57.9% is the current pass rate at Grantham — above 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
Spitalgate Airfield, Blue Harbour
Grantham, NG31 7TX
Official DVSA booking — opens in a new tab
Pass Rate at Grantham
The pass rate at Grantham is 57.9% — one of the higher figures in the UK. This often reflects quieter roads or a road network where observation faults are less likely to accumulate, not easier examining. The DVSA test standard is the same at every centre in the country.
Among East Midlands test centres, Grantham's 57.9% pass rate places it 10th out of 30 — above Alfreton (57.3%) and Chesterfield (56.2%), and below Market Harborough (59.1%) and Retford (58.3%). The highest in East Midlands is Melton Mowbray at 69.7%; the lowest is Loughborough at 42.3%.
Pass rate sourced from DVSA open data (April 2024–March 2025). DVSA statistics ↗
Pass Rate Comparison — All East Midlands Test Centres
The table below shows every driving test centre in East Midlands, sorted by pass rate. Grantham is highlighted. All figures are sourced from DVSA open data where available.
| Test Centre | Pass Rate | vs UK avg (50.1%) |
|---|---|---|
| Melton Mowbray | 69.7% | +19.6% |
| Bingham | 63.8% | +13.7% |
| Spalding | 62.7% | +12.6% |
| Ashby-de-la-Zouch | 61.3% | +11.2% |
| Matlock | 61.2% | +11.1% |
| Daventry | 60.4% | +10.3% |
| Wellingborough | 60% | +9.9% |
| Market Harborough | 59.1% | +9% |
| Retford | 58.3% | +8.2% |
| Grantham ★ | 57.9% | +7.8% |
| Alfreton | 57.3% | +7.2% |
| Chesterfield | 56.2% | +6.1% |
| Coalville | 55.8% | +5.7% |
| Hucknall | 55.3% | +5.2% |
| Burton Upon Trent | 54.7% | +4.6% |
| Long Eaton | 53.8% | +3.7% |
| Ilkeston | 52.9% | +2.8% |
| Nottingham (Watnall) | 52.8% | +2.7% |
| Peterborough | 52.8% | +2.7% |
| Lincoln | 52.1% | +2% |
| Northampton | 52.1% | +2% |
| Derby | 51.8% | +1.7% |
| Leicester Beaumont | 51.2% | +1.1% |
| Kettering | 49.1% | -1% |
| Mansfield | 48.3% | -1.8% |
| Corby | 46.4% | -3.7% |
| Hinckley | 46.4% | -3.7% |
| Nottingham Colwick | 46.4% | -3.7% |
| Leicester (Hinckley Rd) | 44.9% | -5.2% |
| Loughborough | 42.3% | -7.8% |
Test Centres Near Grantham
Before booking at Grantham, it's worth checking how it stacks up against other centres near Grantham — 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.
- Bingham driving test centre (16 miles — 63.8% pass rate)
- Melton Mowbray driving test centre (16 miles — 69.7% pass rate)
- Spalding driving test centre (20 miles — 62.7% pass rate)
- Nottingham Colwick driving test centre (20 miles — 46.4% pass rate)
What to Expect on Test Routes from Grantham
Grantham's routes mix town centre streets with the busier A-road sections around Grantham — 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 Grantham
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 Grantham and other East Midlands 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 Grantham
Book your practical driving test at Grantham 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 Grantham 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 Grantham
Grantham's 57.9% 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.
Look for an ADI who takes pupils to Grantham 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 Grantham using the official tool below, then ask this directly: "Which junctions and manoeuvres does the examiner focus on most at Grantham, 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 Grantham →
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