Maidstone driving test centre: pass rate and waiting time
DVSA's figures for car driving tests at Maidstone: the pass rate over 10 years, the first-time pass rate, and how long people waited for a test each month.
Short answer
60.2% of car driving tests at Maidstone were passes in 2025 to 2026, from 8,053 tests. That's the 2nd highest of Kent's 8 test centres, against 50.0% nationally. For people taking their first test, the pass rate was 61.6%.
In September 2026, half the people who took a test at Maidstone had booked it 9.7 weeks or less before, and 43.8% took it within 7 weeks of booking. The national median was 11.6 weeks.
Pass rate over 10 years
Car practical tests at Maidstone, April to March each year.
| Year | Tests | Passes | Pass rate | Men | Women | Great Britain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 8,053 | 4,850 | 60.2% | 60.9% | 59.3% | 50.0% |
| 2024 to 2025 | 6,330 | 3,670 | 58.0% | 60.2% | 55.4% | 48.7% |
| 2023 to 2024 | 6,198 | 3,430 | 55.3% | 55.9% | 54.7% | 47.9% |
| 2022 to 2023 | 5,693 | 3,001 | 52.7% | 54.0% | 51.3% | 48.4% |
| 2021 to 2022 | 3,993 | 2,125 | 53.2% | 55.1% | 51.4% | 48.9% |
| 2020 to 2021 | 1,353 | 780 | 57.6% | 58.5% | 56.9% | 49.8% |
| 2019 to 2020 | 5,746 | 2,611 | 45.4% | 49.9% | 41.7% | 45.9% |
| 2018 to 2019 | 6,226 | 2,764 | 44.4% | 47.7% | 41.4% | 45.8% |
| 2017 to 2018 | 6,106 | 2,624 | 43.0% | 47.3% | 39.1% | 46.3% |
| 2016 to 2017 | 6,011 | 2,773 | 46.1% | 49.6% | 42.9% | 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 | 4,343 | 2,675 | 61.6% | 164 |
| 2024 to 2025 | 3,499 | 2,030 | 58.0% | 95 |
| 2023 to 2024 | 3,135 | 1,742 | 55.6% | 128 |
| 2022 to 2023 | 2,798 | 1,522 | 54.4% | 84 |
| 2021 to 2022 | 2,493 | 1,327 | 53.2% | 76 |
Waiting times, month by month
The median weeks between booking and taking a test, for people who tested at Maidstone that month.
| Month | Median wait | Taken within 7 weeks | Waited over 21 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 9.7 weeks | 43.8% | 22.7% |
| August 2026 | 10 weeks | 41.1% | 21.5% |
| July 2026 | 10 weeks | 41.0% | 24.3% |
| June 2026 | 5.6 weeks | 56.2% | 16.1% |
| May 2026 | 7.57 weeks | 48.1% | 18.2% |
| April 2026 | 9.07 weeks | 43.5% | 21.3% |
| March 2026 | 7.86 weeks | 46.8% | 19.4% |
| February 2026 | 8.43 weeks | 47.0% | 21.0% |
| January 2026 | 9.57 weeks | 40.3% | 25.9% |
| December 2025 | 9 weeks | 46.0% | 23.2% |
| November 2025 | 8.43 weeks | 44.4% | 28.8% |
| October 2025 | 7.43 weeks | 48.9% | 21.7% |
| September 2025 | 7.43 weeks | 48.4% | 23.3% |
| August 2025 | 11.29 weeks | 38.2% | 26.3% |
| July 2025 | 10.57 weeks | 43.3% | 26.1% |
| June 2025 | 10.86 weeks | 39.8% | 31.1% |
| May 2025 | 11.14 weeks | 40.2% | 31.5% |
| April 2025 | 9.14 weeks | 43.9% | 22.4% |
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 |
| Herne Bay | 55.9% | 56.3% | 8.6 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 Maidstone driving test centre?
60.2% of car tests at Maidstone were passes in April 2025 to March 2026, from 8,053 tests. The national rate was 50.0%.
What is the first-time pass rate at Maidstone?
61.6% of people taking their first car test at Maidstone passed in 2025-26, against 50.5% nationally.
How long is the wait for a driving test at Maidstone?
In 2026-09, half of the people who took a test at Maidstone had waited 9.7 weeks or less since booking, according to DVSA. The national median was 11.6 weeks.