Orkney Driving Test Centre

Welcome to your personalised guide for the Orkney 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 .

How Orkney compares

Candidates testing here currently achieve a pass rate of 55.94%, 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%
Orkney Overall
55.94%
2025/26 figures
Orkney Automatic
40.00%
Orkney 1st Attempt
51.27%

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

Male candidates

UK male pass rate
50.80%
Orkney male pass rate
59.01%
Orkney male automatic
54.55%
Orkney male first attempt
51.55%

Female candidates

UK female pass rate
49.09%
Orkney female pass rate
52.83%
Orkney female automatic
31.58%
Orkney female first attempt
51.00%

Pass Rate History

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

Latest (2025/26)
55.9%
Best year
74.8%
2015/16
Change since 2008/09
-0.9 pts
Years published
17
Orkney Great Britain average
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 2009 2013 2016 2019 2022 2025 2026 2008/09 — Orkney 56.9%, Great Britain 45.3% 2009/10 — Orkney 58.3%, Great Britain 45.9% 2011/12 — Orkney 60.6%, Great Britain 46.9% 2012/13 — Orkney 55.1%, Great Britain 47.1% 2013/14 — Orkney 60.1%, Great Britain 47.1% 2014/15 — Orkney 67.6%, Great Britain 46.9% 2015/16 — Orkney 74.8%, Great Britain 47.0% 2016/17 — Orkney 71.3%, Great Britain 47.1% 2017/18 — Orkney 70.7%, Great Britain 46.3% 2018/19 — Orkney 65.8%, Great Britain 45.8% 2019/20 — Orkney 68.5%, Great Britain 45.9% 2020/21 — Orkney 71.6%, Great Britain 49.8% 2021/22 — Orkney 67.6%, Great Britain 48.9% 2022/23 — Orkney 60.9%, Great Britain 48.4% 2023/24 — Orkney 60.6%, Great Britain 47.9% 2024/25 — Orkney 66.0%, Great Britain 48.7% 2025/26 — Orkney 55.9%, Great Britain 50.0% 55.9% 50.0%
View all 17 years as a table
Year Pass rate GB average Difference Tests Passes
2025/26 55.9% 50.0% +5.9 320 179
2024/25 66.0% 48.7% +17.3 350 231
2023/24 60.6% 47.9% +12.7 373 226
2022/23 60.9% 48.4% +12.6 302 184
2021/22 67.6% 48.9% +18.7 333 225
2020/21 71.6% 49.8% +21.8 88 63
2019/20 68.5% 45.9% +22.6 311 213
2018/19 65.8% 45.8% +20.0 301 198
2017/18 70.7% 46.3% +24.3 351 248
2016/17 71.3% 47.1% +24.2 390 278
2015/16 74.8% 47.0% +27.7 361 270
2014/15 67.6% 46.9% +20.7 367 248
2013/14 60.1% 47.1% +13.0 373 224
2012/13 55.1% 47.1% +7.9 345 190
2011/12 60.6% 46.9% +13.6 322 195
2009/10 58.3% 45.9% +12.4 374 218
2008/09 56.9% 45.3% +11.6 401 228

Waiting Times & Availability

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

Typical wait
6.9 weeks
5.0 weeks shorter than the GB median
Change on last year
-3.1 weeks
vs July 2025
Slots still bookable
22.0%
9 of 41 slots
Weeks to open availability
16.3
Until 10%+ of weekly slots are free

Typical wait over the last 23 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 — 4.0 weeks September 2024 — 8.4 weeks October 2024 — 9.6 weeks November 2024 — 7.7 weeks December 2024 — 10.0 weeks January 2025 — 4.6 weeks February 2025 — 8.7 weeks March 2025 — 8.3 weeks April 2025 — 9.3 weeks May 2025 — 5.9 weeks June 2025 — 8.9 weeks July 2025 — 10.0 weeks August 2025 — 9.4 weeks September 2025 — 10.1 weeks October 2025 — 7.0 weeks November 2025 — 6.0 weeks December 2025 — 6.2 weeks January 2026 — 3.3 weeks February 2026 — 14.9 weeks March 2026 — 19.4 weeks April 2026 — 9.1 weeks June 2026 — 6.7 weeks July 2026 — 6.9 weeks 6.9

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 6.9 wks 41 32 22.0%
June 2026 6.7 wks 27 27 0.0%
April 2026 9.1 wks 54 54 0.0%
March 2026 19.4 wks 79 79 0.0%
February 2026 14.9 wks 26 25 3.8%
January 2026 3.3 wks 61 60 1.6%
December 2025 6.2 wks 61 60 1.6%
November 2025 6.0 wks 84 77 8.3%
October 2025 7.0 wks 97 89 8.2%
September 2025 10.1 wks 74 62 16.2%
August 2025 9.4 wks 126 110 12.7%
July 2025 10.0 wks 105 103 1.9%
June 2025 8.9 wks 133 133 0.0%
May 2025 5.9 wks 132 132 0.0%
April 2025 9.3 wks 145 142 2.1%
March 2025 8.3 wks 46 46 0.0%
February 2025 8.7 wks 77 77 0.0%
January 2025 4.6 wks 95 81 14.7%
December 2024 10.0 wks 62 62 0.0%
November 2024 7.7 wks 90 72 20.0%
October 2024 9.6 wks 52 51 1.9%
September 2024 8.4 wks 42 39 7.1%
August 2024 4.0 wks 74 66 10.8%

Calculate Your Pass Rate

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

Centre average: 55.94% · UK average: 50.04%

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

Results will compare your tailored prediction against Orkney 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 Orkney 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 Orkney Driving Test Centre?
The pass rate is 55.94% as of 2026.
How long is the wait for a driving test at Orkney?
The typical wait between booking and taking a test at Orkney is 6.9 weeks, based on DVSA figures for July 2026. The Great Britain median is 11.9 weeks.
How do I get to Orkney Driving Test Centre?
Orkney Driving Test Centre is located at The Kirkwall Auction Mart, . 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