Best & Worst Driving Test Centres in Wales
Wales ranges from the south-coast cities of Cardiff, Newport and Swansea to small rural centres across mid and north Wales. Rural Welsh centres usually sit above the national average, while the larger urban centres sit closer to it. Across the 21 Wales test centres, car pass rates ranged from 41.0% to 68.1% in April 2025 to March 2026.
Quick answer: In Wales, Pwllheli is the easiest by pass rate (68.1%) and Cardigan the hardest (41.0%). The national average is 50.0%.
Centres
21
Pass-rate range
41.0%–68.1%
Mean of centres
54.4%
Tests conducted
96,367
All 21 Wales test centres, ranked
Highest pass rate first. Each centre links to its full breakdown.
| # | Test centre | Pass rate | Tests | UK rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pwllheli | 68.1% | 737 | 18 / 317 |
| 2 | Abergavenny | 64.2% | 5,924 | 31 / 317 |
| 3 | Bangor | 62.2% | 4,032 | 40 / 317 |
| 4 | Bala | 61.6% | 607 | 45 / 317 |
| 5 | Brecon | 58.7% | 1,490 | 67 / 317 |
| 6 | Newtown | 58.0% | 2,256 | 71 / 317 |
| 7 | Barry | 57.0% | 2,244 | 84 / 317 |
| 8 | Rhyl | 56.9% | 4,011 | 86 / 317 |
| 9 | Aberystwyth (Park Avenue) | 55.1% | 1,529 | 115 / 317 |
| 10 | Carmarthen | 54.2% | 2,746 | 119 / 317 |
| 11 | Llantrisant | 54.0% | 9,909 | 122 / 317 |
| 12 | Bridgend | 53.3% | 5,990 | 135 / 317 |
| 13 | Wrexham | 51.9% | 4,819 | 163 / 317 |
| 14 | Merthyr Tydfil | 51.2% | 4,446 | 183 / 317 |
| 15 | Llanelli | 51.0% | 4,380 | 190 / 317 |
| 16 | Monmouth | 51.0% | 1,283 | 191 / 317 |
| 17 | Pembroke Dock | 50.1% | 1,769 | 204 / 317 |
| 18 | Newport (Gwent) | 48.9% | 8,227 | 218 / 317 |
| 19 | Swansea | 48.2% | 12,375 | 229 / 317 |
| 20 | Cardiff (Llanishen) | 46.5% | 16,401 | 252 / 317 |
| 21 | Cardigan | 41.0% | 1,192 | 299 / 317 |
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Frequently asked questions about driving test centres in Wales
Which is the easiest driving test centre in Wales?
By pass rate, Pwllheli is the easiest place to pass in Wales, with a car practical pass rate of 68.1% for April 2025 to March 2026 (DVSA table DRT122A). It ranks 18 of all UK centres. A higher local pass rate usually reflects quieter roads, not an easier exam.
Which is the hardest driving test centre in Wales?
Cardigan has the lowest car practical pass rate in Wales at 41.0% for April 2025 to March 2026. Every examiner marks to the same national standard, so a lower rate reflects busier or more complex local roads rather than a tougher test.
What is the average driving test pass rate in Wales?
Across the 21 DVSA car test centres in Wales, pass rates ranged from 41.0% to 68.1% for April 2025 to March 2026. The simple mean of these centres is 54.4% — 4.4 points above the national average of 50.0%. (This mean is a GeraRide calculation across the listed centres, not an official regional figure.)
How many driving test centres are there in Wales?
This page covers 21 DVSA car practical test centres located in Wales, which together conducted 96,367 tests in April 2025 to March 2026. Centres are grouped by the region their town sits in; all pass-rate figures are exactly as published by the DVSA in table DRT122A.
Source: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), table DRT122A — Driving test and theory test data (cars). Reporting period April 2025 to March 2026. Retrieved 2026-06-25. Centres are grouped into Wales by the location of each test centre’s town; the mean is a GeraRide calculation across the listed centres, not an official regional figure. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.