44.7% is the current pass rate at Carlisle — below the UK average of 50.1%. Routes mix urban junctions, roundabouts, and A-road stretches — the moments where candidates switch between them, especially around speed limit changes and mirror checks, are where most minor faults happen.
📍 Test Centre Address
Kingstown Industrial Estate
Carlisle, CA3 0HA
Official DVSA booking — opens in a new tab
Pass Rate at Carlisle
The pass rate at Carlisle is 44.7%, 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, Carlisle's 44.7% pass rate places it 28th out of 35 — above Manchester Didsbury (44.6%) and Crewe (43.8%), and below Bury (46.3%) and Ashton-under-Lyne (45.9%). 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. Carlisle 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 Carlisle
Before booking at Carlisle, it's worth checking how it stacks up against other centres near Carlisle — pass rate, route type, and typical wait for a slot can all vary more than you'd expect between centres just a few miles apart.
- Dumfries driving test centre (28 miles — 53.9% pass rate)
- Hexham driving test centre (34 miles — 53% pass rate)
- Kendal driving test centre (43 miles — 65.1% pass rate)
- Consett driving test centre (45 miles — 58.9% pass rate)
What to Expect on Test Routes from Carlisle
Carlisle's routes mix town centre streets with the busier A-road sections around Carlisle — multi-lane roundabouts, traffic-light junctions, and 20mph residential zones all feature. Where minor faults tend to build up is the switch between speed limits, especially from 30mph up to national speed limit on the approach roads.
Most routes include regular pedestrian crossings too, and the examiner expects an early response — hesitating or creeping forward while someone's still crossing is marked as a serious fault, not a minor one.
Most Common Fail Reasons at Carlisle
DVSA doesn't break fault data down by centre, so the list below is the national picture, weighted for the kind of roads you'll actually face at Carlisle and other North West centres.
- 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 Carlisle
Book your practical driving test at Carlisle 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 Carlisle 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 Carlisle
With a pass rate of 44.7% — below the national average of 50.1% — choosing the right instructor is especially important at Carlisle. 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.
Look for an ADI who takes pupils to Carlisle on a regular basis — they'll already have routes prepared that mirror what the examiner actually uses, covering the roundabouts and junctions that come up most often.
Search for ADIs near Carlisle using the official tool below, then ask this directly: "Which junctions and manoeuvres does the examiner focus on most at Carlisle, and how many of your pupils have tested there?" Any instructor worth their fee will give you a specific answer, not a vague one.
Find an Approved Driving Instructor near Carlisle →
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