North West's mix of town junctions, roundabouts, and faster A-road sections is the test at Bury, which currently records a pass rate of 46.3% — below the UK national average of 50.1%. Most minor faults show up right at the transitions between them.
📍 Test Centre Address
Smith Street
Bury, BL9 6HH
Official DVSA booking — opens in a new tab
Pass Rate at Bury
The pass rate at Bury is 46.3%, close to the national average of 50.1%. At this centre, the road conditions don't significantly tilt the outcome in either direction — which means the result depends almost entirely on preparation. Candidates who have put in the work on junction observation and mirror habits pass here at standard rates; those who haven't fail for the same reasons they'd fail anywhere else.
Among North West test centres, Bury's 46.3% pass rate places it 26th out of 35 — above Ashton-under-Lyne (45.9%) and Carlisle (44.7%), and below Chester (47.3%) and Blackburn (46.6%). The highest in North West is Barrow In Furness at 69.6%; the lowest is Liverpool Norris Green at 37.8%.
Pass rate sourced from DVSA open data (April 2024–March 2025). DVSA statistics ↗
Pass Rate Comparison — All North West Test Centres
The table below shows every driving test centre in North West, sorted by pass rate. Bury is highlighted. All figures are sourced from DVSA open data where available.
| Test Centre | Pass Rate | vs UK avg (50.1%) |
|---|---|---|
| Barrow In Furness | 69.6% | +19.5% |
| Kendal | 65.1% | +15% |
| Lancaster | 59.2% | +9.1% |
| Morecambe | 59.1% | +9% |
| Southport | 56.5% | +6.4% |
| Preston | 56.3% | +6.2% |
| Stockport | 56% | +5.9% |
| Warrington | 55.5% | +5.4% |
| Runcorn | 53.1% | +3% |
| Skelmersdale | 52.8% | +2.7% |
| Birkenhead | 52.6% | +2.5% |
| Macclesfield | 51.9% | +1.8% |
| Blackpool | 51.8% | +1.7% |
| Bolton | 51.8% | +1.7% |
| Sale | 51.4% | +1.3% |
| Accrington | 50.7% | +0.6% |
| Leigh | 50.4% | +0.3% |
| Hyde | 50.2% | +0.1% |
| Heywood | 48.7% | -1.4% |
| Burnley | 48.3% | -1.8% |
| Rochdale | 48.3% | -1.8% |
| Salford Eccles | 47.8% | -2.3% |
| Wigan | 47.4% | -2.7% |
| Chester | 47.3% | -2.8% |
| Blackburn | 46.6% | -3.5% |
| Bury ★ | 46.3% | -3.8% |
| Ashton-under-Lyne | 45.9% | -4.2% |
| Carlisle | 44.7% | -5.4% |
| Manchester Cheetham Hill | 44.7% | -5.4% |
| Manchester Didsbury | 44.6% | -5.5% |
| Crewe | 43.8% | -6.3% |
| Oldham | 43.7% | -6.4% |
| St Helens | 40.9% | -9.2% |
| Liverpool Speke | 40.5% | -9.6% |
| Liverpool Norris Green | 37.8% | -12.3% |
Test Centres Near Bury
The nearest test centre to you in Bury 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 Bury.
- Heywood driving test centre (3 miles — 48.7% pass rate)
- Rochdale driving test centre (6 miles — 48.3% pass rate)
- Bolton driving test centre (6 miles — 51.8% pass rate)
- Manchester Cheetham Hill driving test centre (7 miles — 44.7% pass rate)
What to Expect on Test Routes from Bury
Expect town centre streets and the faster A-road sections around Bury in roughly equal measure on routes from Bury — 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 Bury
There's no per-centre fault breakdown published by the DVSA — what follows is the national data, adjusted for the road types typical of Bury and North West 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 Bury
Book your practical driving test at Bury 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 Bury 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 Bury
Choosing an instructor familiar with Bury'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 Bury 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 Bury using the official tool below, then ask this directly: "Roughly how many of your pupils test at Bury, 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 Bury →
Just Passed at Bury?
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