North East's fairly typical mix of residential streets, roundabouts, and A-road or dual carriageway sections is what's tested at Blyth, currently recording a pass rate of 50.9% — above the UK national average of 50.1%. Junction observation is the single most common thing that trips candidates up, here as everywhere else.
📍 Test Centre Address
Unit 3 Sextant House, Freehold Street
Blyth, NE24 3BA
Official DVSA booking — opens in a new tab
Pass Rate at Blyth
The pass rate at Blyth is 50.9%, above the UK national average of 50.1%. A higher pass rate typically reflects a road network where candidates can demonstrate skills clearly — but the DVSA standard is identical everywhere. Do not mistake the pass rate for a measure of examiner leniency.
Among North East test centres, Blyth's 50.9% pass rate places it 18th out of 25 — above North Shields (50.3%) and Jarrow (49.7%), and below Sunderland (51.1%) and Hartlepool (51%). The highest in North East is Morpeth at 61.8%; the lowest is Gateshead at 37.5%.
Pass rate sourced from DVSA open data (April 2024–March 2025). DVSA statistics ↗
Pass Rate Comparison — All North East Test Centres
The table below shows every driving test centre in North East, sorted by pass rate. Blyth is highlighted. All figures are sourced from DVSA open data where available.
| Test Centre | Pass Rate | vs UK avg (50.1%) |
|---|---|---|
| Morpeth | 61.8% | +11.7% |
| Cramlington | 60.7% | +10.6% |
| Spennymoor | 60.1% | +10% |
| Bishop Auckland | 59.8% | +9.7% |
| Stanley | 59.4% | +9.3% |
| Consett | 58.9% | +8.8% |
| Seaham | 57.6% | +7.5% |
| Peterlee | 55.9% | +5.8% |
| Chester-le-Street | 55.7% | +5.6% |
| Durham | 53.2% | +3.1% |
| Houghton-le-Spring | 53.2% | +3.1% |
| Hexham | 53% | +2.9% |
| Washington | 52.1% | +2% |
| Blaydon | 51.4% | +1.3% |
| Stockton-on-Tees | 51.3% | +1.2% |
| Sunderland | 51.1% | +1% |
| Hartlepool | 51% | +0.9% |
| Blyth ★ | 50.9% | +0.8% |
| North Shields | 50.3% | +0.2% |
| Jarrow | 49.7% | -0.4% |
| Newcastle Gosforth | 48.4% | -1.7% |
| South Shields | 47.8% | -2.3% |
| Middlesbrough | 47.7% | -2.4% |
| Darlington | 47.1% | -3% |
| Gateshead | 37.5% | -12.6% |
Test Centres Near Blyth
The nearest test centre to you in Blyth 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 Blyth.
- Cramlington driving test centre (4 miles — 60.7% pass rate)
- Newcastle Gosforth driving test centre (7 miles — 48.4% pass rate)
- North Shields driving test centre (8 miles — 50.3% pass rate)
- Morpeth driving test centre (8 miles — 61.8% pass rate)
What to Expect on Test Routes from Blyth
Expect a typical suburban mix on routes from Blyth — residential streets, mini-roundabouts, and stretches of A-road or dual carriageway, testing candidates across genuinely different speed environments and requiring solid lane discipline and following distance on the faster sections.
Junction observation remains the most common fail reason here, as it is nationally — a proper look before emerging, not a glance. That's the single most useful thing to drill before test day at Blyth.
Most Common Fail Reasons at Blyth
There's no per-centre fault breakdown published by the DVSA — what follows is the national data, adjusted for the road types typical of Blyth and North East more broadly.
- Junctions — observation: Not looking properly before emerging, particularly at mini-roundabouts where visibility is limited.
- Mirrors — change direction: Failing to check mirrors before turning or changing lane. Must be demonstrably checked, not just glanced at.
- Speed — appropriate speed: Driving too fast for the road conditions or too slowly without reason. Both are marked — inappropriate hesitancy is a fault as well as excess speed.
- Roundabouts — road positioning: Incorrect lane choice on approach, cutting the roundabout, or failing to give way to traffic already on the roundabout.
- Control — steering: Drifting or coarse corrections through bends and at junctions.
Full breakdown: The 10 Most Common Driving Test Fails →
Booking Your Test at Blyth
Book your practical driving test at Blyth 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.
If Blyth has no availability on your target date, the DVSA booking tool lets you search other test centres nearby — useful if you are flexible on location.
Find a Driving Instructor Near Blyth
Choosing an instructor familiar with Blyth's test routes is one of the most effective things you can do before test day. Local route knowledge means your final lessons can focus on the exact junctions and manoeuvres you'll face — not generic practice.
An instructor who regularly teaches at Blyth 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 Blyth using the official tool below, then ask this directly: "Roughly how many of your pupils test at Blyth, 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 Blyth →
Just Passed at Blyth?
Browse used hatchbacks under £5,000 — low insurance groups, cheap to run, and practical for new drivers in North East.
Browse First Cars on AllCarsUK →Selling a car to fund your first car? List it free on AllCarsUK →