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Gateshead Driving Test Centre

Welcome to your personalised guide for the Gateshead Driving Test Centre. Explore tailored pass-rate forecasts, peak traffic windows for your chosen day, and everything you need to plan a confident driving test in Gateshead.

How Gateshead compares

Candidates testing here currently achieve a pass rate of 37.51%, which is slightly below the UK-wide average of 50.04%. Automatic car and first-attempt figures are shown for quick comparison.

UK Overall Pass Rate
50.04%
Gateshead Overall
37.51%
2025/26 figures
Gateshead Automatic
32.71%
Gateshead 1st Attempt
37.11%

Additional breakdowns by gender are included below when data is available.

Male candidates

UK male pass rate
50.80%
Gateshead male pass rate
37.20%
Gateshead male automatic
32.17%
Gateshead male first attempt
36.99%

Female candidates

UK female pass rate
49.09%
Gateshead female pass rate
37.92%
Gateshead female automatic
33.13%
Gateshead female first attempt
37.26%

Pass Rate History

How the pass rate at Gateshead has moved across every year DVSA has published, from 2008/09 to 2025/26, against the Great Britain average.

Latest (2025/26)
37.5%
Best year
46.6%
2015/16
Change since 2008/09
-5.2 pts
Years published
17
Gateshead Great Britain average
30% 36% 43% 49% 55% 2009 2013 2016 2019 2022 2025 2026 2008/09 — Gateshead 42.7%, Great Britain 45.3% 2009/10 — Gateshead 41.9%, Great Britain 45.9% 2011/12 — Gateshead 43.9%, Great Britain 46.9% 2012/13 — Gateshead 41.8%, Great Britain 47.1% 2013/14 — Gateshead 42.8%, Great Britain 47.1% 2014/15 — Gateshead 46.5%, Great Britain 46.9% 2015/16 — Gateshead 46.6%, Great Britain 47.0% 2016/17 — Gateshead 44.4%, Great Britain 47.1% 2017/18 — Gateshead 41.8%, Great Britain 46.3% 2018/19 — Gateshead 44.7%, Great Britain 45.8% 2019/20 — Gateshead 43.5%, Great Britain 45.9% 2020/21 — Gateshead 44.2%, Great Britain 49.8% 2021/22 — Gateshead 44.1%, Great Britain 48.9% 2022/23 — Gateshead 41.6%, Great Britain 48.4% 2023/24 — Gateshead 40.9%, Great Britain 47.9% 2024/25 — Gateshead 37.4%, Great Britain 48.7% 2025/26 — Gateshead 37.5%, Great Britain 50.0% 37.5% 50.0%
View all 17 years as a table
Year Pass rate GB average Difference Tests Passes
2025/26 37.5% 50.0% -12.5 9,512 3,568
2024/25 37.4% 48.7% -11.3 8,109 3,029
2023/24 40.9% 47.9% -7.0 8,482 3,468
2022/23 41.6% 48.4% -6.7 5,632 2,344
2021/22 44.1% 48.9% -4.8 3,262 1,437
2020/21 44.2% 49.8% -5.6 837 370
2019/20 43.5% 45.9% -2.4 3,101 1,350
2018/19 44.7% 45.8% -1.1 2,828 1,265
2017/18 41.8% 46.3% -4.5 3,521 1,473
2016/17 44.4% 47.1% -2.7 4,536 2,012
2015/16 46.6% 47.0% -0.4 3,414 1,591
2014/15 46.5% 46.9% -0.4 3,455 1,606
2013/14 42.8% 47.1% -4.3 3,821 1,634
2012/13 41.8% 47.1% -5.3 3,611 1,511
2011/12 43.9% 46.9% -3.1 4,503 1,975
2009/10 41.9% 45.9% -4.0 4,425 1,852
2008/09 42.7% 45.3% -2.6 5,042 2,151

Waiting Times & Availability

How long people currently wait for a test at Gateshead, and how much of the booking window is still open. DVSA figures for September 2026.

Typical wait
11.1 weeks
1.3 weeks shorter than the GB median
Change on last year
+0.8 weeks
vs September 2025
Slots still bookable
17.2%
571 of 3,320 slots
Weeks to open availability
16.3
Until 10%+ of weekly slots are free

Typical wait over the last 24 months

0 4 8 12 16 Oct 24 Feb 25 Jun 25 Oct 25 Feb 26 Jun 26 Sep 26 GB 12.4 October 2024 — 8.9 weeks November 2024 — 7.0 weeks December 2024 — 7.4 weeks January 2025 — 8.1 weeks February 2025 — 10.7 weeks March 2025 — 11.3 weeks April 2025 — 12.0 weeks May 2025 — 9.6 weeks June 2025 — 9.9 weeks July 2025 — 11.7 weeks August 2025 — 9.1 weeks September 2025 — 10.3 weeks October 2025 — 9.9 weeks November 2025 — 8.1 weeks December 2025 — 8.3 weeks January 2026 — 7.3 weeks February 2026 — 5.0 weeks March 2026 — 6.7 weeks April 2026 — 7.6 weeks May 2026 — 7.6 weeks June 2026 — 6.6 weeks July 2026 — 7.1 weeks August 2026 — 7.1 weeks September 2026 — 11.1 weeks 11.1

Median weeks between booking a test and taking it. The grey line is the Great Britain median for September 2026.

View monthly figures as a table
Month Typical wait Slots offered Booked Still bookable
September 2026 11.1 wks 3,320 2,749 17.2%
August 2026 7.1 wks 2,995 2,656 11.3%
July 2026 7.1 wks 2,651 2,481 6.4%
June 2026 6.6 wks 3,017 2,555 15.3%
May 2026 7.6 wks 3,107 2,807 9.7%
April 2026 7.6 wks 3,204 2,944 8.1%
March 2026 6.7 wks 3,096 2,893 6.6%
February 2026 5.0 wks 2,839 2,746 3.3%
January 2026 7.3 wks 3,197 2,990 6.5%
December 2025 8.3 wks 2,924 2,776 5.1%
November 2025 8.1 wks 3,143 3,022 3.8%
October 2025 9.9 wks 2,742 2,708 1.2%
September 2025 10.3 wks 3,136 2,965 5.5%
August 2025 9.1 wks 3,057 2,897 5.2%
July 2025 11.7 wks 2,707 2,559 5.5%
June 2025 9.9 wks 2,786 2,637 5.3%
May 2025 9.6 wks 2,671 2,556 4.3%
April 2025 12.0 wks 2,781 2,669 4.0%
March 2025 11.3 wks 2,046 2,000 2.2%
February 2025 10.7 wks 2,296 2,258 1.7%
January 2025 8.1 wks 2,818 2,440 13.4%
December 2024 7.4 wks 2,923 2,323 20.5%
November 2024 7.0 wks 2,966 2,284 23.0%
October 2024 8.9 wks 2,774 2,008 27.6%

Driving instructors near Gateshead test centre

Top-rated local driving schools within 10 miles. Learners who take lessons near the centre get to practise its roads.

All 11 driving instructors in Newcastle upon Tyne

Calculate Your Pass Rate

Estimate how your chances change at Gateshead using the same filters available on our test centre finder.

Centre average: 37.51% · UK average: 50.04%

Share a few details to estimate your pass rate at this test centre.

Results will compare your tailored prediction against Gateshead and the UK averages.

Traffic Planner

Plan the calmest test slot with hourly traffic levels between 06:00 and 21:00 based on typical Google Maps conditions.

Traffic insights will appear here once loaded. Pick your potential driving test date to explore expected congestion.

Source: Google Maps

Traffic data temporarily unavailable.
Low traffic Moderate Heavy Severe

Tip: Nearby schools often create extra congestion around 08:30–09:30 and 15:00–16:00. Avoid those peaks where possible.

Key Tips for Passing at Gateshead Driving Test Centre

  • Familiarize yourself with the local roads and common test routes.
  • Practice driving during the test centre's peak hours to get used to traffic conditions.
  • Ensure you're comfortable with maneuvers that are frequently tested in this area.
  • Consider taking a mock test with a local instructor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the pass rate at Gateshead Driving Test Centre?
The pass rate is 37.51% as of 2026.
How long is the wait for a driving test at Gateshead?
The typical wait between booking and taking a test at Gateshead is 11.1 weeks, based on DVSA figures for September 2026. The Great Britain median is 12.4 weeks.
How do I get to Gateshead Driving Test Centre?
Gateshead Driving Test Centre is located at Waterside Drive, Gateshead. You can view the map above for directions.
When is the quietest time to book a test?
Use the traffic planner on this page to check hourly congestion from 06:00–21:00. Aim for the green (low traffic) slots and steer clear of the amber/red periods that often align with school runs and evening rush hour.

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency data, for the financial year ending March 2026, licensed under the Open Government Licence