South East's fairly typical mix of residential streets, roundabouts, and A-road or dual carriageway sections is what's tested at Gillingham, currently recording a pass rate of 56.4% — 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 1 Astra Park, Courteney Road
Gillingham, ME8 0RZ
Official DVSA booking — opens in a new tab
Pass Rate at Gillingham
The pass rate at Gillingham is 56.4%, 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 South East test centres, Gillingham's 56.4% pass rate places it 9th out of 35 — above Wokingham (55.9%) and Eastbourne (55.4%), and below Basingstoke (56.8%) and Newbury (56.5%). The highest in South East is Tunbridge Wells at 64.5%; the lowest is Folkestone at 42.4%.
Pass rate sourced from DVSA open data (April 2024–March 2025). DVSA statistics ↗
Pass Rate Comparison — All South East Test Centres
The table below shows every driving test centre in South East, sorted by pass rate. Gillingham is highlighted. All figures are sourced from DVSA open data where available.
| Test Centre | Pass Rate | vs UK avg (50.1%) |
|---|---|---|
| Tunbridge Wells | 64.5% | +14.4% |
| Chichester | 61.6% | +11.5% |
| Maidstone | 60.2% | +10.1% |
| Worthing | 59.8% | +9.7% |
| Guildford | 57.1% | +7% |
| Andover | 56.8% | +6.7% |
| Basingstoke | 56.8% | +6.7% |
| Newbury | 56.5% | +6.4% |
| Gillingham ★ | 56.4% | +6.3% |
| Reigate | 56.4% | +6.3% |
| Wokingham | 55.9% | +5.8% |
| Eastbourne | 55.4% | +5.3% |
| Reading | 55.4% | +5.3% |
| Horsham | 55.3% | +5.2% |
| Dover | 53.8% | +3.7% |
| Portsmouth | 52.8% | +2.7% |
| Bognor Regis | 52.4% | +2.3% |
| Hastings | 52.4% | +2.3% |
| Winchester | 52.2% | +2.1% |
| Milton Keynes | 51.6% | +1.5% |
| High Wycombe | 51.5% | +1.4% |
| Slough | 50.8% | +0.7% |
| Oxford | 50.6% | +0.5% |
| Sittingbourne | 50.3% | +0.2% |
| Southampton | 50.3% | +0.2% |
| Aldershot | 49.6% | -0.5% |
| Aylesbury | 49.3% | -0.8% |
| Rochester | 47.6% | -2.5% |
| Margate | 47.3% | -2.8% |
| Chatham | 46.7% | -3.4% |
| Ashford | 46.2% | -3.9% |
| Brighton | 45.9% | -4.2% |
| Canterbury | 45.8% | -4.3% |
| Crawley | 42.7% | -7.4% |
| Folkestone | 42.4% | -7.7% |
Test Centres Near Gillingham
The nearest test centre to you in Gillingham 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 Gillingham.
- Chatham driving test centre (3 miles — 46.7% pass rate)
- Rochester driving test centre (5 miles — 47.6% pass rate)
- Sittingbourne driving test centre (6 miles — 50.3% pass rate)
- Maidstone driving test centre (8 miles — 60.2% pass rate)
What to Expect on Test Routes from Gillingham
Expect a typical suburban mix on routes from Gillingham — 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 Gillingham.
Most Common Fail Reasons at Gillingham
There's no per-centre fault breakdown published by the DVSA — what follows is the national data, adjusted for the road types typical of Gillingham and South 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 Gillingham
Book your practical driving test at Gillingham 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.
Test slots at Gillingham are in high demand — particularly on weekday mornings. Book as far in advance as the DVSA allows (currently up to 24 weeks) to secure your preferred date.
Find a Driving Instructor Near Gillingham
Gillingham's 56.4% pass rate is above the national average — but that doesn't mean preparation matters less. Candidates who do well here tend to use an instructor who knows the local routes and can target the specific road types the examiner will test on.
An instructor who regularly teaches at Gillingham 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 Gillingham using the official tool below, then ask this directly: "Roughly how many of your pupils test at Gillingham, 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 Gillingham →
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