46.0% | 46.3% |
| 2016 to 2017 | 8,743 | 4,362 | 49.9% | 55.3% | 45.5% | 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 | 8,007 | 4,615 | 57.6% | 268 |
| 2024 to 2025 | 7,888 | 4,527 | 57.4% | 264 |
| 2023 to 2024 | 6,946 | 3,962 | 57.0% | 164 |
| 2022 to 2023 | 6,276 | 3,588 | 57.2% | 153 |
| 2021 to 2022 | 4,651 | 2,768 | 59.5% | 127 |
Waiting times, month by month
The median weeks between booking and taking a test, for people who tested at Gillingham that month.
| Month | Median wait | Taken within 7 weeks | Waited over 21 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 12 weeks | 37.4% | 31.4% |
| August 2026 | 9.9 weeks | 31.9% | 40.8% |
| July 2026 | 9.9 weeks | 43.0% | 29.1% |
| June 2026 | 9.3 weeks | 44.4% | 26.9% |
| May 2026 | 9.71 weeks | 44.3% | 26.9% |
| April 2026 | 11.14 weeks | 41.3% | 27.7% |
| March 2026 | 8.5 weeks | 47.1% | 23.9% |
| February 2026 | 8.36 weeks | 47.1% | 29.0% |
| January 2026 | 10.86 weeks | 39.4% | 32.9% |
| December 2025 | 11.43 weeks | 41.0% | 31.6% |
| November 2025 | 12 weeks | 37.5% | 32.3% |
| October 2025 | 13.14 weeks | 38.0% | 31.5% |
| September 2025 | 13.71 weeks | 35.4% | 29.2% |
| August 2025 | 15.29 weeks | 32.0% | 32.8% |
| July 2025 | 13.14 weeks | 34.1% | 32.8% |
| June 2025 | 11.43 weeks | 37.5% | 29.8% |
| May 2025 | 13.86 weeks | 35.4% | 32.5% |
| April 2025 | 13.14 weeks | 35.4% | 30.9% |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Gillingham driving test centre?
56.4% of car tests at Gillingham were passes in April 2025 to March 2026, from 14,886 tests. The national rate was 50.0%.
What is the first-time pass rate at Gillingham?
57.6% of people taking their first car test at Gillingham passed in 2025-26, against 50.5% nationally.
How long is the wait for a driving test at Gillingham?
In 2026-09, half of the people who took a test at Gillingham had waited 12 weeks or less since booking, according to DVSA. The national median was 11.6 weeks.