Which test centre has the highest pass rate in East London?

Within East London, Hornchurch (48.3%) and Loughton (48.0%) lead, while Sidcup in the south east is higher at 59.0%. Chingford is the toughest at 36.5%. Figures are DVSA official statistics for 2024/25. See our full East London pass rate table for the complete ranking.

How long is the wait time to book a driving test?

Wait times vary by centre. Currently, most East London centres have 5-8 week waits. Tilbury and Hornchurch often have shorter waits (4-6 weeks), while busier centres like Croydon can be 9-12 weeks.

Can I choose which test centre to take my test at?

Yes, you can book your practical test at any DVSA test centre. We recommend choosing a centre where you have practiced, as familiarity with local roads significantly improves your chances of passing.

Should I take lessons near my test centre?

Absolutely. Taking at least some lessons near your test centre is highly recommended. Your instructor can show you the common test routes, tricky junctions, and areas where most faults occur.

What makes some test centres harder than others?

Pass rates vary due to road complexity, traffic density, and the number of challenging junctions. A busy centre like Chingford (36.5%) routes candidates onto fast roads quickly, while a more forgiving centre like Sidcup (59.0%) sits well above average. Figures: DVSA 2024/25.

How do I book a driving test?

You can book your practical driving test on the GOV.UK website. You will need your provisional licence number, theory test pass certificate number, and a debit or credit card. The test costs £62 on weekdays or £75 on evenings/weekends.

DVSA official data · 2024/25

East London Driving Test Centre Pass Rates

Pass rates for every East and South East London test centre we cover, from the latest full year of DVSA figures, set against the 48.7% national average.

59%

Highest (Sidcup)

36.5%

Lowest (Chingford)

22.5pts

Gap, best to worst

48.7%

GB national average

East London test centres ranked by pass rate, 2024/25

Each bar is the DVSA pass rate for the year. The dashed line is the 48.7% Great Britain average.

Sidcup

59%

Mitcham

48.9%

Hornchurch

48.3%

Loughton

48%

Tottenham

47.9%

Wood Green

46.8%

Goodmayes

43.7%

Wanstead

40.4%

Belvedere

38.3%

Chingford

36.5%

Source: DVSA table DRT122A, financial year April 2024 to March 2025.

Pass rates by test centre, 2024/25

Ranked highest to lowest. Tests conducted is the DVSA sample size for the year, so every centre here is statistically robust (well over 100 tests).

Test centre	Pass rate	vs national	Tests conducted
Sidcup DA14 5DT	59%	+10.3	12,809	Routes & tips →
Mitcham CR0 3AQ	48.9%	+0.2	13,825	Routes & tips →
Hornchurch RM12 6LL	48.3%	-0.4	6,310	Routes & tips →
Loughton IG10 1RB	48%	-0.7	6,009	Routes & tips →
Tottenham N17 8JL	47.9%	-0.8	12,178	Routes & tips →
Wood Green N22 5LF	46.8%	-1.9	10,797	Routes & tips →
Goodmayes IG3 8SH	43.7%	-5	21,961	Routes & tips →
Wanstead E11 2PU	40.4%	-8.3	8,370	Routes & tips →
Belvedere DA17 6AH	38.3%	-10.4	4,337	Routes & tips →
Chingford E4 8JA	36.5%	-12.2	13,235	Routes & tips →

Source: DVSA, “Car driving test data by test centre” (table DRT122A), financial year April 2024 to March 2025. View on GOV.UK

Cite this data

This breakdown is free to use with a link to this page. Journalists and instructors are welcome to reproduce the figures. For the raw spreadsheet or an instructor comment on any centre, contact DriveThruL on 020 3397 7273 or info@drivethrul.co.uk.

DriveThruL analysis of DVSA driving test pass rates by centre, 2024/25. https://www.drivethrul.co.uk/driving-test-centres/east-london-pass-rates

What the data shows

22.5pts

The gap between Sidcup (59%) and Chingford (36.5%). Where you book can swing your odds more than you might expect.

21,961

Tests conducted at Goodmayes, one of the busiest centres in the capital, which still passes only 43.7%, below the national average.

Routes

The single biggest thing you control is practising the actual test routes for your centre. We teach every route on this list.

Pass rate questions

Which East London test centre has the highest pass rate?

Sidcup has the highest pass rate in the area at 59% for 2024/25, based on 12,809 tests. The lowest is Chingford at 36.5%, a gap of 22.5 percentage points. Source: DVSA official statistics.

What is the average driving test pass rate?

The Great Britain national average for 2024/25 was 48.7%. Several East London centres sit below this, partly because their test routes use fast multi lane roads such as the A12 and A406 and complex one-way systems.

Is it easier to pass at a centre with a higher pass rate?

Not automatically. Pass rates reflect the road conditions and the mix of candidates at each centre, not how lenient the examiners are. The biggest factor you control is practising on the actual test routes for the centre you are booked at.

Practise the routes for your test centre

Our instructors know every East and South East London test route. Book lessons built around the centre you are booked at.

Book lessons All test centres