West Midlands's mix of town junctions, roundabouts, and faster A-road sections is the test at Birmingham North, which currently records a pass rate of 42.8% — below the UK national average of 50.1%. Most minor faults show up right at the transitions between them.
📍 Test Centre Address
205 Birdbrook Road
Birmingham, B44 9UL
Official DVSA booking — opens in a new tab
Pass Rate at Birmingham North
The pass rate at Birmingham North is 42.8%, below the national average of 50.1%. The local road network is unforgiving on observation errors — expect busy junctions and conditions where mirror discipline and precise positioning matter. Well-prepared candidates pass at similar rates to anywhere else.
Among West Midlands test centres, Birmingham North's 42.8% pass rate places it 27th out of 30 — above Newcastle Under Lyme (41.6%) and Coventry (40%), and below Garretts Green (44.7%) and Birmingham South (43.1%). The highest in West Midlands is Stone at 63.1%; the lowest is Wolverhampton at 34.3%.
Pass rate sourced from DVSA open data (April 2024–March 2025). DVSA statistics ↗
Pass Rate Comparison — All West Midlands Test Centres
The table below shows every driving test centre in West Midlands, sorted by pass rate. Birmingham North is highlighted. All figures are sourced from DVSA open data where available.
| Test Centre | Pass Rate | vs UK avg (50.1%) |
|---|---|---|
| Stone | 63.1% | +13% |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | 60.4% | +10.3% |
| Stourport-on-Severn | 59.2% | +9.1% |
| Sutton Coldfield | 57.4% | +7.3% |
| Bromsgrove | 57.3% | +7.2% |
| Solihull | 56.2% | +6.1% |
| Leamington Spa | 55.6% | +5.5% |
| Stourbridge | 55.1% | +5% |
| Kidderminster | 54.8% | +4.7% |
| Cannock | 53.8% | +3.7% |
| Nuneaton | 53.2% | +3.1% |
| Lichfield | 53% | +2.9% |
| Tamworth | 52.8% | +2.7% |
| Worcester | 51.9% | +1.8% |
| Redditch | 51.4% | +1.3% |
| Rugby | 51.4% | +1.3% |
| Halesowen | 51.3% | +1.2% |
| Shrewsbury | 51% | +0.9% |
| Walsall | 50.3% | +0.2% |
| Telford | 48.9% | -1.2% |
| Kenilworth | 48.5% | -1.6% |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 46.8% | -3.3% |
| Stafford | 45.8% | -4.3% |
| Dudley | 45.2% | -4.9% |
| Garretts Green | 44.7% | -5.4% |
| Birmingham South | 43.1% | -7% |
| Birmingham North ★ | 42.8% | -7.3% |
| Newcastle Under Lyme | 41.6% | -8.5% |
| Coventry | 40% | -10.1% |
| Wolverhampton | 34.3% | -15.8% |
Test Centres Near Birmingham North
The nearest test centre to you in Birmingham isn't automatically the best choice. Pass rates, road types, and appointment availability all differ enough between nearby centres that it's worth a quick comparison before booking at Birmingham North.
- Sutton Coldfield driving test centre (3 miles — 57.4% pass rate)
- Walsall driving test centre (4 miles — 50.3% pass rate)
- Garretts Green driving test centre (7 miles — 44.7% pass rate)
- Birmingham South driving test centre (9 miles — 43.1% pass rate)
What to Expect on Test Routes from Birmingham North
Expect town centre streets and the faster A-road sections around Birmingham in roughly equal measure on routes from Birmingham North — multi-lane roundabouts, traffic-light junctions, 20mph residential zones. The speed limit transitions, particularly 30mph to national speed limit, are where most minor faults accumulate.
Pedestrian crossings come up regularly, and a late response — or creeping forward while someone's still in the road — gets marked as serious, not minor, so early, decisive reactions matter here.
Most Common Fail Reasons at Birmingham North
There's no per-centre fault breakdown published by the DVSA — what follows is the national data, adjusted for the road types typical of Birmingham North and West Midlands more broadly.
- Junctions — observation: Not looking properly before emerging at T-junctions and roundabouts. The most common serious fault across all test centres.
- Mirrors — change direction: Failing to check mirrors visibly before turning, changing lane, or moving away from stationary.
- Junctions — turning right: Cutting the corner, not waiting for a safe gap, or failing to observe cyclists and pedestrians in the junction.
- Control — steering: Coarse or inconsistent steering causing the vehicle to drift or weave through bends and residential streets.
- Response to traffic lights: Proceeding on amber when stopping was possible, or stopping beyond the stop line.
Full breakdown: The 10 Most Common Driving Test Fails →
Booking Your Test at Birmingham North
Book your practical driving test at Birmingham North through the official DVSA service. You will need your provisional driving licence number and a debit or credit card. The current fee is £62 for weekday tests and £75 for evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.
Your theory test certificate must be valid when you book — theory passes expire two years from the test date. Check yours before starting a booking.
Slots at Birmingham fill quickly during summer and post-lockdown periods. If your preferred date is unavailable, set a DVSA cancellation alert — slots often appear at short notice when candidates cancel.
Find a Driving Instructor Near Birmingham
With a pass rate of 42.8% — below the national average of 50.1% — choosing the right instructor is especially important at Birmingham North. Look for an ADI who takes pupils to this specific centre regularly and can focus lessons on the exact junctions and manoeuvres examiners use here.
An instructor who regularly teaches at Birmingham North will know which roundabouts, junctions, and road types come up most often on the test — and will have routes ready that reflect that.
Search for ADIs near Birmingham using the official tool below, then ask this directly: "Roughly how many of your pupils test at Birmingham North, and which parts of the route do they usually find hardest?" Any instructor worth their fee will give you a specific answer, not a vague one.
Find an Approved Driving Instructor near Birmingham →
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