Kent driving test centres: pass rates and waiting times
Every car driving test centre in Kent, compared on DVSA's own figures: how many people pass, how many pass first time, and how long people waited for their test in September 2026.
Short answer
Across Kent's 8 car test centres, Tunbridge Wells had the highest pass rate in 2025 to 2026 at 64.5%, and Folkestone the lowest at 42.4%. The national rate was 50.0%.
For waiting times, Canterbury was quickest in September 2026: half of people who tested there had booked 5.4 weeks or less before. Sevenoaks was slowest in Kent at 15 weeks, against 11.6 weeks nationally.
Kent test centres compared
Sorted by pass rate. Select a centre for its 10-year record and monthly waits.
| Test centre | Tests, 2025-26 | Pass rate | First-time pass rate | Pass rate, 2021-22 | Median wait, September 2026 | Tests taken within 7 weeks of booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tunbridge Wells | 5,726 | 64.5% | 65.4% | 59.7% | 10.6 weeks | 42.7% |
| Maidstone | 8,053 | 60.2% | 61.6% | 53.2% | 9.7 weeks | 43.8% |
| Sevenoaks | 6,740 | 59.0% | 60.9% | 59.5% | 15 weeks | 35.4% |
| Gillingham | 14,886 | 56.4% | 57.6% | 58.8% | 12 weeks | 37.4% |
| Herne Bay | 10,674 | 55.9% | 56.3% | 49.8% | 8.6 weeks | 47.1% |
| Ashford | 5,475 | 46.2% | 45.9% | 46.2% | 7.1 weeks | 49.8% |
| Canterbury | 4,670 | 45.8% | 46.2% | 49.9% | 5.4 weeks | 55.5% |
| Folkestone | 7,818 | 42.4% | 42.2% | 47.3% | 7.1 weeks | 49.8% |
| Great Britain | 1,998,621 | 50.0% | 50.5% | 48.9% | 11.6 weeks | 41.1% |
Nearby centres outside Kent
Many north-west Kent learners test in south-east London. Dartford and Gravesend have no car test centre: Gravesend closed in 2011.
| Test centre | Tests, 2025-26 | Pass rate | First-time pass rate | Median wait, September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidcup | 14,318 | 58.7% | 59.5% | 23 weeks |
| Eastbourne | 6,031 | 55.4% | 56.6% | 13.4 weeks |
| Redhill Aerodrome | 5,408 | 53.9% | 53.5% | 13.3 weeks |
| Bromley | 13,228 | 52.9% | 52.9% | 7.9 weeks |
| Hastings | 3,892 | 52.4% | 51.7% | 17.1 weeks |
| Erith | 5,809 | 51.6% | 49.8% | 8.6 weeks |
| West Wickham | 12,249 | 51.6% | 52.4% | 6 weeks |
| Tilbury | 5,083 | 50.4% | 50.3% | 5.2 weeks |
| Belvedere | 4,245 | 40.5% | 39.1% | 4.3 weeks |
Is a higher pass rate an "easier" centre?
Not necessarily. Every examiner marks to the same DVSA standard. A centre's pass rate also reflects who tests there: how many lessons they've had, how many are on a second or third attempt, and how busy and complicated the local roads are. The first-time pass rate is a fairer comparison, because it only counts people taking their first test.
Since June 2026 you can only move a booked test to one of the three nearest test centres, so choose carefully when you first book. The 2026 booking rules.
Car theory test centres in Kent
- Canterbury: 26,438 theory tests in 2025-26, 47.4% passed.
- Chatham: 32,955 theory tests in 2025-26, 44.1% passed.
- Royal Tunbridge Wells: 9,660 theory tests in 2025-26, 53.6% passed.
- New Romney: 1,859 theory tests in 2025-26, 47.2% passed.
Kent has no theory test centre in Maidstone, Ashford, Dartford, Gillingham or Folkestone.
Common questions
What is the easiest driving test centre in Kent?
On DVSA's 2025-26 figures, Tunbridge Wells had the highest pass rate in Kent at 64.5%, and Folkestone the lowest at 42.3%. Pass rates also reflect who tests there, so the first-time pass rate is a fairer comparison.
Which Kent driving test centre has the shortest wait?
In September 2026, Canterbury had the shortest median wait in Kent at 5.4 weeks between booking and test, and Sevenoaks the longest at 15 weeks. The national median was 11.6 weeks.
Is there a driving test centre in Dartford or Gravesend?
No. Gravesend's car test centre closed in 2011, and DVSA has never listed one in Dartford. North-west Kent learners usually test at Sidcup, Erith, Belvedere or Gillingham.
How many driving test centres are there in Kent?
DVSA lists 8 car driving test centres in Kent: Ashford, Canterbury, Folkestone, Gillingham, Herne Bay, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells.