48.7% is the current pass rate at Heywood — 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
York Street
Heywood, OL10 4NR
Official DVSA booking — opens in a new tab
Pass Rate at Heywood
The pass rate at Heywood is 48.7%, 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, Heywood's 48.7% pass rate places it 19th out of 35 — above Burnley (48.3%) and Rochdale (48.3%), and below Leigh (50.4%) and Hyde (50.2%). The highest in North West is Barrow In Furness at 69.6%; the lowest is Liverpool Norris Green at 37.8%.
DVSA does not publish data for this specific test centre in our current dataset — this figure is a regional estimate based on nearby centres of similar size, not an official DVSA statistic.
Pass Rate Comparison — All North West Test Centres
The table below shows every driving test centre in North West, sorted by pass rate. Heywood 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 Heywood
Before booking at Heywood, it's worth checking how it stacks up against other centres near Heywood — 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.
- Bury driving test centre (3 miles — 46.3% pass rate)
- Rochdale driving test centre (4 miles — 48.3% pass rate)
- Oldham driving test centre (6 miles — 43.7% pass rate)
- Manchester Cheetham Hill driving test centre (6 miles — 44.7% pass rate)
What to Expect on Test Routes from Heywood
Heywood's routes mix town centre streets with the busier A-road sections around Heywood — 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 Heywood
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 Heywood 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 Heywood
Book your practical driving test at Heywood 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 Heywood 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 Heywood
Choosing an instructor familiar with Heywood'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.
Look for an ADI who takes pupils to Heywood 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 Heywood using the official tool below, then ask this directly: "Which junctions and manoeuvres does the examiner focus on most at Heywood, 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 Heywood →
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