Where to take your HGV test in Kent, and the pass rates
Kent has one DVSA lorry test centre, Gillingham LGV, plus training schools approved to run part of the test on their own sites. Here's where each part happens, how often people pass, and how long you'll wait.
Short answer
The only DVSA lorry test centre in Kent is Gillingham LGV (Ambley Road), Ambley Road, Gillingham, ME8 0SJ. In 2025 to 2026 it ran 1,533 on-road lorry tests and 894 people passed: a pass rate of 58.3%, against 60.7% across Great Britain.
Lorry tests are quick to get. DVSA's average wait for a lorry or bus test was 2.5 weeks in 2025 to 2026, compared with 21.5 weeks for a car test.
The three parts of the practical test, and where each happens
- Off-road exercises (Module 3a). Reversing into a bay and, for C+E, uncoupling and recoupling. 6 Kent training providers are approved by DVSA to run this test on their own yard, so you may sit it where you trained. It costs up to £40.
- On-road driving test (Module 3b). About an hour of driving with a DVSA examiner. In Kent this is usually from Gillingham LGV. It costs £115 on a weekday.
- Driver CPC Module 4. A practical demonstration of safety checks and loading. Usually taken on the same day as the on-road test. It costs £55 on a weekday.
DVSA lorry test centres near Kent
On-road (Module 3b) lorry tests, April 2025 to March 2026.
| Test centre | Postcode | Tests | Passes | Pass rate | Year before |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gillingham LGV (Ambley Road)The only DVSA lorry test centre in Kent. | ME8 0SJ | 1,533 | 894 | 58.3% | 58.1% |
| Thurrock LGVNearest DVSA lorry centre for Dartford. | RM20 3EY | 1,705 | 1,002 | 58.8% | 57.6% |
| Enfield (Brancroft Way)Also runs DVSA off-road (3a) tests. | EN3 7NJ | 1,992 | 1,180 | 59.2% | – |
| ChelmsfordMoving to Cromar Way, Chelmsford CM1 2GL. | CM8 3DR | 627 | 329 | 52.5% | 52.8% |
| Great Britain, all centres | 70,797 | 42,984 | 60.7% | 60.9% |
Tests on training schools' own sites
DVSA also lets some large training schools host on-road tests at their own premises, with a DVSA examiner. These are the nearest.
| Site | Postcode | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstream Training, Sittingbourne | ME10 3SB | Not published795 the year before | 81.6%77.2% the year before |
| Driver Training Centre, Hastings | TN35 4NN | 103 | 78.6% |
| Roadtrain, Grays | RM20 3EG | 354 | 64.4% |
| National Driving Centre, Croydon | CR0 3RU | 484 | 54.1% |
Kent schools approved to run the off-road test
These Kent training providers are approved by DVSA to run Module 3a (off-road exercises) on their own sites.
| Provider | Site |
|---|---|
| Learn2Pass HGV | Swale Lane, Sittingbourne ME10 2FF |
| Mainstream Training | Sittingbourne Dog Track, Church Road, Sittingbourne ME10 3SB |
| Gordon Springate Transport Training | Kent County Showground, Detling, Maidstone ME14 3JF |
| Hartlip HGV Driving School | Allsand House, New Hythe Lane, Aylesford ME20 6FF |
| TrainFor Group | Former Brett Quarry, Marlow Meadows, Fordwich CT2 0BW; and Manston Road, Ramsgate CT12 5DF |
| TrainDrive (listed as Matthew James Removals and Storage Ltd) | Unit 10 Capstan Court, Crossways Business Park, Dartford DA2 6QG |
Lorry test pass rates over time
On-road lorry tests across Great Britain.
| Year (April to March) | Pass rate |
|---|---|
| 2019 to 2020 | 58.9% |
| 2020 to 2021 | 58.0% |
| 2021 to 2022 | 58.7% |
| 2022 to 2023 | 59.7% |
| 2023 to 2024 | 61.0% |
| 2024 to 2025 | 60.9% |
| 2025 to 2026 | 60.7% |
What the pass rate tells you, and what it doesn't
Around four in ten lorry tests in Kent end in a fail, and each retest costs at least £155 in DVSA fees, plus the truck and instructor for the day. The test centre's rate covers learners from every school, so it says more about the test than about any one school.
What matters for you is how ready you are on the day, and that mostly comes down to time in the cab. Before you book, ask a school:
- How many hours you'll drive, one-to-one, in writing. Compare them in the Kent price index.
- Its own first-time pass rate for the last 12 months, and how many tests that covers.
- Which test centre you'll use, and whether you'll practise on its routes.
- What a retest costs in total, and whether retest cover is included.
Towns with no lorry tests
Canterbury, Ashford (Kent), Folkestone, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and Herne Bay have driving test centres, but they don't run lorry tests. If you live there, you'll take your on-road test at Gillingham LGV or at an approved school site, so it's worth asking how far you'll travel on test day.
Common questions
Where is the HGV test centre in Kent?
Kent's only DVSA lorry test centre is Gillingham LGV, Ambley Road, Gillingham, ME8 0SJ. Some training schools are also approved to run the off-road test, and a few host on-road tests, on their own sites.
What is the pass rate at Gillingham LGV test centre?
Gillingham LGV's on-road lorry test pass rate was 58.3% in 2025 to 2026 (894 passes from 1,533 tests), against 60.7% across Great Britain.
Can I take my HGV test in Maidstone or Canterbury?
No. Maidstone, Canterbury, Ashford, Folkestone, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and Herne Bay test centres don't run lorry tests. Kent learners take the on-road test at Gillingham LGV or at an approved training school site.
How long is the wait for an HGV driving test?
DVSA's average wait for a lorry or bus practical test was 2.5 weeks in 2025 to 2026, against a target of 3 weeks. Car tests averaged 21.5 weeks.
What is the national HGV test pass rate?
60.7% of on-road lorry tests across Great Britain were passes in 2025 to 2026: 42,984 from 70,797 tests.