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Nelson Driving Test Centre

Welcome to your personalised guide for the Nelson 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 Nelson.

How Nelson compares

Candidates testing here currently achieve a pass rate of 51.74%, which is slightly above the UK-wide average of 50.04%. Automatic car and first-attempt figures are shown for quick comparison.

UK Overall Pass Rate
50.04%
Nelson Overall
51.74%
2025/26 figures
Nelson Automatic
49.42%
Nelson 1st Attempt
52.15%

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

Male candidates

UK male pass rate
50.80%
Nelson male pass rate
56.21%
Nelson male automatic
58.93%
Nelson male first attempt
55.39%

Female candidates

UK female pass rate
49.09%
Nelson female pass rate
47.19%
Nelson female automatic
46.23%
Nelson female first attempt
48.49%

Pass Rate History

How the pass rate at Nelson has moved across every year DVSA has published, from 2007/08 to 2025/26, against the Great Britain average.

Latest (2025/26)
51.7%
Best year
56.5%
2021/22
Change since 2007/08
+8.5 pts
Years published
19
Nelson Great Britain average
35% 41% 48% 54% 60% 2008 2011 2014 2017 2020 2023 2026 2007/08 — Nelson 43.2%, Great Britain 44.2% 2008/09 — Nelson 41.1%, Great Britain 45.3% 2009/10 — Nelson 43.2%, Great Britain 45.9% 2010/11 — Nelson 51.4%, Great Britain 46.3% 2011/12 — Nelson 49.0%, Great Britain 46.9% 2012/13 — Nelson 49.9%, Great Britain 47.1% 2013/14 — Nelson 47.1%, Great Britain 47.1% 2014/15 — Nelson 45.5%, Great Britain 46.9% 2015/16 — Nelson 46.7%, Great Britain 47.0% 2016/17 — Nelson 53.7%, Great Britain 47.1% 2017/18 — Nelson 53.2%, Great Britain 46.3% 2018/19 — Nelson 50.2%, Great Britain 45.8% 2019/20 — Nelson 48.1%, Great Britain 45.9% 2020/21 — Nelson 54.0%, Great Britain 49.8% 2021/22 — Nelson 56.5%, Great Britain 48.9% 2022/23 — Nelson 54.3%, Great Britain 48.4% 2023/24 — Nelson 49.6%, Great Britain 47.9% 2024/25 — Nelson 47.9%, Great Britain 48.7% 2025/26 — Nelson 51.7%, Great Britain 50.0% 51.7% 50.0%
View all 19 years as a table
Year Pass rate GB average Difference Tests Passes
2025/26 51.7% 50.0% +1.7 5,955 3,081
2024/25 47.9% 48.7% -0.8 6,366 3,050
2023/24 49.6% 47.9% +1.8 5,845 2,902
2022/23 54.3% 48.4% +6.0 4,833 2,625
2021/22 56.5% 48.9% +7.6 4,485 2,533
2020/21 54.0% 49.8% +4.2 1,120 605
2019/20 48.1% 45.9% +2.2 5,437 2,616
2018/19 50.2% 45.8% +4.4 5,291 2,654
2017/18 53.2% 46.3% +6.9 5,432 2,891
2016/17 53.7% 47.1% +6.6 5,780 3,103
2015/16 46.7% 47.0% -0.4 4,557 2,126
2014/15 45.5% 46.9% -1.4 4,342 1,977
2013/14 47.1% 47.1% +0.0 3,995 1,882
2012/13 49.9% 47.1% +2.8 3,938 1,967
2011/12 49.0% 46.9% +2.1 4,339 2,127
2010/11 51.4% 46.3% +5.1 4,400 2,263
2009/10 43.2% 45.9% -2.6 4,985 2,156
2008/09 41.1% 45.3% -4.2 5,615 2,307
2007/08 43.2% 44.2% -1.0 5,665 2,449

Waiting Times & Availability

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

Typical wait
19.7 weeks
7.8 weeks longer than the GB median
Change on last year
+15.0 weeks
vs July 2025
Slots still bookable
4.1%
104 of 2,550 slots
Weeks to open availability
22.5
Until 10%+ of weekly slots are free

Typical wait over the last 24 months

0 5 10 15 20 Aug 24 Dec 24 Apr 25 Aug 25 Dec 25 Apr 26 Jul 26 GB 11.9 August 2024 — 6.3 weeks September 2024 — 3.9 weeks October 2024 — 13.7 weeks November 2024 — 14.6 weeks December 2024 — 9.9 weeks January 2025 — 9.9 weeks February 2025 — 12.7 weeks March 2025 — 14.7 weeks April 2025 — 16.9 weeks May 2025 — 18.1 weeks June 2025 — 18.9 weeks July 2025 — 4.7 weeks August 2025 — 6.1 weeks September 2025 — 10.1 weeks October 2025 — 5.2 weeks November 2025 — 7.6 weeks December 2025 — 14.7 weeks January 2026 — 16.9 weeks February 2026 — 19.0 weeks March 2026 — 9.1 weeks April 2026 — 14.4 weeks May 2026 — 12.0 weeks June 2026 — 18.0 weeks July 2026 — 19.7 weeks 19.7

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

View monthly figures as a table
Month Typical wait Slots offered Booked Still bookable
July 2026 19.7 wks 2,550 2,446 4.1%
June 2026 18.0 wks 2,649 2,343 11.6%
May 2026 12.0 wks 2,669 2,353 11.8%
April 2026 14.4 wks 2,678 2,317 13.5%
March 2026 9.1 wks 2,537 2,311 8.9%
February 2026 19.0 wks 2,519 2,326 7.7%
January 2026 16.9 wks 2,536 2,294 9.5%
December 2025 14.7 wks 2,461 2,232 9.3%
November 2025 7.6 wks 2,428 2,280 6.1%
October 2025 5.2 wks 2,188 2,172 0.7%
September 2025 10.1 wks 1,930 1,840 4.7%
August 2025 6.1 wks 1,737 1,640 5.6%
July 2025 4.7 wks 1,589 1,497 5.8%
June 2025 18.9 wks 1,467 1,371 6.5%
May 2025 18.1 wks 1,351 1,245 7.8%
April 2025 16.9 wks 1,420 1,350 4.9%
March 2025 14.7 wks 1,586 1,511 4.7%
February 2025 12.7 wks 1,971 1,898 3.7%
January 2025 9.9 wks 2,228 1,976 11.3%
December 2024 9.9 wks 2,465 1,844 25.2%
November 2024 14.6 wks 2,518 1,880 25.3%
October 2024 13.7 wks 1,599 1,548 3.2%
September 2024 3.9 wks 1,861 1,722 7.5%
August 2024 6.3 wks 1,976 1,669 15.5%

Calculate Your Pass Rate

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

Centre average: 51.74% · UK average: 50.04%

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

Results will compare your tailored prediction against Nelson 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 Nelson 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 Nelson Driving Test Centre?
The pass rate is 51.74% as of 2026.
How long is the wait for a driving test at Nelson?
The typical wait between booking and taking a test at Nelson is 19.7 weeks, based on DVSA figures for July 2026. The Great Britain median is 11.9 weeks.
How do I get to Nelson Driving Test Centre?
Nelson Driving Test Centre is located at Ground Floor Units 103,104, 105, Nelson. 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