Herne Bay driving test centre: pass rate and waiting time
DVSA's figures for car driving tests at Herne Bay: the pass rate over 10 years, the first-time pass rate, and how long people waited for a test each month.
Short answer
55.9% of car driving tests at Herne Bay were passes in 2025 to 2026, from 10,674 tests. That's the 5th highest of Kent's 8 test centres, against 50.0% nationally. For people taking their first test, the pass rate was 56.3%.
In September 2026, half the people who took a test at Herne Bay had booked it 8.6 weeks or less before, and 47.1% took it within 7 weeks of booking. The national median was 11.6 weeks.
Pass rate over 10 years
Car practical tests at Herne Bay, April to March each year.
| Year | Tests | Passes | Pass rate | Men | Women | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 10,674 | 5,970 | 55.9% | 56.0% | 55.8% | 50.0% |
| 2024 to 2025 | 7,912 | 4,387 | 55.4% | 56.1% | 54.8% | 48.7% |
| 2023 to 2024 | 8,453 | 4,744 | 56.1% | 57.2% | 54.9% | 47.9% |
| 2022 to 2023 | 8,936 | 4,603 | 51.5% | 53.4% | 49.5% | 48.4% |
| 2021 to 2022 | 6,767 | 3,371 | 49.8% | 52.0% | 47.7% | 48.9% |
| 2020 to 2021 | 2,018 | 906 | 44.9% | 47.9% | 42.4% | 49.8% |
| 2019 to 2020 | 7,277 | 3,125 | 42.9% | 47.3% | 39.3% | 45.9% |
| 2018 to 2019 | 7,718 | 3,424 | 44.4% | 48.2% | 41.2% | 45.8% |
| 2017 to 2018 | 8,482 | 3,586 | 42.3% | 46.9% | 38.5% | 46.3% |
| 2016 to 2017 | 7,856 | 3,410 | 43.4% | 47.5% | 39.9% | 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 | 5,179 | 2,916 | 56.3% | 327 |
| 2024 to 2025 | 4,098 | 2,226 | 54.3% | 224 |
| 2023 to 2024 | 4,334 | 2,402 | 55.4% | 216 |
| 2022 to 2023 | 4,196 | 2,148 | 51.2% | 130 |
| 2021 to 2022 | 3,460 | 1,697 | 49.0% | 74 |
Waiting times, month by month
The median weeks between booking and taking a test, for people who tested at Herne Bay that month.
| Month | Median wait | Taken within 7 weeks | Waited over 21 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 8.6 weeks | 47.1% | 12.4% |
| August 2026 | 7 weeks | 44.6% | 15.0% |
| July 2026 | 7 weeks | 50.5% | 14.3% |
| June 2026 | 7.1 weeks | 49.6% | 16.4% |
| May 2026 | 8.43 weeks | 46.6% | 19.5% |
| April 2026 | 6.14 weeks | 52.7% | 21.0% |
| March 2026 | 4.86 weeks | 58.2% | 14.9% |
| February 2026 | 9.57 weeks | 44.4% | 19.8% |
| January 2026 | 6.86 weeks | 50.6% | 17.4% |
| December 2025 | 7.71 weeks | 48.3% | 20.6% |
| November 2025 | 7.43 weeks | 48.7% | 20.8% |
| October 2025 | 7.29 weeks | 49.4% | 20.4% |
| September 2025 | 10.14 weeks | 43.4% | 20.3% |
| August 2025 | 9.86 weeks | 39.8% | 20.4% |
| July 2025 | 11.71 weeks | 32.8% | 21.5% |
| June 2025 | 11.71 weeks | 33.4% | 24.0% |
| May 2025 | 8.57 weeks | 41.4% | 19.5% |
| April 2025 | 8.71 weeks | 45.1% | 21.4% |
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 |
| 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 Herne Bay driving test centre?
55.9% of car tests at Herne Bay were passes in April 2025 to March 2026, from 10,674 tests. The national rate was 50.0%.
What is the first-time pass rate at Herne Bay?
56.3% of people taking their first car test at Herne Bay passed in 2025-26, against 50.5% nationally.
How long is the wait for a driving test at Herne Bay?
In 2026-09, half of the people who took a test at Herne Bay had waited 8.6 weeks or less since booking, according to DVSA. The national median was 11.6 weeks.